Ugh, that dreaded black screen. It’s like your shiny new iPhone 16 or the perfectly capable 16e has suddenly decided to take a permanent nap, leaving you staring at a void. It’s frustrating, right? You’re probably thinking all sorts of worst-case scenarios, but hold on a sec – often, it’s a pretty simple glitch you can tackle yourself from the comfort of your couch. Getting past that black screen means you can get back to all the things you love doing on your phone: snapping those awesome photos, staying connected with friends, browsing the web, and just generally having your digital life at your fingertips again.

Think about it – a black screen locks you out of everything. No calls, no messages, no entertainment. Fixing it quickly can save you a ton of hassle and worry. Plus, knowing a few troubleshooting steps can be super empowering. You won’t have to immediately rush off to a repair shop every time your phone acts a little funny. So, before you start panicking about lost data or expensive repairs, let’s walk through some easy, human-friendly steps to try and wake up your iPhone 16 or 16e and get you back in the land of the living (digital living, that is!).

How to Fix Black Screen on iPhone 16/16e:

1. Try a Simple Restart: Sometimes, a quick restart is all your iPhone needs. Press and hold either the Volume Up button and the Side button, or the Volume Down button and the Side button, until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn your iPhone completely off. Wait about 30 seconds, then press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.
   
2. Force Restart: If a regular restart doesn’t work, try a force restart. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side ¹ button. Keep holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears, ² then release it.
   
3. Check the Charging Cable and Port: It might sound obvious, but make sure your iPhone isn’t just out of battery. Plug your iPhone into a known working charger and wall adapter. Let it charge for at least 15-30 minutes. If you see the charging screen, let it power up fully. Also, check the charging port for any lint or debris and try a different Lightning cable if you have one.
   
4. Connect to a Computer: If you’re still seeing a black screen, try connecting your iPhone to a computer with iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac). Sometimes, connecting to a computer can prompt your iPhone to restart or show that it’s in recovery mode.
   
5. Consider Recovery Mode or DFU Mode (Advanced): If none of the above steps work, you might need to try putting your iPhone into Recovery Mode or DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode and restoring it. This is a more advanced step and will erase all the data on your iPhone. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this on the Apple support website.
   
6. Contact Apple Support or a Repair Professional: If you’ve tried all the steps above and your iPhone 16 or 16e still has a black screen, it’s likely a hardware issue. Your best bet is to contact Apple Support or take your iPhone to an authorized Apple service provider or a reputable phone repair shop for diagnosis and repair.

How to Fix Black Screen on iPhone 16e/16 – 1 Minute Fix