How to Fix iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Black Screen of Death Problem

Just a week ago, Apple launched its iPhone 15 series lineup, which finally introduced the dynamic island feature to all the models. Review units are now available, and in certain regions, people have been able to get their hands on the latest devices. However, some initial batch iPhone 15 devices are experiencing an issue common with new iPhones – the infamous black screen of death error.

Typically, the reason behind this problem is a defect in the manufacturing process. Apple generally acknowledges the issue and provides a replacement unit to affected users, provided there is no physical damage to the device. However, there are some things you can try before approaching Apple directly to resolve the problem. So, let’s dive right into it without any further delay.

How to Fix iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Black Screen of Death Problem?

There are multiple reasons why one could be facing this issue. There might be software update failure, crash, lousy firmware, malware attack, jailbreak attempt, dead battery, water damage, or even hardware corruption. With this in mind, we have mentioned all the possible solutions for you to try and fix the Black Screen of Death issue.

Use official charger:

Apple has a stringent policy when it comes to accessories. Only a few third-party accessories are fully compatible with Apple smartphones. Only the magnetic wireless charger and Apple’s adapter are consistent with the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 lineup smartphones. So if you use a charger from any other company, that could cause you problems too. Any device or cable that you use needs to be MFi(made for iPhone) certified by Apple.

Since most other chargers are not compatible with iPhones, you must use Apple’s default charger for your charging needs with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

Third-party chargers might push abnormal wattage into the smartphone, which is enough to cause a system freeze or Black of Death issue. So, if you are using a third-party charger, switch to an original charger and check whether that solves your problem.

Try the next solution if the official charger also does not help you.

Force restart:

You can force a restart when your iPhone screen is not responding to your touch. In times of need, it is the only quick fix that you can try to start using your smartphone again. To perform the force restart, follow the steps mentioned below.

• Press the Volume Up button and release it.
• Then press the Volume Down button and release it.
• Now, press the side button on the right of your phone until you see the Apple logo on your screen.
• Once the logo disappears, your phone should boot up normally without any issues.

But if you still encounter the Black Screen of Death issue, try the next solution.

Remove screen protector:

The screen protectors we use on our phones often make the touch glitchy and unusual. In rare cases, an incompatible screen protector can even contribute to a screen not responding to simple communications and eventually ending up with a frozen screen or black screen of death error. To fix this, one should install only official Apple screen protectors on their phone and remove any pre-installed third-party screen protectors.

If removing the screen protector does not help your problem, try the next solution.

Check for Zoom:

Apple has a zoom feature that zooms in on the screen on any interface screen, and in that scenario, if you are not aware of how to use it, it can feel like a black screen error. Especially if your screen has a black background, a zoomed-in view could look like a black screen error. To fix this, you should try moving out of the zoom view. And performing that function is simple—double-tap on your screen with three, which will turn the zoom feature on or off on your screen.

If Zoom was not the issue on your device, move on to the next solution. Remember that you need to use the three-finger tap before moving ahead to the next solution.

Update iOS:

If you are one of those users who installed the latest version of iOS 17 right when it was available, then there is a chance that you are using a buggy build. The first build of a new update is mainly filled with bugs that make the device malfunction in most scenarios.

To address this, Apple will release updates that clear out the bugs in the previous build. So, if you have not updated your iPhone after the initial iOS 17 update, it is time to check for new updates immediately.

To check for a new iOS update, open up Settings on your iPhone and go to General. Then select Software Update, and if there is a pending update, it will show up here. If you see a new pending update, install it on your phone.

After the update, if you still encounter the Black screen of death issue on iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, try the next solution.

Reset phone settings:

If the black screen shows up only after a while of using the smartphone, you can use the force restart option to restart your iPhone and then perform a reset to fix the black screen issue.

If it is a software issue, a reset should be able to fix it for you within minutes. This will reset all your phone’s settings to their default value, as when you first bought your new iPhone. Performing a settings reset can clear out several conflicts within the Settings menu that might be causing the black screen issue on iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

Do keep in mind that resetting settings will clear out everything from your Settings menu. This includes saved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections as well. So perform a settings reset only if you are willing to delete every saved connection on your iPhone.

• To reset settings, open up Settings on your phone and go to General.
• Tap on the Transfer or Reset iPhone option.
• Then select Reset and choose the Reset All Settings option.
• You will have to confirm your action by tapping on the Reset button on the confirmation page.

After this, your phone will restart on its own. After the restart, try the next solution if you still encounter the same screen problems.

Factory reset the iPhone:

After the settings reset, you can also try the factory reset option. This will clear every bit of data on your phone, though. So, you need to create a backup of everything necessary to you and perform the factory reset. Making an offline backup of everything essential to you on your PC would be best.

• To perform the factory reset, open up Settings on your phone and go to General.
• Tap on the Transfer or Reset iPhone option.
• Then select the Erase All Content and Settings option and the Reset All Settings option.
• You will have to confirm your action by tapping on the Reset button on the confirmation page.

Try the next solution if the black screen issue shows up even after factory resetting your iPhone.

Re-install iOS Firmware via iTunes:

As mentioned above, the software can also contribute to the black screen of death issue on iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. You might need to update or re-install your phone’s firmware to address this. Since the screen is not responding to your touches, you can try to use the iTunes application. Just use the iTunes app on your PC and connect your phone to the PC via the cable provided by Apple in the box.

Then, using the iTunes application on your PC, you can re-install iOS 17 on your iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus. Remember that this process will clear out every bit of data on your phone. So, if you have anything important to you on your phone, you should keep it or create a backup on your personal computer.

Once the reinstallation is complete, try using the phone again. If you still encounter the black screen of death on iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, try the final solution mentioned below.

Check for physical or hardware damage:

If none of the above solutions worked for you, it is certainly a hardware fault. You should check your smartphone for any physical damage, and if you spot anything, you should check the impact it could have on your phone’s hardware. Other than this, there are some instances when the phone from the manufacturing plant has internal physical defects. In this case, only an Apple technician can help you out.

So, in this scenario, the best possible solution for you is to take the iPhone to the nearest service center and inform them about your issue. Everything should be resolved without any costs if your device is under warranty. Ensure you have the proper billing documents for your iPhone to claim the warranty.

So these are all the solutions one can try to fix the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Black Screen of Death Problem. If you have any questions or queries about this article, comment below, and we will reply. Also, check out our other articles on iPhone tips and tricks, Android tips and tricks, PC tips and tricks, and much more for more helpful information.