An Android phone or tablet refusing to power on is a common problem, and several factors could be at play. Your Android phone or tablet may not switch on or charge because the hardware is malfunctioning, the operating system is broken, or your phone is dirty with clogged up ports.
Fortunately, there are several options available to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on. I’ve included some of these tested and proven tips in this article, so keep reading to find out.
How Can You Fix An Android Phone or Tablet That Won’t Turn on?
The following troubleshooting steps can help you fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on.
Check Your Case, Cable, Charger, and Outlet
First if you experience this problem, it’s possible that there’s a charging issue affecting the device. In that case, here’s what you must do to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on:
- Check the functionality of the charging cord and adapter that came with your Android phone. Try them with any other gadget to confirm that they work.
- Ensure your Android phone is safely connected to the charger with the charging cord attached.
- Ensure there is no lint or dust in the port of your Android phone.
- Ensure the outlet is in flawless functioning order. Plug in something else, such as a lamp, to verify this.
- Ensure that no accessories, including battery packs and covers, are pressing the buttons or covering the sensor on your Android phone.
Run a Power Cycle
We’ve all had our phones freeze, the screen typically becomes unresponsive and none of the buttons function. But did you know that a phone can freeze even when it is turned off?
A power cycle can help in this case, and it is one great way to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on. It’s as simple as pulling out the battery, waiting a few seconds, and replacing it on older devices with removable batteries.
Since modern phones lack a replaceable battery, press and hold the device’s power button for many seconds. You may need to hold it down for 10 to 30 seconds, depending on the manufacturer.
Examine Your Battery
It’s also a good idea to inspect your battery when trying to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on. Wait a minute after plugging your phone or tablet into the charger to see if the battery icon appears on the screen. If so, your battery is in good condition, and you can try another fix.
You might also notice a tiny red (or other color) light flashing. If you do, it indicates that your battery is insufficient to turn on the device or enable the screen to show any content. After 30 minutes of charging, try to turn the device on again.
However if you don’t see a light or a battery icon, that could imply that your battery needs to be replaced because it is dead. If the battery in your phone is replaceable, you can do so. If you’re using a device with a non-removable battery, you’ll need to take the phone to a specialized store for repair.
Troubleshoot on Your Computer
If none of the above suggestions work to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on, you might be able to troubleshoot the issue on your PC. Follow these steps below:
- Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable.
- Allow it to charge for 15 minutes
- Remove the cable from your device. (not the computer)
- Reconnect the cord after ten seconds of unplugging it
- Charge it for 30 minutes more
- For five seconds, keep holding down the Power button. On your screen, tap Restart.
- Hold the power button for another 30 seconds if you don’t see the Restart option.
Start in Safe Mode
The Safe Mode feature in Android is another option to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on. Safe mode allows you to run your device only with system apps, so it can help if a recently installed app is the reason your Android phone powers on but cannot continue past the boot phase.
A competing third-party software may also prevent your Android phone from turning on even if your device properly starts in Safe Mode. So when Android fails to launch, press the Power button until the boot process begins. Next, press the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. If these instructions for launching Safe Mode do not work, look online for specific instructions from your device’s manufacturer.
Reset the Android Device
A corrupted upgrade or a custom ROM may be at fault if your phone exhibits signs of life yet Safe Mode did not help. In this situation, you could attempt a reset of your device to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on.
The methods below should help you reset your Android phone using Recovery Mode. However, depending on the model you’re using, the steps involved may vary significantly.
- For a few seconds, hold down the Volume Down and Power buttons until the Android logo appears on the screen. Note that some manufacturers have different key combinations.
- To access Recovery Mode, press the Volume Up and Volume Down keys simultaneously.
- Press the Power button after selecting Wipe Data/Factory Reset using the Volume keys.
- Finally, click the Power button after selecting the option to “Yes—Erase all Data.”
If nothing works after trying all of the aforementioned suggestions to fix an Android phone or tablet that won’t turn on, it’s time to get a new device. You could also have it repaired by a trusted professional.