iPhone 3G, 3GS & 4 Display Problems – Screen Blank – Faulty?

By richardbaxterseo | Published October 18, 2008

I had my first iphone 3g “fault” today – at least I thought it was a fault. The display screen wouldn’t activate and stayed blank even when I pressed the sleep/wake button on the front of the phone. With a blank / black screen your iphone is completely useless. You can still hear text messages and calls coming in, but there’s no way you can do anything.

Don’t panic! The blank screen on your iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPhone 4 can be fixed, easily!

Fortunately, I worked out that you can fix this problem by resetting your phone. Here’s how:

Press and hold down the Sleep/Wake button and Home button simultaneously for a least 10 seconds. The screen will clear out and then the Apple Logo will appear on the black background. When the logo appears it means that the reset is done.

Afterwards you’ll see your screen light up and you’ll be able to breath a sigh of relief! :-)

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1,902 Responses to “iPhone 3G, 3GS & 4 Display Problems – Screen Blank – Faulty?”

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  1. Venkatarangan TNC
    Posted February 7, 2009 at 7:39 am | Permalink

    Thanks a lot, from morning my phone was not displaying anything. I was getting calls, but touch wasn’t working. So I started to feel panic, but then Google helped to find your page and the solution you said worked like a charm. Thanks a lot.

    Reply
  2. Mike
    Posted February 7, 2009 at 11:55 pm | Permalink

    The same thing happened to me too. I tried this and the phone did exactly as you said. I wonder why the screen goes blank in the first place, anyway thanks a bunch… I thought I was going to have to buy another one… Ha!

    Reply
  3. Ryne
    Posted February 8, 2009 at 12:18 am | Permalink

    WOW! Dude i thought my phone was dead 4 sure! Your the greates thanks alot!

    Reply
  4. Pål-Magnus
    Posted February 8, 2009 at 4:21 pm | Permalink

    OMG!! I was gonna go to the store for repairs tomorrow, when I googled “black screen iphone” just for fun.. And what do you know!! Thanks a million, dude!! Iphone is purring like a kitten again:)

    THANKS!!

    Reply
  5. dave
    Posted February 9, 2009 at 12:38 am | Permalink

    thankx i bout died when my phone blacked out

    Reply
  6. Jenina
    Posted February 9, 2009 at 2:11 am | Permalink

    Thank You!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  7. Nicollllle.(:
    Posted February 9, 2009 at 10:07 pm | Permalink

    Oh, My Gosh!
    Thank you so much!
    I like ffreaaked out when i couldnt get my phone to do anything!
    but you have fixed itt.!
    thankyou.!

    Reply
  8. Dom
    Posted February 10, 2009 at 12:38 am | Permalink

    Phew!!! I actually had a screwdriver in my hand ready to open it up to disconnect the battery! It was a last resort and the phone is the wife’s. Well done you for being there when Googled. I’m off to take something else apart instead.

    Reply
  9. Mika
    Posted February 10, 2009 at 6:10 am | Permalink

    Thanks Richard! I’ve been on holidays for four days without a computer available for Googling. Was so relieved to see your message. Being without a mobile or computer takes me back to the good old days, however I am thrilled to be back up and running. Ta!

    Reply
  10. Sarah
    Posted February 10, 2009 at 9:11 pm | Permalink

    Thanks a million! You’re a lifesaver!!!

    Reply
  11. C JOHNSON
    Posted February 11, 2009 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

    Thanks sooooo mmuch!!!!!

    Reply
  12. Andrew Green
    Posted February 12, 2009 at 8:20 am | Permalink

    Genius, thank you!

    Reply
  13. Tim Hsiung
    Posted February 12, 2009 at 10:49 am | Permalink

    Thanks! Didn’t wanna start a 5 day weekend without a phone. TYTYTY!

    Reply
  14. Liz
    Posted February 12, 2009 at 12:32 pm | Permalink

    thank you thank you thank you!!!!

    Reply
  15. Chris
    Posted February 12, 2009 at 9:35 pm | Permalink

    This resets older non 3G iphones too well done

    Reply
  16. Cassi
    Posted February 13, 2009 at 12:49 am | Permalink

    Thanks soo much- i thought i broke my phone.. but now its working perfectly again woot woot!

    Reply
  17. Ollie
    Posted February 13, 2009 at 1:37 pm | Permalink

    GENIUS! your a life saver, man! I’ve only had my iPhone for 6 days and this happened, thank god for you and google =D

    Reply
  18. Nestor
    Posted February 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm | Permalink

    These has been the best help ever, you got a big panic attack off of me. Thanks

    Reply
  19. Watson
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 12:22 am | Permalink

    Whoo hoo was totally freaking…thanks so much, that should be on the apple website for quick fixes.

    Reply
  20. idkelly
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 12:31 am | Permalink

    oh thank youuuuu.
    found this link thru googe.
    thnx man!!.
    i had to use my 1.1.4 2g iphone!!.
    phewww thnxxx.!!!!
    kudos!

    Reply
  21. Edo
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 1:13 pm | Permalink

    thnxs bro… !!!!
    you saved me…..

    Reply
  22. robbert
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 2:29 pm | Permalink

    for me, it rests black…

    Reply
  23. Ryan
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 5:24 pm | Permalink

    aw god i thought my fone was broke sent it away to get fixed wish i luked at this first!!!!!!!

    Reply
  24. Murf
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 5:32 pm | Permalink

    Thanks a bunch! This has happened to me a couple times and I was needing to retrieve an importantn message! CHEERS!!!! Apple needs to recall or something in regards to this…

    Reply
  25. steven miller
    Posted February 14, 2009 at 7:55 pm | Permalink

    thank you so much I freaked out I’ve come very attached to my I phone

    Reply
  26. ccmm
    Posted February 15, 2009 at 6:43 am | Permalink

    sweeeeet man your the best

    Reply
  27. mikey
    Posted February 15, 2009 at 7:00 pm | Permalink

    thank you so much i thought it was a gonner!

    Reply
  28. Will Hislop
    Posted February 16, 2009 at 12:08 am | Permalink

    You are a complete lad. Thank you
    xxx

    Reply
  29. Paul Robertson
    Posted February 16, 2009 at 11:20 am | Permalink

    I have just recently got an iPhone. Last night, I pulled mine out to use and nothing, nada, zip. I could do nothing to get it working again. When I got home, I plugged it in to the computer to see what would happen, and bingo it came on again fully functioning???!!@<%^Any suggestions? I am calling ATT as soon as the local store opens

    Reply
  30. janet
    Posted February 17, 2009 at 12:04 am | Permalink

    omg thank you i thought for sure my phone was messed up. i really panic. thank you

    Reply
  31. Brian
    Posted February 18, 2009 at 6:52 am | Permalink

    WOW! Thanks. I was searchign the web to see if the screen going black would be covered under the warranty and came across this thread! AWESOME! Thank you so much. You really helped me avoid a mess!

    Reply
  32. joe
    Posted February 19, 2009 at 1:00 am | Permalink

    Thanks for your helpful suggestion.

    Reply
  33. peter
    Posted February 19, 2009 at 9:36 am | Permalink

    10x man the greats news

    Reply
  34. VIVEK RAJ
    Posted February 19, 2009 at 10:26 pm | Permalink

    THANKS MAN!!

    U SAVED MY LIFE….THIS PHONE WAS GIFTED TO ME BY MY BRO….I THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN IT….JUST IN A MONTH!!!

    GOD BLESS U BUDDY!!!

    Reply
  35. Candice
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 2:00 am | Permalink

    Thank you Thank you!!

    Reply
  36. Luke
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 3:25 am | Permalink

    omg thank you so much i sersly was freakin intill this reset ugh

    Reply
  37. stephanie
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 3:45 am | Permalink

    thanks so much!!!!!!!!!! i almost had a heart attack

    Reply
  38. jack
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 3:55 am | Permalink

    i had mine for two days and it did this i was so dissapointed but your a life saver thank you so much whomever posted this

    gold starrr right there.
    i was freaking out bigtime.
    thank you so much

    wickeddddd :)

    Reply
  39. dsg
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 9:21 am | Permalink

    i try dat but still have same problem there is anybody no wat can i do now

    Reply
  40. Tabby
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    Thanks man… I’m glad i didn’t really break the phone when i was trying to beat the damn thing back into life.

    Reply
  41. Iphonelover
    Posted February 20, 2009 at 11:27 pm | Permalink

    I was soooo woried! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Reply
  42. Hulya
    Posted February 21, 2009 at 3:41 am | Permalink

    Me too, so worried!! But thank you!! :) ))

    Reply
  43. Jessica
    Posted February 21, 2009 at 6:46 am | Permalink

    Thanks a lot…This worked great.

    Reply
  44. Pablo
    Posted February 21, 2009 at 12:22 pm | Permalink

    you rock man!!!!! I was scared and so worried!!! you are the best!

    Reply
  45. P
    Posted February 22, 2009 at 3:43 am | Permalink

    Thank you so much!!! You are awesome! I tend to agree with so many people here, they really should have this fix on the Apple site under FAQ’s or something.

    Reply
  46. Mike
    Posted February 22, 2009 at 11:25 pm | Permalink

    Thank You!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  47. Mazen
    Posted February 23, 2009 at 2:18 am | Permalink

    I love you!!!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It worked.

    Reply
  48. kelz
    Posted February 23, 2009 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    damn I almost had a heart attack =/ thanks..

    Reply
  49. Fabraz
    Posted February 23, 2009 at 5:29 pm | Permalink

    Cheers man, this really helped me out.

    Reply
  50. Cindy
    Posted February 23, 2009 at 6:47 pm | Permalink

    @Sandra

    I have the same problem, is there anything that can be done or do I have to take my phone back to the store? I just got mine 6 days ago.

    Reply

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