User profile for user: willkg
willkg Author
User level: Level 1
53 points

iPhone keeps randomly turning off

Hello everyone, I find myself in a rather challenging situation with my iPhone 13 mini. Ever since I updated to iOS 17, my iPhone has been shutting down randomly and refuses to turn back on, regardless of what I try. I've attempted the volume up, volume down, and hold power button technique (trust me, I've repeated this process more times and for longer durations than you can imagine). The only solution I've found so far is to take my seemingly lifeless phone to an Apple store, where they perform a forced reboot. I've had to make this trip a total of three times because I'm a student and can't afford to purchase a new phone outright. This suggestion came from an Apple Genius technician since I originally bought my phone in the US, and it couldn't be repaired in the UK.

Each time I visited the Apple store, they ran a diagnostic test, and each time, everything appeared to be in good health. My battery and hardware checked out fine, and the only explanation the Apple Genius technicians provided was that it's a "glitch." Living this way is not an option for me, as I rely on my phone for both school and work, and I'm currently unable to afford a replacement. I almost got fined in the London subway as my phone had died during a trip and I didn't have a way to prove that I had bought a ticket at the exit. I'm feeling frustrated and like I've been taken advantage of by Apple, the Genius technicians aren't providing me with any sort of useful help or information and I've exhausted all available solutions. I'm strongly convinced that this problem is a result of iOS 17, something that is completely out of my control. What options do I have?


Thanks.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 13 mini, iOS 17

Posted on Oct 15, 2023 1:43 PM

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User profile for user: jamesonnorahgamble
jamesonnorahgamble
User level: Level 1
20 points

Posted on May 15, 2024 12:29 PM

This is probably the best answer. I took the sim out before seeing this post, but had to take the phone (13 mini) to the Apple Store since I was at a point where it wouldn’t charge, and it wouldn’t even get to the unlock screen before shutting down again. I noticed that the SIM card was actually the problem and removing it earlier when I still had the ability to reset while it was attempting to charge would have most likely fixed the phone and prevented it from getting damaged more to the point where it doesn’t finish booting at all. When I took it to Apple they said it was a rear harness issue since the phone wouldn’t charge at all it wasn’t a battery issue. They obviously recommended I replace the entire part $299 or buy a replacement 13 mini for $400. Apple has seriously gone down hill and they’ve become more like an auto dealership that doesn’t fix the problem or repair decides, but just recommends the most expensive and profitable option (replace the majority of the components, or buy a new phone). I’m sure Apple is aware that the SIM cards are causing the logic board/rear assembly to become unusable, but knowing Apple it’s either a known planned obsolescence method, or they are award of it and prefer to let the phones die from their software update/sim malfunction to make people buy new phones and hardware for repair.


I can confirm that the SIM card was the main issue, since after I removed the sim and tried to use a back up work phone (iPhone 8) until I got a replacement, the phone did the exact same thing as the 13 mini started to break which was go from around 30% battery down to 1% and say it was charging initially but unable to go above 1%, then eventually not say charging at all and continue rebooting. Once I took out the SIM card after noticing that the exact same thing was happening to my iPhone 8, the battery went right back to its previous charge of 30% without it having charged back up. It was then able to charge normally and stopped power cycling. Something with the iOS update causes the sim to overload the logic boards ability to charge the battery, and that inability to charge will cause the phone to be unable to have enough battery to finish booting. Apple knows this is the issue since another used mentioned that an Apple Genius had recommended removing the sim and resetting to fix the problem, but they keep these solutions from the rest of the company/sales people/technicians or tell their employees not to mention it to their customers so the phone will become unusable/unrepairable with this method and they can try to profit from replacing huge components or forcing users to buy a new phone which is all they care about.

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User profile for user: random_user1490
random_user1490
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 11, 2024 7:36 PM in response to willkg

I own a iPhone XR and last year it randomly just shut off. I tried numerous attempts to turn it back on and don't live near an Apple Store. After 2-3 plus days it will turn on but out of charge. Now this same thing has happened 3 times and has happened again today (Im writing on my Mac) I find this very frustrating as I use my phone a lot for work and other things. I have taken it to a phone doctor and they have just said they can't turn it on it's practically dead.

The first time this has happened it was random but now it has been happening a lot more when I accidentally drop my phone from a low or high area. I don't know if its from any update but I find it so annoying!!! Please fix this!!

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User profile for user: nicole_axh
nicole_axh
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 15, 2024 1:46 PM in response to willkg

The same thing is happening to me too. I just got a new phone the iPhone 12 Pro Max and after transferring my data and updating my phone to IOS 17.5. The screen keeps shutting off/going blank whenever I'm on my phone, especially on social media apps like Instagram and X(Twitter). When this happens I set my phone down and wait until it turns back on, but it keeps happening. I hope Apple can fit this.

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User profile for user: lavinia119
lavinia119
User level: Level 1
8 points

May 31, 2024 2:02 PM in response to willkg

My iPhone 14 Pro Max just died, literally died, one minute it was working next total black out, wouldn’t force start nothing works at all, now I’ve stupidly taken it to a mobile shop to be diagnosed etc, they’ve said that it’s the mother board that has the issue, but why !!! this mobile yes is used but not abused, sure to goodness a mobile costing over a thousand pounds should last longer than 14 months, I can’t afford another one as I’m still paying for this one, has anyone else had this issue, I’d love to know

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User profile for user: heidiemay
heidiemay
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jun 13, 2024 3:24 AM in response to willkg

I have the iPhone 13 and I’ve only had it for a year and a half. I’m on my phone a lot which I guess probably isn’t great? I’m not tech savvy in the slightest so I’m sorry. But for the past two weeks or so my phones shut off twice in the most inconvenient times. I’d pick up my phone and the screen would be black and no matter how much I tapped the screen or pressed buttons it refused to turn on. I thought I had somehow broken it until I switched on and off the little silent mode button on the side of the phone and it still made the vibration noise. After a good five minutes of freaking out and pressing buttons the phone finally turned on as if nothing happened. It did it again tonight when my phone was at full charge and it did it when it was not at full charge and I didn’t know why it was acting this way. I guessed it was maybe because I have no storage on my phone or because I had somehow broken it but neither option should happen on a phone this new. Anything I could do to help fix it ?? I can’t go out of my way to spend money as I’m just a student, so I’m hoping there’s some free maintenance perhaps I could do myself to make using my phone less of a hassle 😅😅

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User profile for user: lyndz1973
lyndz1973
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jun 13, 2024 2:15 PM in response to willkg

I have a iPhone 13 not even had a year and yesterday I was texting a friend and it shut down and the screen went blank , tried the volume up and down and side button to no avail , so I was then told to charge it but still nothing.

im a bit cross that this has happened as i don’t want to take to the Apple shop as I know it will probably cost a fortune to get it fixed, so can anyone give me some advice on what I can do to rectify the problem I’m faced with , as I use my phone for my work etc.


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User profile for user: Chalonzy
Chalonzy
User level: Level 1
14 points

Jun 16, 2024 12:53 AM in response to willkg

I am using an iPhone 13 and I have the same issue, my phone suddenly shut off and the battery goes back to one percent when it turns on and it stays on one percent and suddenly it shuts off, and it comes back with the percentage. the battery was . right now as I’m writing this comment my battery is one percent but my battery was charged up to 75% earlier. Please I need a fix for this

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User profile for user: Hashley79
Hashley79
User level: Level 1
8 points

Jun 27, 2024 8:59 PM in response to lavinia119

Yes!!! Last week my daughters 13 just died. She was using it and the screen went black. It would not charge. We took it to Apple and they sent it off for repair. It’s working again BUT my son’s 12 died and turned off and now won’t turn back on or charge at all. When my daughters phone died we took it to our carriers store and they told us that they had like 20 other customers in the past few days come in with this exact issue.

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User profile for user: Alancito
Alancito
User level: Level 7
29,946 points

Jun 28, 2024 12:03 AM in response to Hashley79

Hashley79 wrote: "...my son’s 12 died and turned off and now won’t turn back on or charge at all..."

Hashley ~ With your son's iPhone 12 possibly being 3½ years old, it's likely that the battery needs replacing. Then it will turn back on and charge normally:


iPhone Battery Service


About genuine iPhone batteries


Repair Provider Verification


(Articles found by searching Apple's Knowledge Base.)


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User profile for user: Alancito
Alancito
User level: Level 7
29,946 points

Jul 6, 2024 1:00 AM in response to deepu251

deepu251 wrote: "I have i phone 13 and I faced many times my i phone automatically turned of still waching videos"

deepu ~ As an iPhone 13 could be almost 3 years old, it's worth asking about the battery...


Does your iPhone 13 still have its original battery?


And what's the Maximum Capacity % here?...


Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging


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iPhone keeps randomly turning off

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