Why is my new iPhone 16 not turning on?

Actually, you would be better off with a refurbished unit, here's why.

I've worked in several manufacturing plants before. Not every single device coming off the assembly line is tested. Depending on several factors, they may test 1 out of 20 or 50 or 100 devices that come down the line. That means that 19 or 49 or 99 units of each run are not tested.

With a refurbished phone, it is thoroughly tested, each and every one. You know you will be getting a phone that works.

It is clear to me that there is a good case for a minor design flaw in the iPhone 16. I can't tell if it is in the hardware or software. I have just verified that I can always recreate the issue on power up by pressing the power button and releasing it before the apple logo appears. That much dwell on the button should not be necessary, but that's where I would be looking if I had access to the design documentation, especially the activity diagram if there is one. If there isn't, I'd build one and make certain that it is comprehensive and includes all post design patches up to and including manufacturing and software release. Implementation decisions can break good designs and are easy to get wrong if the process involves multiple handoffs.

Science-Curmudgeon, maybe you could clarify your statement: "I can always recreate the issue on power up by pressing the power button and releasing it before the apple logo appears." The OP is talking about a problem experienced by hundreds reporting here that the iPhone appears just dead, no matter how long or short you hold the power button. That is, unless you discover the kludgy workaround of the multiple, carefully timed series of key presses that Apple itself has not announced or documented.

Are you saying that if you release the power button before the apple logo appears, then the phone is dead to any subsequent power button presses until you do the multiple key presses in quick succession? This would be serious, since accidentally letting up the power button too soon happens to all of us sometimes.

I originally had the OP's problem exactly. Somehow, after one or another iOS updates (written about earlier by me), the problem disappeared for good. Now, if I don't hold the power button long enough to see the Apple logo, it doesn't cause any problem. I just hold it again until I see the logo and get a normal startup.

When I called support they told me to update my software on my weeks new phone did that.

2 weeks later, it won't turn on with any number of learned truck tries.

The customer service person, very nice, told me if the update doesn't work then bring it in to an Apple Store.

yet, my time-life is being taken from me with the tech first rule of developing products: just release at any point to the public and let them further test for quality, then iterate

thus waste paying customers' life.

image your car losing its brakes, or wheel coming off and the auto companies telling you that's why you have a warranty.

The works great for the company but longevity or injuries.

Total corporate-docracy usury.

cbo111 wrote:

My 8-day old 16E has this problem. It happened last night when I plugged it in and turned off. Glad I found this hack but am a bit concerned about future glitches.

Why are you turning it off? That interferes with the iPhone’s smart charging feature, and it also shortens your battery’s useful life. While this does not solve the real issue, it is something you should know.

The absolute best way to get maximum use on a charge, as well as slow the decline of battery capacity long term is to enable Optimized Battery Charging (Settings/Battery/Battery Health) and charge the device overnight, every night, leaving it powered on. The battery will fast charge to 80%, then pause. During the nighttime pause the phone will use mains power instead of battery power, allowing the battery to “rest”, and thus reducing the need to charge the battery quite as often. The phone will resume charging to reach 100% when you are ready to use your phone; it will “learn” your usage pattern. If you enable iCloud Backup (Settings/[your name]/iCloud - iCloud Backup) the phone will back up overnight also, assuring that you can never lose more than the current day’s updates. Here's more information→About Optimized Battery Charging on your iPhone - Apple Support

I had the same problem of iPhone 16 not turning on. The first one was returned to an Apple store soon after its introduction. The clerks there could not turn it on and I was given a new one, free. Apparently the problem was new to them. Now I learned the “3-step “ solution to turn it on, for my second iPhone 16. But, why does the problem start in the first place? I believe there are many people experiencing the same issue. Apple should fix it.

EXCELLENT!!!@!!

After 2 hours trying every trick mentioned to open my phone, I finally read this advice to push the buttons quickly and it worked.

Your advice was better than SIRI, ChatGTP and Apple itself!

Many thanks

With nearly 400 "me too's" here alone, a lot of us are wondering about future glitches. I also have two questions:

1. For people who have called Apple Support, are the support people seeming to be aware of this problem? Some have reported being told there is no known problem and it's taken some work to get the needed support or phone replacement.
2. Why hasn't Apple done anything about the problem? At least, nothing that's been posted publicly.

Randysea wrote:

1. With nearly 400 "me too's" here alone, a lot of us are wondering about future glitches. I also have two questions:

For people who have called Apple Support, are the support people seeming to be aware of this problem? Some have reported being told there is no known problem and it's taken some work to get the needed support or phone replacement.

2. Why hasn't Apple done anything about the problem? At least, nothing that's been posted publicly.

400 out of over 100 million? There is no universal issue here; there is a problem with your iPhone, so contact Apple support. When there is a real issue there are tens of thousands of posts about it.

My iPhone 16 pro will not allow me to unlock it, since yesterday. It is stuck on Intelligence Voice control. I have done a hard restart,(the volume up, down and side bar) several times. I tried to use my voice activate on my car and the phone announced "No addresses are downloaded to car".

I have tried everything that was recommended to no avail. It doesn't allow me to put my password in or face recognition. Every time someone calls or text it tells me "You have a missed call or you have 1 notification" .

Its annoying that I can't use my $1000.00 phone and have only had it less than a year! Huge disappointment.

It sounds like you turned on VoiceOver. When VoiceOver is enabled, you must tap twice anywhere you would tap once. So to enter your passcode tap each digit twice. This is a feature for users with limited vision.

Lynnjsts4 wrote:

I can't get to my password. Its locked and Voice control takes over.

I already told you how to fix it, but I’ll tell you again:

you must tap twice anywhere you would tap once. So to enter your passcode tap each digit twice.

If you can’t even display the passcode entry screen and your iPhone is disabled: If you forgot your iPhone passcode or your iPhone is disabled - Apple Support

I used my iPhone 16 throughout the and around 6pm I was playing games, when an ad popped up and I couldn't get it to go away, I decided to turn the phone off and I could not get it to turn back on. It isnow8pm and it still will not turn on.

It is happening to me. What did you do? I bought in Metro PC

See the post right above yours.