iPhone 4 Black Screen But Phone Works

I have used the iPhone 4 (Factory Unlocked) for more than a year now with only minor issues. Like on a usual day I was playing a word game "Rumble" then quit the game, connected my earphones for music & pressed the "Home" button on the phone to unlock it and the screen was Black. This was a sudden shocker!! 😮. I just put the phone to rest for a while & after about an hour crossed my fingers and tried the Home button again but the Black screen continued. So the backlight of the iPhone works I can say that bcoz I see the phone luminates but the "Slide to Unlock" is cannot be seen. Since I have been using the phone for a while I know the exact position of "Slide to Unlock" so if I slide my finger it unlocks too with the default "unlocking (click) noise" but again the icons of the apps cannot be seen, all I see is a fadely luminated grid. I receive SMS's and Calls although I cant read them nor can I see whos calling. Since the screen is blank I cant operate the phone but the phone seems to be working. I hence tried the reboot, restart, shutdown & start again, restore backup, update iOS everything a desperate user would do but nothing has worked till now. There is not much discussion on this issue anywhere hence No resolution. I am gonna visit an Apple service center today and keep my fingers crossed. I have taken utmost care of the phone. Till date it is scratchless, spotless. I miss my phone 😟.


Mumbai, India

Apple iPhone 4, iOS 4

Posted on May 18, 2012 7:33 PM

Reply
151 replies

Jun 29, 2012 2:43 PM in response to yh760

yh760 wrote:


i have same problem as u . how did u fix it ?

In addition to the steps in my original post:


"The exact sequence was:

• The battery ran out

• I connected the phone to my computer via USB (no reaction on either side)

• Held down power/home to enter DFU

• Apple logo appeared on the iPhone

• 2 minutes later the phone was up and running"


the only thing that comes to mind is powering off the phone. Did you let the battery drain out completely?


I set up an autodialer that called the number repeatedly, until the phone dropped off the network. I only did that because I knew it had a full charge, and I was in a hurry to get it working. You could just wait it out.

Jul 15, 2012 5:04 AM in response to Utkarsh Thakare

I am having the same issue. Until now I never any issue with my phone, have had it since the day Siri was released, purchased at AT&T store. Suddenly the screen went black, seemed completely unresponsive and got very warm. (No yellow triangle warning symbol however). Tried hard restart several times (sleep/wake button + home button) Very strange thing also happened to me which no one else has mentioned: the camera flash would illuminate at random times, then turn off. I did a complete restore connected to computer through itunes, which took 2 hours. Phone is functioning, Siri follows commands (Call a specific person etc) but screen is not illuminated. I can end a call because I know where the "end" button is on the screen. I cannot see any of the apps or cannot use any of the functions of the phone requiring touch screen due to black screen.

Jul 24, 2012 2:09 PM in response to Tina Wells

i solved mine , with no particular way . I just left it there for awhile and then it turned on again and worked .i guess these are minor problems , the same way where our PCs might just hang/crash for no apparrent reason. Another thing is i had run into problems updating my os on my Pc. i used my sister's macbook and it didnt have as much problems.(i'm talking about when trying to update the iphone OS , sometimes itunes says that there's an error and can't upgrade.)

Jul 31, 2012 8:10 AM in response to saig15

Same problem. Phone got drained. Charged at home. After a few minutes, screen lit up as usual then it started to fade until it was totally black. Allowed it charge more. Same as the experience of others, I knew there was power and the phone was working - could receive calls, could tap in numbers to unlock the screen - but nothing is displayed. Am presently restoring and waiting for full charge. Will see what happens.

Aug 11, 2012 3:21 AM in response to Utkarsh Thakare

Hi I live in Vancouver BC Canada. I bought my new iPhone 4S from Metrotown mall 1 week ago. I have had the black screen 2 times now. I didn't see it fade it was instant black. Phone still powered on. I have been out of town for the last week or I would have returned the phone already.


I was able to get the phone working both times in 30 seconds. I pressed every bottom on phone hoping for some magic and It came back to life. It happened first 36 hrs after purchase and again 5 days later (now).


Jfini@me.com

Aug 17, 2012 9:41 AM in response to wyrmmm

Hi I posted on this thread 5-6 days ago. The phone has had the black screen 3 more times in 5-6 days. What I do to fix it is swipe the phone to unlock it... Because even though phone looks dead it's still alive and you'll hear phone unlock. Then I press and hold down the home button for few seconds until you hear the beep that allows you to give phone a voice command. Then I press the power button on top of phone and it works again.


I do not know why this is happening, I'm pretty sure I was doing different things each time it went black, but reality is every time it went black while I was using it.


Will update soon. I will be back in Vancouver in 2 more weeks and I'll return the phone for new one.

Aug 17, 2012 3:09 PM in response to Utkarsh Thakare

As mentioned here before, my girlfriends iPhone 4 had/has the same problem.


We brought it in twice and it was send to an authorized repair centre twice(!)

- first time it wasn't repaired at all (no failures found)???

- second time they 'replaced parts' (not specified)


I wonder what exactly?


Altough it seems to be functioning better now, the phone still has erratic blackscreens once in a while. Our other iPhone 4 never showed this behavior. Bit lost here on the question if we should bring it back for a third time.


Any (ex)Genius here who actually knows what's wrong?


Thx,

Arjan

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iPhone 4 Black Screen But Phone Works

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