Screen turned off (goes black) during phone call and won't wake up

I'm also having this problem. It started happening a few months ago. It only happened once a month or so. But now it's happening more frequently. The good thing is that I don't make a lot of phone calls with it. But its' extremely annoying.

It seems to happen most when I reach an automatic recording and need to choose options with the keypad. When I take the phone away from my ear, the screen is blank. I can't touch anything, return to home screen, or EVEN RESTART the phone! I have to wait for the caller on the other end to hang up or just for the phone call to end before the home screen comes back.

This makes me hesitant to make calls on my phone, the minimum feature a phone should have. I'm looking for solutions, Apple Customer Support!

Well this issue could be caused by a few different things. Basics from the manual are restart, reset, restore. If the issue is still happening after a restore you have to investigate hardware issues. Is there a case on the phone that could be blocking the proximity sensor? If so remove the case and see if the issue persists. If the issue is unrelated to any sort of a case it's time to repair/replace the phone. Either set up an Apple store appointment, call Apple Care at 1-800-692-2273 or go to expresslane.apple.com.

siegelsn,

This really isn't the same problem as noted in this thread - just wanted to be clear in that distinction. The original post describes the screen going blank as the new default operation of the iPhone. What you describe does appear to be an issue with your phone - and perhaps the tips from iCensored could help you.

I think most everyone agrees that the new default operation is NOT the preferred behavior as far as users are concerned, for all of the reasons cited above.

Thanks.

I received a call on my iphone 6 on whats app and after ending the call, it just turned black. I thought it will be automatically fixed in some minutes. After an hour or so I checked the phone but all in vain. Display was not only dimmed but the touch screen was not also working. I went to Apple Store in San li tun, Beijing to get it fixed but they refused to replaced or even repair by saying that

1. it seems a hardware issue and

2. the phone was purchased from Sydney Australia. So I should get it repaired from Australia.

This is disappointing as I do not know what to do now. Should i

A. courier it to Sydney or

B. is there any other way to claim the warranty.

Can anyone please guide?

I have this problem to. A normal call is going on and the screen suddenly goes black and I'm unable to get a response from the phone - neither the touch screeen or the buttons will respond. I'm not using a case or a screen guard. My phone is running ios 8.4, the most recent release.

Since so many others seem to have this problem, I suspect it's related to a failed hardware component, otherwise Apple would have a fix. It seems odd that no one from Apple has even responded to this problem except for the very lame response Jason gave. Jason's fix hasn't help a sole.

I'm a computer tech, thoroughly familiar with the inner workings of the device. My solution, loose my phone and file an insurance claim.

I have had this happen multiple times during a call, before and since the most recent update. Apple needs to fix this issue. It just happened again on a call and I am over it. Thinking about switching to a DROID if this continues. I didn't have this problem until the last six months. I am on an iPhone 6 and have the most recent update.

HELP US APPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm having the same issue (8-10 times in last month), and also cannot restart. Currently the screen went black during an automated survey which is now on an endless loop and I can't hang up, restart, or turn the phone off. Thank god the volume still works so I don't have to keep listening. It sounds like many of us have tried Apple's recommended fixes and/or our experience doesn't line up with the idea that it's a sensor issue, so it was a little frustrating to read that Apple doesn't see this as a glitch or a hardware issue. Any help with how to end this call is appreciated; I'd like to be able to use my phone again.

Was happening to both my wife's 6 and my 6 though infrequently. *Sometimes* pressing the home button and the power button at the same time will get you out of the situation. Bottom line? Apple replaced my phone a couple of weeks ago and no problem since!

I have experienced the same problem for several years, on several iPhones on several iOS releases (currently iPhone 6 on iOS 8.4). For me, plugging or unplugging the phone from a power source fixes the problem immediately, without ending the call. If I don't have a lightning cable around, I'm just out of luck. It happened just a few minutes ago while I was on a call "press 1 for the sales department." I pulled the phone away from my ear to press 1, but the screen was black and nothing made it respond. Not the power button, the home button, the volume buttons, or any combination. I couldn't even end the call and start over. Finally, I found a lightning cable and plugged it in, and the screen woke back up. I didn't have to unlock it or anything. It was as if my phone was playing dumb, as if the whole thing never happened. Unfortunately, this happens way too often.

I'll add my experience to the growing list. I have an iPhone 6, 64GB running on Verizon. I got my first 6 in April, and it had to be replaced in August because it all of a sudden shut down (while looking at FB) and became totally unresponsive to anything. The Apple rep in the store gave up and replaced it with my current phone. Once I upgraded to iOS 9.0 I began experiencing the periodic black screen/lock out during phone calls. No remedy available until the caller hangs up. It happened again this morning. Very frustrating. I'm wondering what in the world is going on with Apple's quality control. I'll try some of the things suggested in this thread, but I'm not holding out much hope. If it continues, I'll be going back to the store for another replacement. If that doesn't stop the issue, then I'll be looking for another cell phone manufacturer when my contract is over.

I have iPhone 5S. Recently upgraded to iOS 9 and then applied the successive minor upgrades too. Problem started only after move to iOS 9. Phone rings for an incoming call, then after a few rings, screen dims and eventually goes black. While screen is not dimmed/gone black, I can see the incoming call as usual and can accept it. But, once the screen goes black, phone still rings and I can not receive the call. After screen gone black/dim, I can press home button, which takes me to home screen, but now I can not see the incoming call while phone is still ringing. During this entire period of phone ringing for an incoming call, I can still reject the call as usual by pressing power button twice.

My problem appears to be a software problem which did not exist in iOS 8.

Here is the fix for locking up during a phone call.. Go to settings - then cellular - Enable LTE - switch this to Data Only and not Voice & Data. Once you do this all should be well. Now call Verizion and complain...

SSwitching to LTE data only didn't work....I'm on now my third iPhone 6 in 2 months with this same blackout during phone call problem and won't respond until call ends. Very frustrating that Apple doesn't have a flipping clue how or why this happens my 4s never gave me problems like this 6 has.

I too am having this problem. Screen still hasn't come on. I also had problems with the screen freezing. It seems every time there is an upgrade there are new problems. So frustrated with Apple.

11/4/2015 here....still happening. From my understanding this is a Verizon, iOS9 issue. I have a 6 as well and it has definitely become a lot more frequent once the new software was downloaded. I have heard to make the cellular option to Data only but it does not work while on a call and the phone is unresponsive. I have tried to lightning cable trick and it is hit or miss. I will be taking my phone back for a new one is this continues.