iPhone 16 Pro not turning on

Hi. I had the same experience today. Was very Hassled as the iPhone 16 pro 1 TB is a usd 2000 phone.

Went to the Apple store and the technician fixed it in 30 seconds. Seems the iPhone 16 has a different hard reboot process.

Sharing the same below for all

Hard reboot is first press the volume up button on the left side once only, then press the volume down button below it once only and then keep holding the power button till the apple logo shows up.

Best wishes to all and hope you never have to use it but if you do keep this thread.

This happened to me repeatedly. Three times. Spaced out by about five or six days apart. It started about a week and a half after I got the phone in Early Sept as a preorder. I happen to have an Apple Store near me so first I used a chat help. They gave me the hard reset solution. First time it took about 12 or 13 tries. Second time took over 50. Third time I did it for about 45 minutes on and off. I think it took in excess of 100 times maybe 150 times. But it did come on. I brought it back to the Apple Store and they told me that I had to delete everything and reinstall the software in order for them to determine if it was hardware or a software problem. This I did and it reoccurred. I went back to Apple Store got a replacement 16 Pro and after a nightmare losing I my phone number for a day with T mobile not able to sort out how to fix it, due to the terrible tech I got from Apple. now I have my phone working again. I’ll let you know if the problem occurs. But I had to go to the Apple Store and get a new iPhone 16 Pro.

Corgirl wrote:

So the forced reset that everyone is talking about; is it up, down, and on simultaneously or in a row.?

In a row.

• Tap and quickly release volume up
• Then tap and quickly release volume down
• Then tap and KEEP holding the side power button. Don't let go until you see the Apple Logo (it will show the swipe to power off, don't let go. The screen will go dark, don't let go. ONLY let go when you see the Apple Logo, which could take what seems like a LONG TIME to appear.

Enricoboussier wrote:

Same thing just happened to me today - the iPhone 16 PRO won't switch on no matter how long I keep the right button pressed - The battery was probably around 80% when it happened - Anyone at APPLE can pick this up? Thank God I had a space old iPhone 12 Pro in my bag which I am now using but this is extremely disappointing for a device worth 1,500 USD!

You need to Force Restart your iPhone. Just holding the side button won't turn it back on. Follow these directions and for the final step, KEEP HOLDING the side power button for however long it takes for the Apple Logo to appear --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support (CA)

Last night I put my 16 Pro Max running iOS 18.2.1 on a wireless charger and shut it off, this morning it wouldn't turn on. I tried plugging it in to its supplied cord on a 0.35A charger, then moved onto an Apple rapid charger, then tried plugging it into my iMac; none had any effect. I read through these comments & tried to force restart as it was described and got no results. So, I searched elsewhere for a different solution and found this: Start by quickly pressing & releasing the up volume, quickly pressing & releasing the down volume, THEN pressing & holding the power button; the phone came on first try with that process. Phone was at 100%.

As to the cause of the defect or what solution Apple may come up with, I don't know, but using these steps worked to turn it on quickly.

bhammack wrote:

if you're on the road and you don't have your computer, there's no way to connect it to itunes. This is not a good answer. Apple needs to fix this.

It is simply NOT necessary to connect it to your computer. A Forced Restart, which has been posted several times in this thread will get the phone back on. 9 out of 10 times, people aren't holding the power button long enough after tapping the volume up, then volume down buttons, then hold and KEEP HOLDING the side power button for as long as it takes for the Apple Logo to appear. It could take 30 seconds, but keep holding it. It will power back on.

A lot of people are also powering their phone off to charge at night. This isn't necessary at all. In fact it goes against best advice for charging an iPhone. Charge it powered on, with Optimized Battery Charging turned on, connected to Wifi and leave it on the charger all night EVERY night.

The "Up, Down, Side" instructions require some precision:

• Press and quickly release VOLUME UP

     then

• Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN

     then

• Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears

The operative word here is QUICKLY; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

force restart the iPhone:

• Press and quickly release VOLUME UP

     then

• Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN

     then

• Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears

The operative word here is QUICKLY for the first two buttons; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

After you tap and quickly release the volume up, then down buttons, immediately hold the side power button for up to 30 seconds, until you see the Apple logo. It HAS to work. If it doesn't, you have a hardware issue and will need to schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar.

Everyone is most certainly not having this issue. Force Restart your iPhone, which will likely solve this:

• Press and quickly release the volume up button
• Then immediately press and release the volume down button
• Then immediately press and KEEP HOLDING the side power button. KEEP HOLDING it past the swipe to power off and KEEP HOLDING it until the screen goes dark and KEEP HOLDING it until you see the Apple Log, then let go. This stage can 15 - 20 seconds so don't let go until you see the Apple Logo

You didn’t need a computer; just force restart the iPhone:

• Press and quickly release VOLUME UP

     then

• Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN

     then

• Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears

The operative word here is QUICKLY for the first two buttons; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

The "Up, Down, Side" instructions require some precision:

• Press and quickly release VOLUME UP

     then

• Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN

     then

• Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears

The operative word here is QUICKLY for the first two buttons; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

Since my last post a week ago; the next day I went to the Apple Store for help. The 'genius' said they didn't really know the cause of the problem on iPhone 16 series- even some 15s. He said he used the "technique" on his iPad at times (??), and that Cupertino doesn't really communicate with the Geniuses very much.!! But he suggested that we wipe my new iPhone clean and reload the IOS from one of their laptops- refreshed by Apple each night. So we did it and I've had no further trouble in the startup problem. I generally charge to 80% now- for longer battery life long term- and shut it off each night and turn it on (fingers crossed) each morning with no problems recurring. Another customer sitting across from me was listening to the conversation as another 'genius' was helping with her problem. It was the same one!!, and she mentioned that when she came in, she heard another customer with the same problem. So out of about 50 people at least 6% were affected. My man said that when they put a new IOS update out, they (like a Chinese food buffet) pick from different dishes, which are prepared by different chefs, rather than the entire update being prepared and managed by one "chef". That may account for the myriad problems (which as I strongly remember, used to be a province of Microsoft, and Apple always WAS so seamless). Additionally, the customer said that she and her father (both 16s- but NOT her Mom-14) were having dropped or uncompleted calls. I have experienced this, but so far, it is vague and hard to pin down. I think Apple needs to update firmware, and certainly, troubleshoot the IOS with a fine tooth comb. We shall see what we shall see. P.S. I'm using my 10XR-which this 16 e replaces- as an iPod in my car- no cell service just self contained with occasional Wi-Fi assistance.

So I have had this problem since day 1…but only when I use an apple OEM MagSafe and the phone is set to charge over 80%. When it won’t start I have to do volume up volume down and side button (hold until the apple logo comes on). It works normally charging on USB-C (although have not tried at 100%, only charging to 80% or 90%). I works on a third party wireless charger (although when set to 90% it charged to 100%!). I have spoken with apple support both level 1 and subsequently level 2 supervisor and the only answer they have is use the USB-c provided and do not set over 80%. My opinion is this is a glitch and apple has yet to figure out a fix. I am lucky in that I have always managed to reset and get it operational…it’s disappointing that Apple hasn’t yet stated they are working on the problem and indicated it will be covered if hardware or corrected by a future update. Last note…all the chargers and cables I have used work fine on my wife’s 13 mini and worked great for years on my 13 pro.

blforbes wrote:

This doesn't work. I had tried this before making a comment on this forum.

How long did you hold the side power button? It can take a long time if the phone isn't powering on. And it often takes a few tries to get the sequence of quickly pressing and releasing the volume up then volume down buttons, the pressing and holding the side power button.

That said, if your phone really won't power on, then you need to schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar for evaluation and options --> Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple