iPhone 16 Pro not turning on

My wife’s iPhone 16 Pro is not turning on. Several times I have had to push the top volume, bottom volume and then hold the right power button until the Apple came on. And it took much longer than 10 seconds and instead of it coming on by itself, the Apple would show only after I held and released the power button. Did she get a lemon or are others having this problem? She gets a new phone every year so this is not an operator error.

iPhone 16 Pro

Posted on Sep 27, 2024 5:04 PM

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Posted on Oct 8, 2024 6:55 AM

Bought two new iPhone 16 Plus. Did update to iOS 18.0.1. When one phone was turned off and charged overnight, it would not turn on this morning. So far I am trying the force restart multiple times and I have plugged it into a different charger no beeps. Also I plugged it into my MacBook and no beep and not showing up on Finder. This is bad. This has never happened with multiple iPhones over the last several years. Phone $1000 and it does not work after a few days. Ugh. Afraid to shut down the other phone and fear that it will also not be able to be turned down.

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Oct 28, 2024 6:11 AM in response to Lilisbuddy

Your device may be in dfu-mode(device firmware update). Conmect your device to a mbp. The system may ask you whether it should reset your device, or tell you to download some extra software (also look underneath the running window). Tick the reset button. The system will do the rest. If this does not provide the solution for you, you may have to make an appointment with the genius bar at the nearest apple store.

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Nov 3, 2024 1:53 PM in response to Lilisbuddy

I’ve found a solution, quickly press and release the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button and then press and hold the right button until the apple logo shows up. This seems to be working, hope it helps. And I hope apple fixes this bug soon, as I think it happens as a software issue with the 18.1 update.

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Nov 4, 2024 3:50 AM in response to Lilisbuddy

Hi,

I searched on my mac for the issue i had this morning; I'm glad to see that many others are experiencing this. I had shut down my iphone 16 multiple times prior to this, but this morning, I have been unable to turn my phone on. I am planning on going to verizon today to ask about my bill changes, so I might just ask for an older phone. Has anyone's problem resolved?

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Nov 23, 2024 8:18 AM in response to ReidKHesterPh.D.

ReidKHesterPh.D. wrote:

18.1.1 is a new update to be installed tonight but no mention of this issue in the description of it.

Apple often doesn't list what bug fixes an update may bring, so that's not surprising. They usually just release updates, which fix things, without any fanfare about what they may be fixing.

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Nov 26, 2024 4:22 AM in response to Lilisbuddy

So… I found a solution. Apparently the 16 needs a 20V power plug. It doesn’t work enough on the 15V to give it enough power to power it up.


doesn’t make sense but they plugged it in at the Apple Store and it magically turned on.


Hope it’s not just a way of them selling the new plug to me

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Nov 30, 2024 4:01 AM in response to Lilisbuddy

This morning, my iPhone 16 pro would not turn back on after being charged overnight. I turned it off to not be disturbed. I did the steps of up and down buttons then held the right button. As I read many posts, I retried the steps but held the right button for more than 15 seconds and then it turned on. Thanks everybody but it seems to be a problem regardless. Apple, please create a fix!

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Dec 4, 2024 3:01 PM in response to Lilisbuddy

Lilisbuddy wrote:

I have used the Apple site to contact to report problems, but it says that they will not reply unless they have a specific reason to contact you. Additionally, I saw an article on MacWorld about an issue with iMac M1 screen issues that they called a time bomb waiting to happen. As an owner of an iMac M1, I contacted the editor on 11/26 commenting that I have not had this issue yet ( hopefully I won't since the warranty is long gone ) but since he wrote an article about a problem, that maybe he should look into this iPhone 16 start up issue. I sent a link to this discussion, but to date, I did not receive a reply from the MacWorld editor or have I seen anything on the MacWorld site about our startup issue.

You probably haven't seen ANY articles about this issue on iPhone, because out of the millions upon millions upon millions of iPhone 16 Pro's in the hands of users, the numbers of people who may be having an issue are infinitesimally small. That doesn't mean you or others aren't having an issue. But the vast majority of iPhone 16 Pro owners are out there enjoying their phones, without issue and not posting on a forum.


Anyone who is having an issue like this, needs to schedule an appointment at their Apple Store Genius Bar.

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Jan 9, 2025 6:10 AM in response to sukhpal66

This sounds good; however, since only a few people have so far commented that Apple may have been fixed the issue in this last update, my wife will be waiting before going back to her old routine of turning the phone off at night. Hopefully others will have more guts, and will turn their phone off, charge at night, and report back. This has been a long strange trip, and not one of our happy iPhone moments since owning almost every iPhone since 2009.

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Jan 23, 2025 10:17 AM in response to Lilisbuddy

iPhone 16 pro max charged overnight while turned off. Used a different but compatible lead and wouldn’t turn on. Volume up and down quick tap and held power button sorted it. Sorted but disappointing and complex for someone who doesn’t look on YouTube for an answer. A phone of this level and pricing should be more full proof I would have thought.

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Feb 4, 2025 7:47 AM in response to Heardy123

Hey, Heardy123…Apple won’t see your post in this user to user forum


Apple’s formal support can be reached several ways

  • You can provide feedback to Apple at→ Product Feedback - Apple where your issue or suggestion will be recorded, tracked and matched with similar reports, but you will not get a reply



For personalized support

Best way: 

  • Install the Apple Support app on your iPhone or iPad - you can contact support directly from the app, and the tech will have (with your permission) access to diagnostic data on your device



Other options:

(Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat)


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Mar 1, 2025 8:45 AM in response to SarahsAppleiphone

Have you been charging overnight?


What did Apple’s support say when you contacted them?


Best way: 

  • Install the Apple Support app on your iPhone or iPad - you can contact support directly from the app, and the tech will have (with your permission) access to diagnostic data on your device



Other options:

(Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat)


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Mar 16, 2025 9:23 AM in response to David Stearn1

If you turn it off while charging over the long term this will shorten the life of the battery. The battery monitoring circuit requires that the phone be powered on to work correctly. In addition, turning it off stops normal background and foreground (e.g., receiving mail, texts and notifications) processes, which will then run when you turn the phone back on. If you leave it on overnight those processes will use power from the mains power source rather than the battery, so it will reduce the number of needed charge cycles.

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Mar 21, 2025 10:33 AM in response to ebone148

ebone148 wrote:

I’m having this same problem of not turning on,

Well, you could fix that yourself by following instructions that have been posted in this 24 page thread probably around 100 times. But to save you the trouble of actually doing any research, here it is again:


  • 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 issue with me is that I can not remember the iCloud pass word and apple says they can’t run diagnostics without it. And because the phone won’t come on I can’t reset it.

Apple can’t run diagnostics, anyway, if the phone won’t turn on. With or without your iCloud password.


I have tried so hard to remember and then log in from another device but now iCloud has locked the password and won’t allow me to attempt to reset the password again unless I have proof of purchase with the imei number on it.

The IMEI is on the box the phone came in, as you saw. And you can still change the iCloud password without the IMEI.

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support


And Apple never needs the IMEI for anything, so I don’t know why you think you need it.




The problem is that I got it from comcast and even though I have the box with the imei number on it my proof of purchase receipt does not have the imei number. Comcast’s says they can’t provide the imei number on a receipt because it is not assigned until after the phone is shipped.

The IMEI is the serial number of the cellular radio in your iPhone. It is not “assigned”; it is intrinsic to your iPhone


Therefore I iCloud won’t reset it and I won’t be able to access my iCloud. I fear I will be stuck paying for a phone that I can’t use. This is very frustrating!! A word to the wise make sure you know your iCloud password!!

I have a suspicion you responded to a scam message saying your iCloud was locked, not actually from Apple or ComCast, because it looks like everything you were told is nonsense.

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iPhone 16 Pro not turning on

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