How long should I charge a dead phone before giving up?

At least an hour. Apple says to charge an iPhone that won't turn on for one hour and then try again, and Google says a fully drained Pixel can show no charging icon, vibration or display for up to 25 minutes after being plugged in. Use a cable and adapter you know work.

Will a force restart delete my data?

No. Samsung says a forced restart done correctly won't erase any information from the phone, and the same is true on iPhone and Pixel. A factory reset is different: that erases everything, so don't do one unless your data is backed up.

My phone died after getting wet. Should I keep charging it?

No. Unplug it and switch it off. Power running through a wet or corroding board can turn a repairable fault into a dead board. Bring it in as soon as you can; see our water damage guide for the first steps.

Can you save my photos if the phone never turns on again?

Often, yes. A1 Computers recovers data from phones that no longer start, with board-level repair when needed. Tell us at the counter if the photos matter more than the phone.

Repair · phone won't turn on Tenerife

Phone won't turn on

Updated 22 October 2026 · Local 4, Centro Comercial San Eugenio, Av. de los Pueblos 20, 38660 Costa Adeje

What should you try first when a phone won't turn on?

Charge it properly. Use a cable and wall adapter you know work, not a hotel USB socket. Apple says to charge an iPhone that won't turn on for one hour and then try again; if it shows a low-battery screen, charge it for 30 minutes or until it starts. Google says a fully drained Pixel can show no charging icon, vibration or display for up to 25 minutes after being plugged in, and Samsung says a fully drained Galaxy may not show the charging icon either.
Force restart it while it is on the charger (steps below).
Check the port. Samsung suggests looking for debris, corrosion or bent pins in the charging port; sand and lint are common after the beach. See phone not charging.
Call it. If it rings but the screen stays black, the screen is the likely fault: see phone screen black or showing lines.

How do you force restart an iPhone, Galaxy or Pixel?

iPhone 8 and later: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, which Apple says can take longer than 10 seconds. iPhone 7: hold side and volume down together. iPhone 6s and earlier: hold Home and the side or top button.
Samsung Galaxy: hold the Power (Side) button and Volume down together for at least 7 seconds, and let go when the logo appears and the phone vibrates. Samsung says a forced restart done correctly won't erase any information.
Google Pixel: hold the power button for about 35 seconds. Google also suggests plugging in and holding volume up and power for at least 20 seconds.

Why does a phone stop turning on?

Samsung lists four causes: a temporary software freeze, a fully drained battery, a system malfunction, or a hardware issue in the circuitry. The first two are fixed with a charge and a forced restart. The others need a repair.

The ones we see most in Tenerife: a worn battery that collapses below a certain charge, especially after months in the heat; a charging port blocked by sand or corroded by salt; water on the board after the pool or the sea; and a drop that disconnects or breaks the screen so the phone only looks dead. A Pixel that shows Check charging accessory is telling you the cable or adapter may be damaged or unsupported, Google says.

What if the phone died after getting wet?

Stop charging it. Unplug it, switch it off if it shows any sign of life, and don't use rice or a hairdryer; Apple warns against both for wet iPhones. Current running through a wet board drives corrosion, which is how a repairable phone becomes one that isn't.

Bring it in the same day if you can, and say it was water. The board is cleaned before the phone is powered again. More in water damage phone repair.

When is it a hardware fault?

When a full hour on a known-good charger and a forced restart change nothing. Apple says an iPhone that still won't turn on may need service; Google says a Pixel that rings with a blank screen needs a repair centre; Samsung lists circuitry faults among the causes. Other signs: the phone gets hot on the charger without turning on, the back or screen is lifting (a swollen battery, which you shouldn't press back), or it only runs while plugged in.

At the counter the phone is tested to find whether the battery, the port, the screen or the board is at fault, and you get the price before any work starts.

How much does it cost to fix a phone that won't turn on?

It depends on what has failed, so the phone is checked first. Send the model and what happened on WhatsApp to 641 780 077, call 922 71 35 82, or walk in to Local 4, Centro Comercial San Eugenio, Av. de los Pueblos 20, Costa Adeje, Monday–Saturday 10:45–21:30 or Sunday 10:45–14:00. You get the price before any work starts. Diagnosis costs €15.

If the photos on it matter most, say so: see getting photos off a broken phone.

FAQ

How long should I charge a dead phone before giving up?: At least an hour. Apple says to charge an iPhone that won't turn on for one hour and then try again, and Google says a fully drained Pixel can show no charging icon, vibration or display for up to 25 minutes after being plugged in. Use a cable and adapter you know work.
Will a force restart delete my data?: No. Samsung says a forced restart done correctly won't erase any information from the phone, and the same is true on iPhone and Pixel. A factory reset is different: that erases everything, so don't do one unless your data is backed up.
My phone died after getting wet. Should I keep charging it?: No. Unplug it and switch it off. Power running through a wet or corroding board can turn a repairable fault into a dead board. Bring it in as soon as you can; see our water damage guide for the first steps.
How much does it cost to fix a phone that won't turn on?: It depends on the cause, which could be the battery, the charging port, the screen or the board, so the phone is checked first. Send the model and what happened on WhatsApp to 641 780 077 or call 922 71 35 82, and you get the price before any work starts. Diagnosis costs €15.
Can you save my photos if the phone never turns on again?: Often, yes. A1 Computers recovers data from phones that no longer start, with board-level repair when needed. Tell us at the counter if the photos matter more than the phone.