How to Fix iPhone White Screen of Death

Want a quick and easy way to fix the iPhone White Screen of Death issue?

Seeing your iPhone screen suddenly turns completely white can be scary. But before you panic and press different buttons, there’s a name for what you’re experiencing. It’s the iPhone White Screen of Death issue. It may sound terrifying. But don’t fret, as it’s fixable. 

Several things can cause the iPhone White Screen of Death issue. One common culprit is a software problem like a failed jailbreak or software update. Alternatively, it can be a hardware issue. Dropped your phone too often? The cable that connects your iPhone’s motherboard to its screen has probably come loose or broken.

If it’s a software problem, we have some potential solutions for you. Each fix comes with step-by-step guide instructions to help you troubleshoot. Here’s how to fix the iPhone White Screen of Death issue.

Let’s jump right in! 

1. Do the Triple-Finger Tap First.

Before you perform complex troubleshooting methods, do the triple-finger tap first. There’s a chance you don’t have a White Screen of Death issue at all. Maybe, you’ve just accidentally turned on your iPhone’s screen magnification feature.

When screen magnification is on, it’s easy to zoom in too close to an object. That can make your screen appear white. Plus, in that situation, usual finger taps won’t work. 

Here’s how to triple-finger tap to check whether it’s a case of screen magnification:

1. Start by holding out your three middle fingers.
2. Next, place these fingers on your iPhone screen.
3. Then, go on and double-tap the screen.

Does your screen go back to the normal view? If yes, you can prevent this zooming-in problem in the future by disabling screen magnification. Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate your way to Settings.
2. Next, select General.
3. Then, choose Accessibility.
4. Select Zoom. Then, tap the toggle button beside Zoom to make it gray and inactive. 

If you still have the same white screen issue, try our next fix.

2. Force Restart to Fix iPhone White Screen of Death.

One of the first things you should do to fix the iPhone White Screen of Death issue is restart. But the problem is you can’t turn your device off normally. That’s because this requires dragging the Power Off slider, which you won’t see when you have a white screen.

This is where the force restart method comes in. Don’t fret, as you won’t lose any data with this method. It only involves cutting off the power abruptly to force your iPhone to reboot. And hopefully, when it turns back on, all software processes will start normally. 

The steps to perform this fix vary. That depends on your iPhone model. For iPhone 8 and older versions, check out another Saintlad guide. If you’re using an iPhone 11 or 12 model, follow our step-by-step instructions for force restarting below.

Here’s how to force restart your iPhone 11 or 12:

1. First, press the Volume Up button briefly. 
2. Release that first button and quickly move to the Volume Down.
3. Next, let go of the Volume Down button. Then press the Side button immediately. Keep pressing that button until you see the Apple logo appears.

Your iPhone should reboot after that. See if your phone works without a hitch. Otherwise, move on to another method to fix the iPhone White Screen of Death issue.

3. Enter Recovery Mode and Restore Using iTunes.

Recovery Mode allows you to work around any software problems your iPhone may have. While your device is on Recovery Mode, you can reinstall the iOS and restore backed-up data. That’s assuming you’ve backed up your iPhone to your Mac before.

Is your Mac running on macOS Mojave or an earlier version? You can use iTunes to reinstall iOS and restore your backed-up data. 

Here’s how to perform this fix:

1. First, put your iPhone into Recovery Mode. This step depends on your iPhone model. 

• iPhone 8 and newer models: Hold the Side button as you connect the syncing cable to your Mac. Keep holding until you see the Recovery Mode screen (iTunes icon with a Lightning cable underneath).

• iPhone 7 series: Press the Volume Down button while plugging the cable into your Mac. Wait for the Recovery Mode screen to appear before you release the button.
• iPhone 6S and earlier models: Press the Home button while connecting the device to your Mac. Keep holding that button until the Recovery Mode screen shows up.

2. Your iPhone screen will then turn from white to black. Follow the on-screen instructions to update or reinstall the iOS and restore the backed-up data.

4. Put iPhone into Recovery Mode and Restore Data Using Finder.

If your Mac is running on macOS Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey, you can no longer restore iPhone data using iTunes. Use Finder instead. But first, you have to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode. Don’t worry. We’ll guide you through every step.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Begin by plugging your iPhone into your Mac.
2. On your Mac, navigate your way to open Finder.
3. Then, choose iPhone from the sidebar menu.
4. Next, put your phone into Recovery Mode. This step varies depending on the iPhone model you use.

• iPhone 8, 11, 12, and other newer models: Press and release the Volume Up button quickly. Next, do the same thing for the Volume Down button. After that, press and hold the Side button until you see the Restore/Recover Mode screen (Mac icon with a Lightning cable underneath).

• iPhone 7 series: Press both the Volume Down and Side buttons at once. Keep pressing until you see the Restore/Recover Mode page.
• iPhone 6S and earlier models: Press both the Home and Side (or Top) buttons simultaneously until the Restore/Recover Mode page shows up.

5. Go back to your Mac. New options will appear on your Finder. Click on Update. That’ll prompt your computer to reinstall iOS and restore backed-up data to your iPhone.

Your iPhone should work fine after that. But if that isn’t the case with you, we have a few more potential solutions to help you fix the iPhone White Screen of Death issue.

5. Go into DFU Mode to Fix iPhone White Screen of Death.

Device Firmware Update or DFU Mode lets you turn on your iPhone. But it prevents the device from booting up the operating system (OS). That way, you can make changes in OS itself. It is a trickier method than Recovery Mode. But it’s worth a try.

Note that putting your iPhone into DFU Mode is quite a challenge. You might get it wrong on your first few tries. After all, there are multiple button combinations and pressing times you need to keep in mind. Still, this solution is worth your time.

Here’s how to perform this fix on iPhone 8 and newer models:

1. First, plug your iPhone into your Mac.
2. Then, launch iTunes or Finder, depending on your macOS version.
3. Next, press the Volume Up button briefly. Then, perform the same thing with the Volume Down button. 
4. Now, press the Side button on the right side of your iPhone. Wait for your iPhone screen to turn black. 
5. Keep pressing the Side button. But this time, press and hold the Volume Down button, too. Count to five, then let go of the Side button. Hold the Volume Down button for ten more seconds. At this point, your screen should remain black. If you see the Apple logo, you should start again.

6. If you successfully put your iPhone into DFU Mode, you should see a message on your Mac that iTunes or Finder offers you the option to Restore. Select that option. 
7. Lastly, follow the on-screen instructions to restore your backed-up data. 

Here’s how to perform this fix on iPhone 7 and earlier models:

1. Start by connecting your iPhone to your Mac.
2. Next, launch iTunes or Finder on your Mac.
3. For iPhone 7 Series, hold the Side and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. But if you’re using an earlier iPhone model, press the Sleep/Power and Home buttons at once.
4. Hold the buttons for ten seconds. If you suddenly see the Apple logo or iTunes icon with a Lightning cable underneath, that means you held the buttons for too long. Start over again.
5. If your phone has successfully entered the DFU Mode, its screen will remain black. And you should see a message on your Mac telling you to restore your phone using iTunes. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process.

6. Use Third-Party Tool to Fix iPhone White Screen of Death.

If all else fails, you can use a third-party tool to resolve your white screen issues. We recommend Dr. Fone – System Repair, which caters to many problems related to iOS devices. These include fixing the White Screen of Death issue.

Another recommended tool is AnyFix – iOS System Recovery tool from iMobie. With its repair capabilities, it can bring your frozen iPhone back to life. Plus, it allows you to perform repairs in a few clicks. It’s ideal for non-tech-savvy iPhone users.

7. Bring Your iPhone to the nearest Apple Store.

All the six methods above didn’t work? That means the problem is hardware-related. The culprit could be the broken or loose connecting cable between the screen and motherboard of your iPhone. It’s best to bring your iPhone to the nearest Apple Store.

Before you visit an Apple Store, make sure to set a Genius Bar appointment online. That way, you can ensure a faster and more convenient trip to Apple Store. 

This wraps up this article. Hopefully, we have helped you resolve your issue. For more iPhone-related problems, don’t hesitate to write a comment below. Our team will do our best to offer you more troubleshooting tips.