iPhone Diagnostic
Acoustic-speaker/microphone/receiver
Can't hear through the receiver or through speaker, and can't be hear. See this document for troubleshooting steps.
Low microphone volume
- If you are using a third-party iPhone case, make sure it is not covering the microphone. Try making some calls without the case to see if a caller can now hear you more clearly.
- If you have left the display's clear protective plastic film in which iPhone shipped, either ensure the microphone is not covered or remove it all together.
Sound from the speaker is low or muffled or I sound muffled or low when speaking into the mic1
See this document for troubleshooting steps.
No sound through stereo headset1
- Unplug and reconnect the headset. Make sure the connector is pushed in all the way.
- Check the volume setting on your iPhone. You can adjust the volume by pressing the volume up and down button on the left side of the iPhone.
- If you are trying to listen to music and cannot hear any audio, make sure that the music on iPhone is not paused. Try squeezing the headset microphone to resume playback. Additionally, from the Home screen you can choose iPod > Now Playing, then tap Play.
- Make sure the latest version of iTunes is installed on the computer that you are syncing the iPhone with (songs purchased from the iTunes Store using earlier versions of iTunes won't play).
- Try another set of Apple headphones (some third-party headphones require an adapter to be used with original iPhone)
- Try a different song or video.
- Check to see if the iPhone alert sounds or other iPhone sound effects exhibit the same audio issues.
- Disconnect the stereo headset or headphones connected to the iPhone and see if the sounds coming from the built in speakers are working properly.
Power / Battery
Battery does not charge from the iPhone charger
Important: iPhone 3G cannot be charged with a FireWire power adapter or FireWire-
based car charger. If iPhone is connected to a computer that’s turned off or is in sleep
or standby mode, the iPhone battery may drain.
- Verify the outlet being used is working.
- Try another charger if available.
- If no other charger is available, try connecting to a high-power USB 2.0 port (not a keyboard). The computer must be turned on and not in sleep or standby mode.
- Try another USB cable if available.
- Also refer to this article
Battery life seems short
Important: iPhone 3G cannot be charged with a FireWire power adapter or FireWire-
based car charger. If iPhone is connected to a computer that’s turned off or is in sleep
or standby mode, the iPhone battery may drain.
- Click ( www.apple.com/batteries/iphone.html) for tips on how to prolong iPhone's battery life.
- If the screen shows a low-battery image, iPhone is low on power and needs to charge for up to ten minutes before you can use it.
- When charging iPhone, make sure to leave it charging until it is fully charged. You'll know the battery is fully charged when the battery icon in the upper-right corner of the screen looks like this

- If you are charging using your computer, don't connect iPhone to your keyboard. Also, the computer must be turned on and not in sleep or standby mode. If iPhone is connected to a computer that's not turned on or is in sleep or standby mode, the iPhone battery may drain.
- iPhone acceptable temperatures
- Keeping the original iPhone within acceptable temperatures
- Keeping the iPhone 3G within acceptable temperatures
Will not power on
- Turn iPhone off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
- If that doesn't work, connect it to the iPhone charger and let it charge for at least 10 minutes. Note: iPhone 3G does not support FireWire and will not charge from any FireWire-based power source.
- If that doesn't work, toggle the ringer switch to see if the unit vibrates. If it does, it could be that iPhone is getting power, but is not displaying any image. (see "Display has no backlight or dark screen" below for further troubleshooting.)
- While connected to the iPhone charger, try to reset the iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until either the Apple logo or battery symbol appears. If the battery symbol appears, continue to charge iPhone until it is fully charged.
Display
Display image issues
This can include white screen, bright or dark pixels, lines in video, or sections of video missing.
- Turn iPhone off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
- Verify the issue is not content related, by viewing different content.
- If the image is too dark, adjust the brightness. In General Settings choose Brightness and slide the slider.
Display does not go into wide-screen mode
- To test, select a photo and open while holding the iPhone vertically. Rotate the iPhone to a horizontal position and the image orientation will change to landscape mode.
- When verifying the accelerometer, remember that videos display in wide-screen orientation only, and when testing photos, the Calculator app, or web pages, hold the iPhone in a vertically, not horizontally.
Note: Not all applications on iPhone use wide-screen mode. Videos are automatically in wide-screen mode when in iPod and YouTube.
Touchscreen not working
See this document for tips on using the touchscreen.
- The current iPhone application may not be responding (frozen), press and hold the Home button below the screen for at least six seconds, until the application you were using quits.
- If that doesn't work, turn iPhone off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
- If that doesn't work, reset iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Clean the iPhone screen with the cleaning cloth that came in the box with iPhone.
Display has no backlight or dark screen
- Toggle the ringer switch to see if the unit vibrates. If it does, it could be that iPhone is getting power, but is not displaying any image.
- Turn iPhone off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
- While connected to the iPhone charger, try to reset the iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds, until either the Apple logo or battery symbol appears. If the battery symbol appears, continue to charge iPhone until it is fully charged.
Display does not adjust brightness automatically
The ambient light sensor brightens the display when using the iPhone in brightly lit environments, and dims the display in low light. To test this sensor, do the following:
- Verify that the Auto-Brightness setting (Settings > Brightness) is set to ON, and that the Brightness level is set near the middle of the slider.
- Press the Home button to return to the Home screen and then press the Sleep/Wake button to lock the iPhone.
- In a bright environment, cover the top third of the iPhone to block the light, then press the Sleep/Wake button or the Home button to wake the phone. Slide the slider to unlock the phone.
- Notice the brightness of the screen and application icons; they should be somewhat dimmed.
- Remove the cover from the top of the display and in a few moments the display should get brighter.
General phone use
Unable to make or receive calls
See the "iPhone Basic troubleshooting" document for troubleshooting steps.
iPhone will not lock when answering calls
While holding your hand over the top third of the display, verify that the screen is locked or goes to sleep.
No cell signal strength anywhere
- Check to make sure you're in an area with network coverage. Refer to document HT1381 for network coverage areas or contact your mobile network provider.
- Verify the SIM card has been activated with iTunes:
- Download and install the latest version of iTunes from www.itunes.com.
- Connect iPhone to a USB 2.0 port on your Mac or PC (not on the keyboard) using the dock or cable. iTunes opens automatically.
- Follow the onscreen instructions in iTunes to activate iPhone and sync your contacts, calendars, music, photos, podcasts, videos, email accounts, and web bookmarks.
- See "Signal or other interference while in Carrying Case" if the iPhone is in a carrying case.
Important: Your iPhone may be able to receive calls in as little as 15 minutes after activation. If you are migrating your current phone number, it can take longer–up to several days, depending on the type and status of your former service account–before calls are routed to iPhone. In the meantime, you can make calls and use iPhone's other features.
Interference while in carrying case
See this article for information.
Will not go into airplane mode
- Turn iPhone off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
- From the Home screen Tap Settings and turn airplane mode on. When airplane mode is on,
appears in the status bar at the top of the screen, and no cell phone, radio, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth signals are emitted from iPhone.
The "No Service" message appears in the upper left corner of the display
- Try toggling Airplane mode "on" and "off". Wait several seconds between the "off" and "on" modes.
- If that doesn't work, try another location.
- If another location works, but the original location still does not, contact your carrier to report the issue.
- If the message is present in all locations, have the iPhone serviced.
Buttons and Switches
Sleep/Wake button will not lock or unlock iPhone
- To lock the phone, press the Sleep/Wake button. Note: By default, if you don't touch the screen for a minute, iPhone locks automatically.
- To unlock iPhone, press the Home button or the Sleep/Wake button, then slide the slider.
- If that doesn't work, try turning iPhone off and on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPhone for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
- Try to lock or unlock the phone.
The Home button is slow to respond
- If the Home button is slow to respond in when exiting one application, try another application.
- If the issue exists only in certain applications, try removing and reinstalling those applications. For further assistance in installing and troubleshooting applications see this article
- If the issue continues, turn iPhone off and back on.
- If the issue continues, reset iPhone. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time for at least ten seconds or until the Apple logo appears.
- Restore iPhone. Follow the steps the steps in the iPhone Troubleshooting Assistant.
The Home button is not working
- Put the iPhone to sleep.
- Wait a couple of seconds.
- Press the Home button.
- iPhone should wake up.
- If iPhone does not wake up, then iPhone should be serviced.
Camera
Camera is not functioning
- Tap Camera, then point and shoot. Note: If you take a picture with iPhone turned sideways, it is automatically saved in landscape orientation. If you do not see Camera on the any of the multiple Home screens, check to make sure that Restrictions are not turned on by tapping Settings > General > Restrictions. If they are, set Allow Camera to ON or tap Disable Restrictions (in iPhone 2.1 software or later).
- If that doesn't work, clean the camera lens with the cleaning cloth that came in the box with iPhone.
Accessories
Third-party accessory not working
See "About iPhone and iPod Accessories" for troubleshooting information.
Works with iPhone compatibility message
See TS1505 for information.
The stereo headset mic button is not functioning properly
- Verify there is no debris in the headset jack.
- Insert the stereo headset and play audio using the iPod app. Verify both left and right channels are functioning.
- Press the mic button to see if it can pause and resume audio.
- Make a phone call and see if the microphone is working.
- If the issue persists, try another headset.
- If the issue persists with another headset, have the iPhone serviced.
SIM
SIM card not detected by iPhone
- Remove the SIM card. Insert the SIM ejector tool or the end of a small paper clip into the hole on the SIM tray. Press firmly and push it straight in until the tray pops out. See this document for more information.
- Verify the SIM card is not damaged or dirty.
- Reinstall the SIM card.
- If that doesn't work, try another SIM card, if possible, to see if it is detected.
Note: If you need to send your iPhone in for service or if you want to temporarily use a different phone, you may be able to use the SIM card inside iPhone with another GSM phone.
Issue not resolved
My issue is still not resolved. What do I do next?
For information on service, go to:
apple.com/support/iphone/service/faq/ for information on service.
Additional Information
Avoiding Hearing Damage
Permanent hearing loss may occur if the receiver, earbuds, headphones, speakerphone, or earpieces are used at high volume. Set the volume to a safe level. You can adapt over time to a higher volume of sound that may sound normal but can be damaging to your hearing. If you experience ringing in your ears or muffled speech, stop listening and have your hearing checked. The louder the volume, the less time is required before your hearing could be affected. Hearing experts suggest that to protect your hearing:
- Limit the amount of time you use the receiver, earbuds, headphones, speakerphone, or earpieces at high volume.
- Avoid turning up the volume to block out noisy surroundings.
- Turn the volume down if you can't hear people speaking near you.
For information about how to set a maximum volume limit on iPhone, see the iPhone User's Guide.
Do Not Open iPhone 3G
Never attempt to repair or modify iPhone yourself. Disassembling iPhone,
including the removal of external screws, may cause damage that is not covered
under the warranty. iPhone does not contain any user-serviceable parts, except
for the SIM card and SIM tray. Service should only be provided by an authorized
service provider.
For more information about repairing or modifying iPhone 3G see the iPhone 3G Important Product Information and Safety Guide.