How to turn on an iPhone 8: What Most People Get Wrong

You’re holding an iPhone 8. Maybe you just found it in a drawer. Maybe you bought it used for a kid, or perhaps it’s your trusty daily driver that suddenly decided to go dark. You press the button. Nothing. You press it harder. Still nothing.

Honestly, the iPhone 8 is a weird middle child in Apple’s history. It’s the last of the "old school" designs before the X changed everything, but it shares the internal DNA of the newer models. Because of that, turning it on isn't always as simple as holding a button, especially if the software has decided to throw a tantrum.

The basic way to turn on an iPhone 8

Let’s start with the obvious. You’ve got the power button (Apple officially calls it the "Side button") on the right side of the device.

Press and hold that side button. Don't just tap it. You need to hold it for about three to five seconds. Usually, the white Apple logo pops up, and you’re good to go. But if you’re reading this, there’s a high chance that didn’t work. Maybe the screen stayed black, or maybe it’s stuck on a weird loop.

When the button does nothing: The "Black Screen" fix

If your iPhone 8 won't turn on normally, most people assume the battery is fried. It might be. But more often than not, the phone is actually "on" but the software is frozen in a crashed state.

Since the iPhone 8 doesn't have a physical home button (it’s a haptic vibration motor, not a real clicking button), you can't use the old-school "Home + Power" reset method. Apple changed the sequence for the 8, and it’s kinda specific.

The Force Restart Sequence

You have to do this quickly. If you're too slow between steps, it won't trigger.

1. Click and release the Volume Up button.
2. Click and release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button for a long time.

I mean a long time. Sometimes you have to hold it for 15, 20, or even 30 seconds. Ignore the "Slide to power off" prompt if it appears. Just keep holding until you see that silver Apple logo. This is a hardware-level reset. It cuts power to the CPU for a split second to force a reboot. It doesn't erase your data, it just kicks the hardware back into gear.

Is your charger actually working?

It sounds like tech support 101, but you’d be surprised. The iPhone 8 was one of the first to support Qi wireless charging. If your Lightning port is full of pocket lint—which happens to every single iPhone eventually—your cable might not be making contact.

Try a wireless pad if you have one. If the phone starts charging wirelessly, you know your charging port is the culprit. If you’re sticking with the cable, grab a wooden toothpick and gently (very gently) pick at the bottom of the port. You’ll probably pull out a small sweater’s worth of dust.

Also, the iPhone 8 is picky about "MFi" (Made for iPhone) certification. If you’re using a gas station cable, the phone might refuse to draw power once the battery hits 0%. Try an original Apple brick or a known high-quality brand like Anker. Give it at least 30 minutes on the charger before you give up. A completely dead lithium-ion battery needs a "trickle charge" period before it has enough juice to even show the charging icon.

The "Cold Start" and battery health

We’re in 2026. The iPhone 8 was released in 2017. That makes these devices nearly nine years old.

Batteries are consumable parts. If your iPhone 8 has the original battery, it’s likely chemically aged. According to Apple's support documentation, once a battery drops below 80% maximum capacity, it can struggle to deliver "peak power."

In cold weather, this is even worse. If your phone died in the cold and won't turn on, try warming it up between your hands for five minutes before trying the power button again. If it only turns on when plugged in and then immediately dies when you unplug it, the battery has reached its end of life. At this point, you're looking at a repair or a replacement.

Hardware red flags to look for

If the force restart didn't work and the charger isn't helping, look closer at the device.

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• The "Green Disease": If you see any green crustiness in the charging port, that's corrosion. Even a tiny bit of moisture can short out the logic board.
• The "Bloat": Look at the screen from the side. Is it lifting away from the frame? If the screen is bowing outward, the battery is swelling. Stop trying to turn it on. A swollen battery is a fire hazard and needs professional disposal.
• The Computer Test: Plug the phone into a Mac or PC. If the computer "beeps" or recognizes a device in "Recovery Mode" but the screen stays black, your backlight or display panel is dead. The phone is technically on; you just can't see it.

Actionable steps to take now

If you've tried the buttons and the charger and still have a paperweight, here is your path forward:

1. Perform the "Three-Button Shuffle" again: Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold the Side button for a full minute. Many people give up too early.
2. Inspect the Port: Clean out the lint with non-conductive material (wood or plastic).
3. Swap the Wall Plug: Don't just swap the cable; the USB wall adapter itself can fail.
4. Connect to iTunes/Finder: See if the computer sees the phone. If it does, you might need to click "Update" to fix a corrupted iOS.
5. Check Battery Health: If you do get it turned on, immediately go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If it says "Service," your power issues will happen again until you get a new battery.

The iPhone 8 is a tank, but even tanks run out of gas or throw a track. Usually, that force restart sequence (Up, Down, Hold) is the magic fix for 90% of "won't turn on" complaints. If that fails after a long charge, it's likely a hardware failure in the power management chip or the battery cell itself.