American-made Apple gadgets have a fairly good reputation in terms of quality. But even the legendary iPhone, like any other thing, is not immune from possible breakdowns. The first sign that the smartphone is out of order is that it stops turning on. But you shouldn’t immediately take it to a service center or, having sentenced it to death, throw it in the trash.

The reasons why the iPhone may not turn on are divided into two categories:

• system (everything related to the software component);
• mechanical (visible damage to the case and buttons or damage to parts inside the case).

Diagnosing iPhone system problems at home

As a rule, system malfunctions begin to appear at an earlier stage than the termination of switching on. At first, the smartphone may begin to slow down, become glitchy, applications will stop launching, etc. The reasons for unstable operation and subsequent shutdown of the device may be hidden in the following:

• Unsuccessful independent “opening” of the system (Jailbreak).
• Operating system overload. If the smartphone is actively used with a connection to wireless networks, then overload will not take long to occur.
• iPhone locked after entering the wrong password.

All of the above system problems can be fixed using recovery mode (DFU). Even a beginner can do this. All you need is:

• 1. Launch iTunes;
• 2. Connect the USB cable to your computer and smartphone;
• 3. Simultaneously hold down the home button (“Home”) and the power button (“Power”) and hold for 10 seconds;
• 4. Release the “Power” button and hold “Home” for another 10 seconds;

After these steps, iTunes should detect the iPhone in DFU (recovery) mode and activate it. Once the process is completed, you can turn on the gadget and check that the problems have disappeared and it works like new. If the recovery mode did not help, and the smartphone is externally intact, then it makes sense to repeat the above steps again. In other cases, the iPhone should be taken to a service center.

Diagnosing iPhone mechanical problems at home

With mechanical damage everything is much more difficult. The reasons for a smartphone breakdown are usually the same: the iPhone fell, “swimmed” in water, hit, and so on. As a result of these adventures, the gadget stops turning on, cracks, chips and scratches appear on the case and display. Also, the device processor itself may fail, which is even worse, since repairs will cost much more (a complete replacement of the entire board will be required). Well, the most harmless thing that can happen to an iPhone is that the battery life is approaching the end. The problem, accordingly, can be solved by simply replacing the battery.

How to fix iPhone at home

If you buy components and tools, you can try to repair the device yourself. To do this, you need to remove the back cover with a special screwdriver. As a rule, it is this that creates the greatest difficulties. And replace damaged parts (buttons, glass or sensor). When bringing an iPhone back to life, it is important that the work area is kept as clean as possible, as dust ingress can ruin all your efforts. If you are not sure that your skills are enough to repair the gadget, then it is better to entrust it to the hands of professionals.

Everyone knows: equipment from the Apple brand is highly reliable and has a long service life. IPhone, of course, enjoys the greatest popularity and sincere trust among consumers all over the world. Every year, loyal fans of the brand wait for a fresh new update of the famous smartphone. However, any equipment is not immune from breakdowns. Fortunately, many problems can be fixed if you entrust your iPhone to professionals in a timely manner. Depending on the complexity of the problem, diagnosing and correcting the breakdown is possible at a service center, but iPhone repairs are often carried out promptly at home - for example, similar services have been offered by AppleLab for several years. Today we will look at the most iPhone malfunctions, find out why they occur, and how they can be fixed.

Perhaps this is one of the most frequent and annoying breakdowns. Without a properly working touchscreen, we cannot fully use the phone. Even if the sensor is still sensitive to pressure, but the glass is broken or severely cracked, this makes working with the smartphone much more difficult. For example, specks, display ripples, flickering, colored dots and dead pixels occur.

Causes:

• severe mechanical damage;
• hitting a hard surface;
• liquid gets on the screen.

Solution: Most often, a failed touchscreen needs to be completely replaced. However, it is likely that the problem lies in the module itself. There is also a chance that contamination has occurred in the contacts or on the surface of the display, so the sensor may malfunction. Then you just need to clean the screen and the space under it - the main thing is to entrust this task to specialists.

By the way, if experts consider a factory defect to be the cause of the sensor failure, the repair will be carried out under warranty. In other cases, replacement will be carried out at the expense of the owner of the phone.

To reduce the risk of such a situation occurring, we recommend purchasing protective glass or film from the manufacturer for the iPhone touch screen in advance.

Protective glass

Damage to the case cover or Home button

Cracks and scratches on the case spoil the appearance of the smartphone - it no longer looks brand new. And the problem with the Home button will not allow you to fully use all the functionality of the device: it will stick and not immediately respond to controls. Fortunately, cases, protective back panels and simply careful handling can save you from mechanical stress on the “body” of the phone.

Home button

Causes: a problem with the case and buttons can arise due to careless operation of the equipment, a fall, a strong impact, or moisture getting inside the structure.

Solution: If damage, chips or scratches occur on the iPhone case, it is strongly recommended to immediately replace the back cover. If, for example, liquid gets on your device and the Home button fails, it is best to also contact the service center directly.

The mechanism of the button can be restored by professional cleaning of the device - perhaps it will be enough to remove the formed oxidation products on the contacts.

If the damage to the button is purely mechanical, then most likely the iPhone will have to be completely soldered or the faulty button module with a cable must be replaced (the same applies to the volume keys). If the device has not been in contact with water, has not been subjected to mechanical damage, and the buttons still do not work, perhaps the main problem lies in a serious breakdown of the processor or motherboard. In this case, professional diagnostics by a specialist will be required to clarify the problem.

Battery problems

With any equipment, be it tablets or smartphones, the battery begins to discharge faster over time: on average, the battery life is designed for a couple of years of stable operation. iPhone owners may also encounter this problem. Daily intensive use of a smartphone leads to a gradual deterioration in battery charge retention. Often another, much more serious problem arises - the battery does not charge at all, no matter how hard you try.

Causes:

• failure of the original charger;
• operation of an unsuitable “charger”;
• damage to the connector or cable from Apple;
• power controller malfunction.

Solution: Check if the charger is working normally. It is possible that if you use another one, the battery charge will continue. True, there is a nuance here: when using a cheap charger that is not certified and unsuitable for your model, there is a risk of deteriorating battery performance. Low-quality “chargers” do not regulate voltage fluctuations in the network in any way, which can ultimately damage the device’s battery. If you are convinced that the problem is not in the “charger”, check if the Lighting connector is broken - what if it does not hold the charger cable tightly? Press the connectors harder and see if the charging process continues. If a failure occurs in the connector, you need to contact service for help.

Speaker or microphone does not work

Long-term wear of the device, ingress of dust, dirt or liquid - and the speaker and microphone no longer work with the same power. The sound weakens, adjusting the volume does not help, the interlocutor cannot hear you, and you cannot hear him. What to do? The most important thing at the initial stage is to find out the possible cause of the malfunction.

Causes: In the case of ear speaker failure, the problem may be in the cable. This is the pin that connects the speaker and the iPhone's motherboard. Microphone failure often occurs due to a manufacturer’s software failure, as well as moisture getting on the cable or inside the microphone itself.

Solution: If the speaker stops working or reproduces sound at full strength, it is better not to disassemble the phone yourself, but to contact a qualified specialist. A careful inspection of the cables, contact points and other parts will help identify the cause of the problem. If necessary, both the speaker and microphone can be replaced at an affordable price.

Wi-Fi module malfunction

Statistics show that most users purchase a smartphone to access the Internet at any time. But what if the wireless connection does not work and you cannot access the network? The Wi-Fi module may be damaged.

Wi-Fi module

Causes: as a result of physical impact, the chip (module) may come off the printed circuit board; there may also be failures in the software or in the wiring of the Wi-Fi circuit.

Solution: repairing a failed module is an almost meaningless procedure; it will be much cheaper and more reliable to completely replace this element.

Damage to the system board

The motherboard is the heart of any technology. It has a lot of contacts, electronic elements, and controllers. The motherboard houses the processor that powers the iPhone's functionality, optimization, and performance. If a serious failure occurs in the motherboard, this can lead to a complete and sudden stop of the smartphone.

iPhone 6 motherboard

Causes:

• dropping the phone from a great height, hitting it hard on a hard surface;
• penetration of a large amount of moisture into the device and resulting corrosion on internal electronic components.

Solution: if you suspect that the problem lies specifically in the system board, do not try to do anything yourself, otherwise you risk completely destroying the device. It is best to contact a service center, where a comprehensive examination and accurate diagnosis of the “insides” of your smartphone will be carried out.

Something is wrong with the photo: the camera does not work

The iPhone camera is one of the most important elements of a smartphone. Due to the complex design and high sensitivity to minimal damage, we recommend that you handle the camera carefully: do not drop the device and, equally important, do not allow water to get on or inside the body.

Causes: The most common reason why the iPhone's main camera may not work is mechanical damage. The camera may fail due to the phone falling or serious cracks in the lens. If water gets inside the device, it can cause a short circuit and the formation of oxidation products on the contacts. In addition, the camera may not work due to a problem with the software, installation of programs and applications containing errors.

Solution: You can try to remove the suspicious camera application. If the problem is not this at all, but a deeper software failure, it is best to reflash the phone (it is risky to do this yourself; it is advisable to entrust this task to specialists). Mechanical damage to the camera can also be successfully “treated”: the service center will be able to replace the camera completely, or a separate cable, which will be even cheaper.

IPhone does not want to see the network

Sometimes iPhone owners notice that the device takes a long time to search for a network or that the network indicator does not appear on the display at all. The problem of finding a network is a serious one, because in this case you will not be able to make voice calls and send messages.

Causes:

• modem damage;
• failure of the modem controller;
• failure of the data reception and transmission sensor;
• The problem is in the coaxial cable.

Solution: This problem can only be corrected in a service center or when the device is inspected by a specialist at home.

The device does not turn on

And finally, one of the most common and complex problems: the power button does not work or when pressed the iPhone simply does not turn on.

Causes: physical impact, a small amount of liquid getting inside the device, oxidation of the contacts. It is also possible that the iPhone does not turn on due to severe overheating of the case or increased load.

Solution: It is likely that a complete diagnosis of the device will be required, followed by disassembly of the elements. If the iPhone does not turn on due to problems with the button, it will be enough to just replace the cable or additionally solder the contacts.

Conclusion

Of course, malfunctions may occur in any equipment from time to time for various reasons, but the user always has the opportunity to prevent risks. For example, treat the device with care, do not use it near water, try not to drop it on the floor, etc. To further protect your iPhone, purchase cases, as well as protective glass or films in advance. Well, if a breakdown could not be avoided, we recommend not to waste time and not engage in self-diagnosis of the device. It is best to seek qualified help and get quality advice about your iPhone.

Information that may be useful in self-diagnosis and troubleshooting

iPhone 5S diagnostics

At the end of 2017, the most frequently repaired iPhone is Apple iPhone 5S. It displaces the four and the usual five from the market, since its performance is still enough to “pull” the latest iOS, it is small in size (compared to 6, 7) and very easy to maintain

Phone diagnostics

In this article we will not talk about simple causes of failure - broken screens, old swollen batteries and stuck buttons; the purpose of this article is to shed some light on the diagnostics of the iP5S motherboard. All instructions provided below are designed for technicians and services who are just beginning to understand component repair of motherboards. If you are not involved in phone repair, then this article is not for you, you need. If there is a client phone in front of you, and this is your first iPhone on which you decided to try yourself as an advanced repairman, then put it aside, go to Avito and buy a phone for experiments. SYSTEM-SERVICE company is not responsible for your actions after reading this article.

What you need to have before you start

1. Multimeter with thin sharp probes (Mastech have proven themselves well)
2. A set of screwdrivers (pentalob, small cross, large cross for “double-deck” bolts that secure the board) (screwdriver set on Ali)
3. Several tweezers of different calibers (set of tweezers on Ali)
4. Soldering station with hair dryer (as well as flux and solder in a coil), the cheapest option is YaXun 878D.
5. Laboratory power supply min. 0-5V 1A (any power supply unit within one thousand five hundred rubles in your supplier store)
6. Understanding of basic circuitry (boost, buck converters, properties of basic electronics, basic electrical laws)

So, in front of you is a brick that shows no signs of life

We remove the largest shield from the back of the phone board using a hair dryer, trying to remove it quickly and not overheat the microcircuits under it. Be sure to remove all black protective stickers from the shields and around the connectors (touch, display, battery, etc.) before heating with a hairdryer, otherwise they will melt and when you need to remove them, you will rip small capacitors and resistors off the board.

The shield was removed find U7(further in the article the generally accepted names of microcircuits will be used, if you don’t have the slightest idea what U7 is, then look at the diagram), under U7 (on the side opposite the TOSHIBA memory chip) there are 8 capacitors, ring them, then they go in a row 7 inductors, and under them a number of capacitors - power filters for the processor, SoC and GPU. All these system components are located on a single A7 chip and are powered by U7. Orient the board so that the row of the aforementioned capacitors is closest to you, and the TOSHIBA memory chip is on the opposite side. Ring the capacitors using a diode or ordinary ringer. There should be no ringing; ringing means a short circuit on one of the power lines. If at this stage you suspect that you have found a short circuit, determine which power line it is - SoC, GPU or CPU. Using the diagram, find the capacitors sitting on this bus. If the phone is after water, then, for sure, some containers are closed. Use a hairdryer to remove the most “suspicious” capacitors if the phone is drowned. If the phone stops turning on by itself and there are no traces of water, then only luck and experience will help you identify the failed capacitor.

If there were no problems with the wiring of the power supply circuits of the A7 chip, look for the short circuit elsewhere.

All capacitors were removed, but the short circuit remained

For drowned people, the short may be inside the BGA matrix under the chip. To start, place flux on the side of the chip and blow it under the chip. Now your task will be to warm up the space under the chip so that the flux will corrode and remove possible corrosion. Don't heat the chip to melting point and wait for it to float. Heat until the flux burns out or evaporates. After the board has cooled, wash off the remaining flux and check the result. Did not help? Remove the chip if you have not done this before, good advice: do not skimp on the temperature, set the hair dryer to 400-450 and minimal air flow, heat the target chip and “push” it with tweezers to feel the moment when it floats on the solder. Remove with either tweezers or a vacuum remover. Then either reball (we do not recommend) or bet a new one. In any case, clean the contact pads well with braid and change the flux several times. There should be no problems with installing the microcircuit; it will “float” just as well.

There is no closure, but no start either

Hook up the battery and the bottom cable, start the board by connecting the charging cable, measure the voltage on the SoC, CPU, GPU power supply. Without a connected display, there should be no power to the GPU; power to the CPU and SoC should be around 1 volt. If there is no short circuit and one of these supplies is missing, consider replacing U7. All voltages are present, the board warms up a little, boots, but there is no picture? Measure the voltage on the backlight capacitor (in the diagram S131), if it is not there, then you either missed a short circuit, or the diode or backlight driver has failed. They are for replacement. Changing the backlight driver is quite unpleasant; there is a memory chip nearby that should not be overheated. Place a heavy coin on it or wrap it with thermal tape + foil so that the air from a hot hair dryer hits it as little as possible. The capacitor and backlight driver are common culprits for the lack of pictures on the 5S. There is high voltage (20V) and when water gets in, this place burns out first.

Turned on but won't charge

On the 5S, the TRISTAR chip is to blame. Change it. Of course, the article assumes that you have already tried to change the battery and the lower cable.

In addition to the tristar, transistor Q2 (a four-legged microcircuit) can create problems with charging; it can be replaced; in some cases, a jumper is thrown there.

Sometimes it is difficult for iPhone owners to determine the problem on their own, especially if the problem is not visually detectable. It often happens that an external microphone does not work. Phone owners do not pay attention to its malfunction for several months, since they hardly use it. During diagnostics, specialists even check those functions of the iPhone and iPad that the average user is not aware of.

What should you check when diagnosing an iPhone or iPad?

In order to conduct a quality diagnosis, you need to keep the following list in front of you and follow it from start to finish so as not to miss anything.

- Checking the physical buttons and the “vibrate” button on the iPhone. This includes the Home button (it should work 10 times out of 10 presses), Power, volume control and silent mode. All buttons should respond with a response from the phone and a characteristic click. When you turn on the silent mode, a vibration signal should be triggered.

- iPhone network check. With the SIM inserted, all you need to do is make a call. With this call, you can immediately check the following two points.

- Check microphones and speakers and iPhone headset. This is easy to do when calling. It is enough to have two phones with you. You need to call from one to the other, bring them to your left and right ears and count to 10, pausing between words. All numbers should sound clear on both phones. This way you can check the internal microphone and speaker. To check the external microphone and speaker, you need to turn on the speakerphone and repeat the test. Also at this point you can check the headphones, three buttons and microphone on the headset.

-Checking the iPhone proximity sensor. When making a call, you need to cover the top of the screen with your hand. This is a command for the phone to turn off the display and touchscreen so that the speakerphone does not turn on during a conversation.

- Wi-Fi If the iPhone 10 steps from the router shows 1-2 bars on the Wi-Fi network indicator, this means that the Wi-Fi module and antenna are working normally.

- Checking the camera and flash. To check, you need to photograph a dark plane with a flash. In photographs, the flash should spread strictly from the center of the photograph and not illuminate any one corner. When taking a close-up shot (3-4 cm), the camera should focus on its own. Don't forget about the front camera. In the resulting photographs, you need to look to see if there are any dark spots or stripes.

- Checking the iPhone display (screen) In order to make sure that the screen is of high quality and well installed, it is enough, with the screen turned on (preferably with a dark background at full brightness), to press on the glass next to the speaker and next to the Home button. You don't need to press hard, light pressure is enough. If spots appear on the screen when pressing, this means that the screen is either of poor quality or poorly installed. Also, the display should not have dead pixels (bright colored dots that are clearly visible when turning the iPhone on and off)

- Checking the iPhone charging/sync connector Judging by the name of the connector, its task is to charge and connect the iPhone to iTunes. If, when connected to USB, the computer reacts with a characteristic sound, and the phone is charged at least 1%, the test can be considered successful. In iPhone models up to and including 4S, this connector also transmits an analog audio signal. This means that it should stream music when connected to a docking station with speakers. You also need to visually check the connector for debris and dust inside.

How to do a full diagnostic of iPhone, iPad and Mac?

If you buy a phone second-hand, it would be best for you to make an appointment with the seller at our service center and ask our specialists to check it. During the inspection, our specialists, in addition to basic diagnostics, will also check moisture sensors and the presence of solder marks on the motherboard of the iPhone, iPad, Mac. These are very important factors that affect the condition and cost of the device.
Also, during diagnostics, our specialists clean the phone, including such hard-to-reach places as the speaker, connectors, microphones, etc.

This manual is also intended for iPhone Xs and Xr

iPhone diagnostics are a mandatory component of almost every Apple phone repair. If the gadget accidentally slips out of your hands onto the asphalt or falls into the water, the owner may not notice any irregularities in its operation. If the iPhone diagnostics are ignored, they will make themselves known later. As a result, failures not detected in time will lead to the need for expensive repairs.

Do not forget that a malfunction can have different causes. And only professional intervention will help find out the true ones. A timely detection of a malfunction and prompt repair will save you from major operational problems and help to extend the life of your phone for a long time. Let's look at when iPhone diagnostics are required and how they are carried out.

Why do you need iPhone diagnostics?

When submitting a request to the service center, tell us about what happened to the gadget: it could have been damaged by a fall, a strong impact, liquid getting on it, or downloading unknown applications. Typical user complaints are as follows:

• iPhone won't turn on. This may indicate either a malfunction of the Power button or more serious malfunctions. It is difficult for a non-professional to determine the true cause, so in order to save money and time, the gadget should be immediately entrusted to specialists.
• The phone is not charging. The cause may be a defective charger, a malfunction of the microcontroller, or a damaged battery. An experienced technician will save money by correctly identifying the cause of the problem. Often, turning to non-professionals results in the owner being convinced to change the battery, although in fact it is just the connector that has oxidized.
• The touchscreen does not work at all or is slow. The reason for this may be even a small crack after a fall or moisture, as well as software failures and damage to the cable. Diagnostics of iPhone 5 and other models allows you to understand whether the touch panel needs to be replaced or can be repaired.
• The device does not catch the network or does not maintain a connection. This may indicate damage to the antenna module or software failures. After the master’s work, the true reason will become clear.

In all cases, the malfunction requires professional analysis. It is highly not recommended to disassemble the iPhone 5s yourself - this will lead to more serious damage. Very often, specialists have to, in addition to the main malfunction, replace torn cables or a broken case due to independent attempts to disassemble.

How is an iPhone diagnosed?

After submitting your application, the technician will arrive at your office or home with all the tools to check your phone and repair it. Diagnostics of iPhone 4 and later models takes place in two stages:

• Checking the functionality of all gadget buttons, as well as the charger connector. The operation of the touchscreen, volume control and other functions is also checked. At this stage, you can identify the main problems and determine what exactly will require replacement.
• Detailed analysis, which is carried out after disassembling the device. Special devices test each element of the motherboard, checking the functionality of all microcircuits and the power circuit. This is a complex process that can only be performed by a specialist with extensive experience. Diagnostics of iPhone 5 S and earlier models will allow you to see even the slightest irregularities.

Remember that timely identification of minor faults often saves you from major repairs and high costs. Diagnostics of the iPhone 4S and other models can be carried out on their own if the owner simply wants to find out if everything is okay with his phone. Based on the results, he will be able to decide whether repairs are needed or whether he can do without it for now.

Who can you trust for iPhone repairs and diagnostics?

iPhone diagnostics in our service center is a guarantee of finding even the smallest faults. This is a necessary operation before any repair. You can learn more about the prices for eliminating various problems by calling our consultants. We will be happy to answer any questions regarding the repair of Apple gadgets. Our specialists are able to perform repairs of any complexity right at your home or office. Don’t delay repairs, contact us right now!