Is your Google Pixel unresponsive and on black screen? This will go over several common occurrences when it comes to your Google Phone not responding and showing a blank screen. The problem can be caused by either software or hardware causes, so read on to determine the right solution for you!
The Basics
Before undertaking any of the more time-consuming solutions below, here are a few fundamentals to get you started.
- Force Restart your Pixel
- Press and hold power for 30 seconds to force restart for Pixel 5a and earlier.
- Press and hold the power button and volume up button for Pixel 6 and newer.
- Plug your Pixel in to a power source (charger). It could be dead or in low battery mode.
- Verify the display is black rather than too dim to see. Move to a darker space if needed. Issues with auto-brightness or inability to adjust brightness can point to fault in your Ambient Light Sensor.
Dirty or Obstructed Sensors
Along the top edge of the display, several sensors are positioned to report on light levels and distance to a surface (your face, the inside of a pocket, or other).
- Give your screen a good cleaning, especially along the top, where these sensors live. If the sensors are smudged, the phone might think it’s dark out and lower the brightness. To fix this, clean the entire phone screen with a damp microfiber cloth.
- Use screen cleaner for more stubborn grime.
Sensors in the Google Pixel 6 and sensor cutouts in the display
If you recently repaired your device, make sure the gasket around these sensors if there is one), is properly placed.
Sensor Fault
In addition to the ambient light sensor, the proximity sensor may also give you hassle. That's the one that tells the display to turn off when you but it up to your face to make or answer a call. Because these can both change screen behavior, they can also generate unwanted behavior.
- Check for liquid damage along the top edge of the phone. Despite the rated water resistance, the earpiece is a common location for liquid entry. Even a small drop can cause damage to these components and they are often near to the speaker opening.
- Unfortunately if this is the issue, the sensors may be mounted directly to the logic board. Other times it will likely be on another small flex cable with other small components.
Display Malfunction or Damage
Solution: Replace the display.
If your phone is still not responding and has a black screen, try plugging it into a computer. This will provide more insight to your phone’s condition as it will notify you if it detects the phone—letting you know that the phone may be functioning but the screen may not be.
- USB debugging is an optional setting that will give more feedback when the phone is connected to a computer. Unfortunately this setting can only be enabled when your screen is visible and usable.
- Your unresponsive black screen may be caused by a broken screen from a repair attempt or other accidental damage. Look into a replacement screen and follow the associated iFixit guide.
- Display damage may manifest as a visible crack in the glass, but other signs of display damage on an AMOLED display include black blotches, lines or general display anomalies.
Logic Board Malfunction
The logic board is the hub for most of a Pixel's functionality. Any number of the small components on the board may have failed or become damaged and is a safe assumption of cause if nothing else on this page has worked.
- Check for obvious signs of a board issue—burned or cracked components, liquid residue, corrosion, or bend. If there are signs of liquid, the iPhone Liquid Damage Guide might help.
- Replacing the logic board is often the most practical solution for a DIYer whose board has failed.
- Contrary to popular belief, the board itself can be repaired. However, it requires specialized tools and microsoldering know-how. If you’re curious and want to know more about getting into micro soldering, here’s some good reading and some good watching to get you started.
crwdns2944067:027crwdne2944067:0
Awesome that a broken screen means you cant factory reset the phone, because I have tried the steps here a dozen times with no success.
David Budd - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Yes, very smart when you look up how to reset a phone with a broken screen the instructions say to select an option shown on the screen. Very helpful (sarcasm)
Adam -
Hi, please I have Google pixel 5a, the phone just went off by itself and won’t power back. I have charged the battery for more than an hour, press the power button for a minute and even tried hard reset but nothing is showing. It gets warm whilst on charge but nothing happens either.
Abu-Bonsrah Harrison - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I had the exact same problem. My Pixel 5a simply shut off, and it will not turn back on, even if I charge it. Im not sure what to do.
Daniel Kobrinski -
I have Google pixel 7 Pro. The screen had some flickering green and black stripes for a few days and then turned all blank black. The phone is still on because I can feel the vibration haptics when I touch it. But the screen does not light up. It remains BLANK AND BLACK. The ALWAYS ON feature is not displaying anything on the screen.
I am unable to turn it off because I can't tell what's on the screen when I hold down the power button.
I can't do hard factory reset also because I can't see what on the screen when I hold down together the power button and volume down button.
The phone is still on because I can locate it and ring it with the Find My Device app on my other Android phone. It still charges ( I can see the battery % on the Find My Device site)
How do I reset the phone when I can't see the screen
Umz - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I expect that your issue relates more to faulty hardware than software. Perhaps you could try opening the phone and checking that the display cable is properly seated as in Screen Disconnect. If this has no effect, you'll probably want to replace your screen completely.
Austin Blakely -
DON'T OPEN YOUR PHONE or mess with any internal stuff - that's the craziest advice. I hope you didn't do this and you have found a way to reboot!
**FYI anyone coming here for help: My screen literally just did the same thing as Umz's phone but it's a 6 Pro. Charging it and then pressing down Power for 30s did nothing. I tried holding power button and volume up - nothing (I saw a white line flash at the bottom but it disappeared). I then held Power and Vol Down for more than 30 until I got "Fastboot Mode". I immediately went to YouTube for any help on what to do next: https://youtu.be/PY7Bmu73Le8 (I pressed Power button to initiate "start" and it re-booted my phone back to normal). Thanks YouTube :D
Pix.ly -
Pixel 6 Pro with identical problem and symptoms as Umz's comment above.
In July 2022, I replaced a cracked display with an ifixit kit. No issues until now, February 2023.
The phone screen is just black. I can feel the haptics, I can feel the vibration feedback when I attempt to swipe in a code. I did a hard reset from the Power & Volume Up button. I removed the ifixit display, detached the display cable and reattached, but same black screen issue. All the pins look okay on the display.
Possibly bad iFixit display kit?
Rob - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
did u get this working?
issa dare -
I did get this fixed. I contacted iFixit about the display issue after trying all their recommended solutions here. My display was still under warranty, so I contacted iFixit. They mailed a replacement display to me. While the replacement screen was on its way to me, my screen started working. I have no idea how. Over the next 3 weeks, the screen would occasionally black out about once a week, but I could turn it on by touching the screen. I replaced the screen, and have had no issues *since. You have to re-setup the fingerprint scanner again, but everything works for me. Thanks to the iFixit support staff that helped me!
*corrected my bad spelling
Rob -
My phone screen just went black and unresponsive and when I held the power button and volume up button for about 30 seconds it rebooted and is working like normal again.
Shelly Wolfe - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
on two of my pix 4a my screen stays black after it turns of on its own due to display auto turn off. everything is working in the background, like spotify, youtube or other apps but i cant turn the screen back on and have to hard restart the phones. it begun on both phones simultaneously after a google update. it happens not allways but sometimes. i couldnd pinpoint it to any app.
it turns on normally after pushing on/off button for more than 30sec, causing a restart.
anyone got the same problem?
Broxin - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Temp Fix!
My wife's phone was having the black screen and green flicker for a while. She was having to power cycle the phone (press and hold power button for 30 seconds) 20+ times a day. She is in the process of getting the screen replaced from google warrenty. But until that could happen I disabled the "Always on" display in the settings. (Instructions: https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-7...). The green flicker was also draining her battery life.
After making this change her phone has not needed a power cycle for the past 3 days and her battery life is normal again.
Bart Hake - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
for my 5a it was a connector and when I followed an online guide it called 911 when mashing buttons, and then fried the motherboard.
Aaron Peterson - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
4/29/2023 - For the past week my phone has started shutting off. Also, the screen becomes unresponsive and black but I can hear it unlocking and what not, The soft restart was fixing it. Not anymore. The screen flickers extremely bright white and green then goes black, a split second. So i can't use my phone now! sick! never dropped it, not even 6 months old
Ryan Barnhart - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I paid 1k for this pixel 7 Pro. If I try to use an ifixit kit on my own device it voids the warranty, so let's figure out a better solution, Google!
Ryan Barnhart - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
My 6 Pro went totally black for literally no reason. Plugging it into the charger i felt the haptic response but nothing. Pressing down Power for 30s did nothing. I tried holding power button and volume up - nothing (I saw a white line flash at the bottom but it disappeared). I then held Power and Vol Down for more than 30 until I got "Fastboot Mode". I immediately went to YouTube for any help on what to do next: https://youtu.be/PY7Bmu73Le8 (I pressed Power button to initiate "start" and it re-booted my phone back to normal). YouTube FTW :D
Pix.ly -
You can't choose any options (button or otherwise) on the screen...IF THE SCREEN IS BLACK!! How is this article helpful at all????
Boyd La Rue - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
i have google pixel 3 a lcd totally broken cant show dispalky but its turn on i want to show display on laptop while im connecting with usb cable property portal
Makkaan Official - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
I have two pixel 5a phones. One had a black screen of death and didn't turn on after 11 months of use. I did everything I can do. But no result. Then the other one also got the same problem after 14 months of use. One phone was suddenly turned off (bricked) while watching a video captured by camera app. Other one was bricked while taking a Night Sight photo from the camera app. Both of the phones are now useless and really disappointed about the software/hardware of Google.
Thusitha Manathunga - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Can someone with a working screen go into the menu, and record the correct order and number of button presses to get to the factory reset?
Albert - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
number of button presses? how should we suppose to do that? if your screen is broken, how do you want to get into the settings at all?
Broxin -
pixel4a: my screen stops working like every month once and i have to hard restart it or sometimes it comes back to life if i push the power button three times and the "choose camera app" menu comes up and brings the display back to life (but very laggy)
thats really weird. happens on two pixel4a phones
everything works in the background, sound, vibration... its just the display that stays black. weird.
anyone else has this problem?
Broxin - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
bonsoir Mon téléphone Google pixel 6 pro ne s'allume pas
Souleymane savadogo - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Mon pixel 6 s'est éteint d'un coup, avec 40% de batterie, depuis rien a faire, toutes les manipulations pour le redémarrer ou debugger ou remise en usine, rien de marche, j'ai chargé toute la nuit avec plusieurs ou chargeur, j'ai vérifié la nappe de l'écran c'est bien enfoncé, j'ai remplacé la batterie, c'est pas ça également, je ne trouve pas de solution, c'était il y a 2 mois à peu près
Merci pour vos réponses
Romain Merlier - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
Personne n'a de réponse à m'apporter ?
Romain Merlier - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0
J'ai essayé et j'ai constaté que le menu système est perdu et seulement s'affiche bienvenu sur votre pixel en dessous duquel il apparaît francais puis après accessibilité et commencer qui lorsque j'appuie l'envoie vers les réseaux de connexion dont le wifi affiche toujours impossible de se connecter
Marius HOUNKPATI - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0