In most cases we can recover data from a dead iPhone, even when Apple refuses to help. What's important is knowing what failed, having the skill to fix it & most importantly not erasing the phone in the process.
Why Won’t My iPhone Turn On?
There are many reasons an iPhone might be dead, reboot constantly, or show no image. These problems don’t mean your data is gone. Most iPhones we recover data from just needed a board-level repair to get working long enough to get the data from them.
Common Tech Problems That Stop iPhones From Working
iPhone X, Random Restarts or Bootlooping
If your iPhone X reboots every 3–5 minutes or freezes randomly, the cause is usually:
- A bad battery that isn’t providing data (missing TG0B/TG0V sensor readings in the panic log).
- A bad charging port flex (Prs0 or Mic1 missing in panic log).
These problems are usually fixed by replacing the battery or charging flex, or repairing broken I2C data lines. Panic log analysis helps us figure out what's going on quickly. [source]
iPhone 13, Random Restarts Every Few Minutes
iPhone 13 models restart in a loop if specific flex cables are damaged or unplugged. Common panic log codes include:
- 0x1000: Proximity sensor flex issue (screen-attached flex).
- 0x800: Charging port flex issue.
- 0x4000: Battery data line problem (check battery connector pins).
- 0x400: On the iPhone 13 Mini only — logic board gyro line problem requiring pad repair.
These are fixed by testing with known good OEM flexes or replacing that flex. For 13 Mini, microsoldering can be required to repair the bottom board gyro lines. [source]
iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, Bootlooping After Drop or Repair
Common hardware causes of restart loops on iPhone 14 and 14 Plus include:
- 0x400000: Wireless charging flex (back glass) not detected.
- 0x100000: Charging port flex disconnected or damaged.
- 0x200000: Proximity sensor flex (on the screen) issue.
- 0x500000: Communication issue between the battery and motherboard (or possibly the Taptic Engine).
Fixing in this case usually means replacing affected flexes with OEM parts and testing w/ diode mode. Sandwich board separation can also cause panic log code 0x20000. [source]
iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max, Restarting or Stuck on Logo
iPhone 14 Pro models have lots of issues after back glass or screen replacement, particularly when it's went wrong! Look for the following panic codes:
- 0x80000: Proximity flex failure.
- 0x40000: Charging port flex failure.
- 0x100000: Power button flex failure.
- 0x20000: Sandwich separation or gyro U7300 detection failure.
Fixing this means checking flex connections & sensors. For sandwich issues, bottom board reballing may be necessary. [source]
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus — Random Restarts or Bootlooping
The newest iPhones share similar failure points:
- 0x200000: Wireless charging flex issue.
- 0x80000: Charging port flex issue.
- 0x100000: Proximity sensor flex issue.
- 0x280000: Multiple sensor flexes not detected.
Restarts can be fixed by replacing dead parts w/ good ones; Interposer layer faults may require sandwich board rework. [source]
iPhone X — No Power At All
If your iPhone X won’t turn on, it can be because of a few things:
- A shorted capacitor on PP_VDD_MAIN, PP_VDD_BOOST, or NAND power lines (e.g., PP3V0_NAND).
- Liquid damage & corrosion around important ICs.
- A RAM short which causes current draw to jump around after prompt to boot.
Diagnosis for this usually means voltage injection and thermal imaging to locate the failed component. Or putting the board to your face :) but thermal cameras mean no more of this... Shorted caps are removed; often no replacement is necessary. RAM-related failures require advanced board repair and are more difficult. [source]
iPhone X — No Display (But Phone Is On)
If the phone vibrates, rings, or shows signs of life but the screen stays black, you may have one of these issues:
- Blown FL5783 filter on the PP3V0_DISPLAY_CONN line.
- Damaged image chokes L5700, L5710, etc. due to pry damage.
- Screw hole damage which broke image lines.
These are fixed by replacing the damaged filter under a microscope with BGA soldering tools. [source]
iPhone X — No Touch Input
This is usually because of motherboard layer separation or flex damage. :
- Separation between the top board & interposer (sandwich separation).
- Damage on the bottom board affecting touch power lines like PP5V25_TOUCH_VDDH.
Repairing this means splitting the sandwich board, testing in an iSocket jig, and rebonding after verifying all lines are functional. If bottom board is bad, chips like BBCPU and EEPROM must be transferred to keep access to data SIM recognition. [source]
iPhone X — Bootlooping with iTunes Error 4013
This will happen when there's corrosion or damage to sensor flex cables or bottom board circuits.
- Corroded ear speaker flex (especially ALS/Flood Illuminator) is the #1 cause.
- Interposer separation causing communication errors between board layers.
Fixing this usually entails disconnecting the suspected flex cables & testing with known good. If it boots, replace the bad flex. Otherwise, check for corrosion and have fun chasing issues on the bottom board... [source]
iPhone X — No Service or Wi-Fi Grayed Out
If your iPhone X says “Searching…” or has no Wi-Fi toggle, it's usually due to baseband or Wi-Fi chip failure from sandwich separation.
- Bottom board swap may be needed. Requires transfer of BBCPU, Baseband EEPROM, and optionally NFC and Wi-Fi chips.
- EEPROM reader tools (like JC Module Reader) are used to preserve pairing between old and new boards.
Reassembly and verification in an iSocket jig ensures all functions (touch, SIM, Wi-Fi) are working before finalizing the repair. [source] [source]
