A Motorola phone that shows no screen, logo, vibration, or charging icon can look completely dead, but many cases are a frozen phone or a battery drained so low it cannot show the charging screen yet.
These steps apply to Moto G, Moto Edge, Razr, and other Motorola phones running recent Android versions.
Does This Affect You?
Use this if pressing the power button does nothing, the phone is black, or the phone appears dead after sitting unused or running out of battery.
Force Restart the Motorola Phone
- Press and hold Power and Volume Down together.
- Keep holding for 10 to 15 seconds even if the screen stays black at first.
- Release when the Motorola logo appears.
- Let the phone finish booting normally.
A force restart does not erase photos, messages, or apps. It only forces stuck hardware and software to restart.
Charge Before Trying Again
- Connect the phone to a known-good charger and cable.
- Plug directly into a wall outlet instead of a computer USB port.
- Leave it alone for at least 15 minutes.
- Hold Power for about 10 seconds.
- If the charging icon appears but the phone will not boot, repeat the force restart while it remains plugged in.
Rule Out Charger and Port Problems
- Try another USB-C cable and charging brick.
- Try another wall outlet.
- Inspect the charging port with a flashlight.
- If you see lint or debris, gently clean with a dry soft brush. Do not insert metal tools.
- Plug in again and wait several minutes for a charging icon.
When to Get Repair Help
Any vibration, brief logo, screen flash, or backlight flicker is a useful sign that the phone has some power and may have a software issue. If there is absolutely no response after 30 minutes on a known-good charger, the battery, port, or board may have failed. Check Motorola or carrier warranty coverage before paying for repair.
Sources
- Motorola Support: My phone will not turn on
- Motorola Support: Force restart a Moto phone
- Google Help: Fix a black screen or phone that will not turn on