Phone Won't Come On

Samsung Galaxy S4come in handy for many reasons. Not only can you call and text, you can send emails, keep appointments in the calendar, surf the web, listen to music, and even play games. It is like carrying around a tiny computer in the palm of your hand. Unfortunately, just like computers, these gadgets do not always work the way we want them to. One of the most dreaded problems with the Samsung Galaxy S4 is getting the black screen. This is such a dreaded error, that is has been deemed "the black screen of death." However, all hope is not lost if you get this error. Fixing the dreaded black screen is easy to do.Why Did the Screen Turn Black?

It remains one of life's great mysteries why some phones succumb to the black screen. However, some causes are known; for instance, your Galaxy may have a hardware problem. This may or may not be fixable, depending on the issue. This issue can come from normal wear and tear or, if for some reason, there has been some physical damage to the phone.

Glitches in one or some of your apps, or in your firmware, can also cause the black screen. Another culprit can be lack of battery power. Before you freak out about having to spend big bucks to get a new phone, there are some things you can do yourself to remedy this problem.

Quick Fixes

You can perform two quick fixes to try to get rid of the awful black screen. The first is just to give your phone time to charge fully while powered off. Keep it plugged into the phone charger and do not remove it until the phone has a full charge.

The other option for repairing the black screen is to do a soft reset on your phone. This is easy to do. Turn the phone off. Hold down the power, or lock, button for ten to fifteen seconds. The phone then reboots and turns itself back on. The black screen should be gone, and your phone should be back running properly. This allows the phone to refresh and eliminate any minor glitches that may have been in your S4. Keep in mind that these fixes may not end the problem permanently. They are just temporary solutions.

Fix the Apps

Often the cause for the black screen of death is an error in one, or some, or the apps. First, be sure that your apps are all up to date. When your phone indicates that an update is available, make sure to complete it. Updates work out any bugs or glitches within the apps or within the software your phone uses. This allows your phone to run properly and efficiently.

Just like a computer, smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy can fall victim to viruses. Therefore, just as you protect your laptop or desktop computer, you should protect your phone. Install a reliable and up to date antivirus or anti-malware app onto your phone. This is important. Viruses can steal your personal information, and may also corrupt the data in your phone. Keep your S4 virus and malware free to avoid that pesky black screen.

Hard Times

If all else fails, and you are still stuck with the black screen of death, you may have to do a hard reset, or a factory reset, on your phone. This restores the phone to its original factory settings. It deletes any information you may have on your phone. You should first remove the back panel of the phone and remove the SIM card can remain in the phone.

Replace the back cover, and plug the phone into the charger. To initiate the recovery menu, hold down the "volume up", "home", and "power" keys all at once. Use the volume keys on the side of the phone to navigate through the recovery menu and choose "Wipe Data/Factory Reset." Press the "power" key to start the factory reset process.