[Tested Solution] Fix iPhone Black Screen Spinning Wheel Randomly

Part 1: Why is My iPhone Having a Black Screen with a Loading Symbol on it?

From the Author:

Sometimes, the black screen with a spinning wheel is just your iPhone doing a quick refresh—this is called a respring. It’s usually not a big deal and can happen occasionally. However, if it keeps happening, I recommend checking for iOS updates or clearing some storage space if your phone is nearly full.

Why is my iphone loading with a black screen? Here are some possible reasons:

• Software Update Issues: Problems during an update can cause the loading screen.
• System Crash: A crash may prevent the device from booting properly.
• Insufficient Storage: Low storage can interfere with system operations.
• Hardware Malfunction: Physical issues may disrupt normal functioning.
• Corrupted Files: Corrupt data can cause the device to hang on startup.

So, why does my iPhone screen go black with a loading circle, and what can I do to fix it? Let’s dive deeper into the causes and solutions.

Part 2: How to Fix iPhone Black Screen Spinning Wheel? - Top 6 Ways

Had my iPhone X since launch, I use it regularly for YouTube and Netflix while my phones on charge and still has many photos of me and my friends. Now it keeps showing the spinning wheel, when I do manage to get on half the apps are not showing but are still there. Any tips on how to fix this without loosing my things? --From iPhone black screen spinning wheel randomly reddit

Way 1: Force Restart iPhone

If your iPhone stays stuck on the black screen and doesn’t recover on its own, then it’s time to take action.

Force restarting your device can help clear out system glitches or overloaded memory that might be causing the issue. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to force restart your iPhone and fix the black screen with spinning wheel.

• If you are using a model earlier than iPhone 7, then long press the Home button and the Sleep button until the screen goes off and Apple logo appears again.
• If you are using an iPhone 7/7 Plus, long press the Volume Down key and the Sleep button until the screen goes off and Apple logo appears again.

• If you are using the latest iPhone 16, then quickly press and let go off volume up and volume down button respectively. Now long press the Sleep button until the screen goes off and Apple logo appears again.

Way 2: The Quickest Way to Fix iPhone Black Screen Spinning Wheel (No Data Loss)

If force restart doesn’t work, the most effective solution is to use iOS System Repair Tool - Tenorshare ReiBoot’s Standard Repair mode. It’s designed to fix system issues like the black screen with spinning wheel—without erasing your data. And the process takes just a few minutes and doesn’t require any technical skills.

ReiBoot can fix the spinning wheel issue in under 5 minutes without erasing your data. It’s also widely trusted by tech sites like Macworld, Cult of Mac, and more. If you want a quick, no-risk fix, this is the option I recommend.

• Download and launch the Tenorshare ReiBoot software on your PC or Mac. Once you have downloaded the software, connect your device to the computer and launch it.

  

• Click "Start" and you'll enter the system repair interface. Click Standard Repair to proeed.

  

• Prior repairing system, you'll be instructed to download the firmware package.

  

• With the firmware package, click on Start Standard Repair. This program start repairing iOS and fixing iPhone black screen spinning wheel.

  

• When finished, ReiBoot will show a "Done" message. After the update is resolved, fixing the issue of the iPhone keeps going black with spinning wheel, your iPhone will restart.

  

What Real Users Are Saying:

Way 3: Restore Your iPhone using iTunes

Another method that you can try is restoring your device using iTunes. In order to make this more effective, you will need to remove your device from iCloud first and then restore it using iTunes. Once you have removed your device from iCloud, follow these steps to solve iPhone black screen loading circle issue.

• Launch iTunes and plug your device to the computer. If it asks for the passcode, enter it.


Note:

If iTunes doesn’t detect your device, put your iPhone into DFU Mode before restoring. This ensures a deeper restore that can fix more serious iOS issues.

• Choose your device when it appears in iTunes. Below the Backups section, select "Restore iPhone" option. Select the database that has the latest date.

  
• Select Restore in the pop-up window and wait for the process to end.

Way 4: Update iOS to the Latest Version of iOS 26

When you see an Apple user on a forum with "iPhone spinning wheel black screen" complaint, 90% chances are that you will get a solution stating to update the device to latest iOS. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to update your device and solve iPhone stuck on black screen spinning wheel issue.

• Head to the Settings and then go to General. Click on the "Software Update" option.
• If you have the latest iOS version, then a message will be shown stating the version number of the iOS and "Your software is up to date" message. If you do not have the latest version, download it. The installation process will begin automatically.

Related topic:

For more information, also read: How to download and install iOS 26

Way 5: Free Up iPhone Storage Space

A lack of free storage space can lead to performance issues that iPhone stuck on black screen with spinning wheel may happen. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and check how much space is available. Remove unnecessary apps, photos, videos, or other files to free up space.

Way 6: Reduce Notification Load to Prevent Black Screen Spinning Wheel

This issue often stems from an old bug related to RAM usage and the Notification Center. To reduce the chance of your iPhone getting stuck on the black screen with a spinning wheel, try turning off as many notifications as possible and clear out past notifications regularly.

This problem has been around since the iPhone 6s era, and with new features like iOS Live Activities, it can get even worse. Starting your phone fresh might only help temporarily. Instead, make sure you keep enough free storage on your device, so it can efficiently swap memory between RAM and storage—this helps your iPhone run more smoothly and avoid system overloads.

Part 3: People Also Ask about iPhone Black Screen Spinning Wheel

Q1. Is the black screen of death fixable?

Yes, in most cases it's fixable using a force restart, software repair tools like Tenorshare ReiBoot, or by restoring the device via iTunes.

Q2. How much does it cost to fix the black screen of death on an iPhone?

If it’s a software issue, you can often fix it for free or with low-cost tools. For hardware problems, Apple repair costs can range from $149 to $599, depending on the model and damage.

Summary

In summary, if your iPhone is stuck on a black screen with a spinning wheel, don’t panic. Most cases can be fixed quickly without data loss. For the fastest and safest solution, I recommend trying ReiBoot’s Standard Repair first.

Still stuck? Drop your question in the comments—we’re here to help!

downloads :

Tenorshare ReiBoot - Fix iOS Issues

rated on Trustpilot >

• Repair iPhone system issues like boot loops, black screens or apple logo effortlessly.
• Easily upgrade or downgrade your iOS without data loss – no tech skills needed.