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AIBU?

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Original poster

Please can I get some advice from people who know about iPhones? I’m in bits.

88 replies

iphonemisery · 12/09/2019 14:13

I’m sorry I know this isn’t really the right place to be posting this, but I need some advice. I think my battery is completely dead on my iPhone and this means I’ve now lost a lot of photos and videos of my children. I’ve tried plugging it in for a long time, tried the hard reset thing, and nothing is happening. Just a black screen!

I did have them backed up on GooglePhotos - or so I thought. They’re not showing on my google account at all Sad

What can I do now? Can I replace the battery and still keep my data? I’m actually unable to focus on anything right now and my anxiety is through the roof because I’m so devastated about potentially losing everything.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? And did you have a happy ending with your phone?

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 12/09/2019 19:19

Won’t you just get everything back when you log in again with your Apple ID?

coconuttelegraph · 12/09/2019 19:24

Maybe get an android phone once you get this sorted, a battery going dead doesn't mean you lose anything and backing up your photos on googlephotos couldn't be easier if it tried and I say this as someone who is totally baffled by gmail and other google things. You literally don't have to do anything, they automatically back up it seems

TamarindCove · 12/09/2019 19:25

I would also try another charger, I find them to be very temperamental.

Are iPad and iPhone chargers really different? When I buy new lightening/usb charging cables they don’t specify which device they are for?

MissTicPizza · 12/09/2019 19:26

I had exactly this problem and did a forced restart and it sprang back into life. If you google forced restart and your iPhone model it will give you instructions on how to do it.

Neverender · 12/09/2019 19:28

Yeah the backlight makes it possible for you to read the screen - sounds like it's nothing terminal. Take it to someone and I'm sure they will fix it x

But then back up everything to the cloud - my sister in law didn't and really regretted it x

TamarindCove · 12/09/2019 19:28

The other thing you could try is pressing and holding the home button and the button on the right hand side simultaneously for about 30 seconds and see if it comes back on. This worked for me once but I don’t remember what had happened beforehand to warrant it!

Baileyscheesecake · 12/09/2019 19:33

My iPhone died and I took it to a guy on our local market who changed the battery. All my photos were still there once it had a new battery Smile Good luck!

PatsyStone39 · 12/09/2019 19:39

iPhones occasionally do this.

Hold the home button (the circular one at the bottom) and the power on/off button. Press them at the same time and hold until you see the apple. This should reset your phone. If it doesn't, it's likely a battery issue.

Elodie2019 · 12/09/2019 20:03

Another suggestion to try a different charger. Also, local repair shop cheaper and better than apple in my experience. They will open it up and test a new battery in front of you.

SuzieBishop · 12/09/2019 20:08

OP I had this a couple of months ago!! I’d accidentally chucked my phone in my bag next to a boiling bottle of milk and goosed it. I could only use it for 5 minutes before it would just switch off and could only get it back on by plugging it into the computer. Like you I was devastated but I just went to the apple shop and she switched everything over to a new phone for me. So don’t panic and make an appointment!!

MrsExpo · 12/09/2019 20:38

Yes, take it to an Apple store. If the battery is dead they can replace it.

Do you have a friend or family member who could download your precious pictures to another storage source for you? Consider getting the most precious ones printed. What would you do if you lost your phone or it was stolen?

JoyTurner · 12/09/2019 22:20

Get an old toothbrush and clean the charging port before charging, worked for mine.

Ghostpost · 12/09/2019 22:26

Plug in the charger, and press down the on button and home button at the same time. This has happened to me once or twice. It’s easy to reset.

BittaBanter · 12/09/2019 23:44

Sorry to hijack with a possible silly question. Like the op I don’t have a laptop or computer. How can I log onto my iCloud to see what photos are stored there? I’ve never been able to figure this out Blush

MissSingerbrains · 13/09/2019 00:12

What model is it? Just trying to work out if it’s old or not. Also some of the previous advice about restarting only works for certain models - newer ones don’t have a home button.

Mine overheated once and seemed totally dead for a while - I was panicking! It then sprung back to life, phew!

butterandbread · 13/09/2019 01:12

I don’t know if it’ll help or not (or if anyone else may have said) but even with iPhone 8 and up, so those with a solid home button, you can still put them into recovery mode or for a restart.

Press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button, and then hold the power/lock button until you hopefully see the Apple logo. This will have restarted it, might be worth a try!

serenoa · 13/09/2019 01:40

This is an Apple support document that might help.

This link is another Apple support document for anyone updating the iPhone OS to the latest version.

I'm sure the Apple store people will be able to fix it for you, though.

Original poster
iphonemisery · 13/09/2019 06:04

MissSingerbrains It’s an iPhone 6.

I managed to get some sleep last night but I’m feeling really bad this morning. I’ve been suffering with PND and those pictures are all the happy moments that I can look back on. There are hundreds of them. It’s really pushed me further down this Sad

OP posts:
MeganTheVegan · 13/09/2019 06:08

Ignore all suggestions and head straight to an Apple store. They are very helpful and I am sure can retrieve your photos for you.

Let us know how you get on.

Original poster
iphonemisery · 13/09/2019 06:14

I’m really thankful for all the advice but before I do anything myself I’m going to go to an “Apple approved” shop in my local town. The actual Apple Store is too far for me.
Also people’s experiences with mobile phone people on market stalls for example, that’s left another option open for me. I don’t want the guys in this shop to delete anything and if they say they have to to get it working I’ll try one of the smaller shops and there are loads locally.

OP posts:
UnicornPug · 13/09/2019 06:41

Funnily enough, my daughter’s 6 just stopped working this week too. She’s on her 3rd screen and we had the battery replaced (not at apple) about 6 months ago so I don’t think we can take ours to Apple. Plus we got it 2nd hand from my sister in law. I’m making her use my old 5 while I work out if there’s anything I can do to salvage it. Do you still think it’s worth taking it somewhere?

OrangeJustice · 13/09/2019 06:47

@coconuttelegraph

Maybe get an android phone once you get this sorted

iCloud does exactly the same thing as Google photos if you set it up for photo storage. And you can have Google photos on an iPhone anyway. I have as I prefer it.

nononever · 13/09/2019 07:37

iCloud does exactly the same thing as Google photos if you set it up for photo storage. And you can have Google photos on an iPhone anyway. I have as I prefer it.

Yes, me too. I don't like Android phones at all, probably because I've had an iPhone since first gen. I use Google photos too on my phone.

joblotbubble · 13/09/2019 08:01

Maybe get an android phone once you get this sorted,

Such a typical Mumsnet response Grin

OP I hope they get it sorted for you

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 13/09/2019 08:21

I would download the Dropbox app in future - it automatically backs your iPhone photos and videos to it

iCloud is crap unless you pay for the extra storage

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