Selling an iPhone That Won't Turn On or Has Water Damage

An iPhone that will not turn on is not worthless. Its screen, cameras, board and other parts still have value, and a phone with water damage usually does too. If yours is dead or took a swim, here is what to try first, how we price it, and what to do about your data and your Apple Account.

Try this before you decide it is dead

A lot of "dead" iPhones are really just a drained battery or a frozen screen.

1. Charge it for an hour with a cable and adapter you know work. A deeply drained battery can take a while before the screen shows anything.
2. Force restart it. On an iPhone 8 or newer, press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
3. Try a different outlet and cable if nothing happens.

If it comes back to life, it is graded like any working phone, by the condition of the screen and the back. How we grade explains the four grades.

If it still will not turn on

If it will not turn on, we can usually still buy it for parts value. We will ask a few questions so we can price it:

• The exact model, and the storage size if you know it.
• What happened: a drop, water, or it simply stopped charging.
• Whether it powers on at all, even for a moment, or shows anything on the screen.
• Any cracks on the screen or the back.

If you are not sure of the model, the IMEI or serial number can identify it. Apple explains where to find them on its serial number and IMEI page, including the spots that do not need the phone to turn on.

Water damage

Water damage is fine for parts pricing. The one thing that matters most is whether it powers on at all, so tell us that when you ask for a quote.

Do not put a wet phone in rice or near heat, and do not keep trying to charge it while it is still wet. Let it dry, then try the steps above. If it works normally after drying, tell us about the water anyway. It helps us price it right and avoids a surprise at the meetup.

Your Apple Account still matters

A phone that will not turn on can still be locked to your Apple Account, and we cannot buy a device that is still iCloud or Activation Locked. Since you cannot sign out on the phone itself, remove it from your account from any browser: sign in at iCloud.com, open Find Devices, pick the phone and remove it. Apple walks through it in remove a device from Find Devices.

That step also means the phone is no longer tied to you. Selling an iCloud locked iPhone covers the other situations.

Repair it first, or sell it as is?

For a phone that will not turn on, repair is a gamble. A repair shop has to diagnose it first, and the fault could be the battery, the charging port, or the board itself. If the repair costs close to what a working phone is worth, selling it as is is usually the better deal. This guide on cracked and broken phones goes deeper on the repair or sell decision.

When a phone is too far gone

Occasionally a device is too damaged to use even for parts, for example when it has been crushed or burned. In that case we will tell you honestly that it falls below what we can take, and we are happy to quote any other device you have.

When you are ready, the sell page gives you a number in about a minute, or you can call or text (562) 999-4994 and describe what happened.

Frequently asked questions

Do you pay for an iPhone that won't turn on?

Usually yes, at parts value. Tell us the model, what happened and whether it powers on at all, and we will price it.

Is water damage a dealbreaker?

No. Water damage is fine for parts pricing. What matters most is whether the phone powers on.

What happens to my data on a phone that won't turn on?

Remove the phone from Find Devices on iCloud.com so it is no longer tied to your Apple Account. If you have a backup, your data is also in iCloud or on your computer.

Should I charge a wet iPhone to see if it works?

No. Let it dry fully first. Charging a phone that is still wet can make the damage worse.