9 Ways to Fix iPhone Grey Screen of Death [2025]

User Concern

“My iPhone 15 Pro screen will just fade to grey for no reason and then restore back to the original after a second or two. It's not frequent but it can happen consecutively at times and I don't know how to fix it. Can anyone help?”

Have you encountered the grey screen issue on your iPhone, like the one described above? It's a common problem that often occurs due to incorrect settings or software bugs on your device.

Many users have experienced this, but the good news is that there are simple solutions. In this guide, we'll walk you through 9 easy fixes to get rid of the grey screen. Follow these steps, and your iPhone screen should be back to normal quickly!

Why Has the iPhone Screen Gone Grey?

Before fixing the issue, it's important to understand why your iPhone screen might turn grey unexpectedly. Here are a few potential reasons:

• iOS Bug: If the issue occurs after an iOS update, a software bug could be the reason.
• Grayscale Mode: On older iPhones, accidentally triple-tapping the Home button can activate grayscale mode.
• Display Settings: Grayscale mode might also be turned on in the Display Accommodations section of the Accessibility settings.
• Hardware Damage: Physical damage to your iPhone could also cause the screen to appear grey.

Basic Tips to Fix iPhone Grey Screen Issue

Here are some basic solutions you can try. They work best if the grey screen issue isn’t persistent.

Way 1: Check If Grayscale Mode is Enabled

If your iPhone screen appears grey, it could be due to the Grayscale feature being turned on. To resolve this, simply turn off Grayscale mode. Here's how:

• Go to Settings > General and scroll down to select Accessibility.
• Tap Color Filters and toggle off the option to disable Grayscale mode.

Way 2: Turn Off Reduce Motion

The Reduce Motion feature on iPhones is designed to help save battery by limiting screen animations, but it can sometimes cause the grey screen issue. To avoid this, you can turn it off by following these steps:

• Open Settings on your iPhone and tap on General.
• Select Accessibility and scroll down to turn off Reduce Motion.
  

Way 3: Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restarting your iPhone is another effective solution if a simple restart doesn’t fix the grey screen. This method often resolves many iPhone issues, including the grey screen. Here's how to force restart your iPhone based on your model:

• For iPhone 6 and earlier: Press and hold both the Power and Home buttons at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Power button and the Volume Down button until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPhone 8 and later: Press the Volume Up button, then quickly press the Volume Down button. After that, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

More Effective Ways to Fix iPhone Grey Screen of Death

If you've followed the three basic steps above and the grey screen on your iPhone persists, try one of these advanced solutions to resolve the issue.

Way 4: Use The Most Reliable Tool (No Data Loss)

If the grey screen persists after trying the basic fixes, it’s likely that a malfunction in the iOS system is causing the grayscale feature to activate unexpectedly. In this case, the best solution is to use FoneGeek iOS System Recovery, a powerful tool designed to fix iOS system issues and restore your screen to normal operation.

Key Features of FoneGeek iOS System Recovery

• Resolves all iOS issues, including iPhone grey screen, screen flickering, unresponsive touch screen, Apple logo stuck, and more.
• Offers a 100% success rate in fixing the grey screen issue with just a few simple steps.
• Supports all iPhone models and iOS versions, including the latest iPhone 14/15/16 series and iOS 16/17/18.
• 100% secure with no privacy invasion or viruses, ensuring a fast and safe fix for your iPhone.

To use the program to fix an iPhone grey screen of death, follow these simple steps below:

• Download and install the FoneGeek iOS System Recovery. Launch it and tap on the Standard Mode.

• Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable. Click on Next and FoneGeek will recognize your device.
• Tap on the version that suits your iPhone and click Download to download the firmware package.

• Once the download is complete, click Fix Now, and FoneGeek will start repairing your device. After the process finishes, your iPhone will restart, and the grey screen issue will be resolved.

Way 5: Restore iPhone with iTunes (Data Loss)

If you don't want to use third-party tools, you can try restoring your iPhone through iTunes. This will reset your device to its default settings, eliminating the grey screen issue. However, please be aware that restoring with iTunes will erase all your data and settings.

Follow these steps to restore your iPhone via iTunes:

• Open the iTunes app on your computer and connect your iPhone using a USB cable.
• Click on the iPhone icon when it appears in iTunes.
• In the Summary section, select Restore iPhone. Click Restore again to confirm and complete the process.

Other Possible Ways to Fix iPhone Grey Screen Problem

Aside from using FoneGeek iOS System Recovery or iTunes, there are other methods available to fix the iPhone grey screen of death by fixing software issues. However, these methods do not guarantee a 100% success rate.

Way 6: Update iPhone to the Latest Version

Updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version can help resolve bugs that may be causing the grey screen issue. Here’s how to update your device:

• Go to Settings on iPhone and click on General.
• Select Software Update.
• If a new iOS version is available, tap Install Now to update your device.

Way 7: Reset All Settings

If updating to iOS 18 hasn't resolved the grey screen issue, resetting all settings may help fix the problem. This can help resolve system-related issues without deleting your personal data. Here's how to do it:

• Open Settings on your iPhone, scroll down and tap General.
• Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone at the bottom of the page. Then, select Reset from the options.
• Choose Reset All Settings. You may be asked to enter your device passcode to proceed.

Way 8: Factory Reset iPhone

A factory reset can help fix the grey screen issue by restoring your iPhone to its default settings. This will erase all data on your device, including apps, settings, and files, so be sure to back up your important data beforehand.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap on General.
• In the menu, select Transfer or Reset iPhone. Then, tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
• A pop-up will appear, prompting you to confirm the action. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the factory reset.

Way 9: Repair iPhone at the Apple Store

If none of the solutions work and the grey screen issue persists, it’s possible that your iPhone has experienced hardware damage. Consider whether your device has been exposed to water or dropped, as this could be the cause of the problem.

In this case, it’s best to take your iPhone to an Apple Store or an authorized iPhone repair center. They can run diagnostic tests on your device to identify the exact cause of the grey screen and provide a solution.

Final Thoughts

The solutions we've shared should effectively resolve your iPhone's grey screen issue. While all methods can help, FoneGeek iOS System Recovery stands out as the most reliable and efficient option. For the best results, we highly recommend trying this professional tool. Its simple, step-by-step process makes it easy to restore your iPhone's normal display quickly and safely.