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If your iPhone suddenly goes completely black and only speaks instead of letting you navigate, it can be very frustrating. Here’s a simple guide to help you troubleshoot and solve this issue.
First, recognize that it sounds like VoiceOver, the screen reader feature, has been accidentally turned on. When VoiceOver activates, it can change how your phone responds and make it difficult to perform normal actions like unlocking or turning off features.
Since you mentioned the screen stays black and your phone “talks,” try this first: triple-press the side button quickly. This is supposed to bring up the accessibility menu and toggle VoiceOver off. If that doesn’t work, don’t worry — there are other steps.
Next, attempt to restart your iPhone. Usually, holding the side button along with either volume button for a few seconds will force a reboot. Keep trying this a few times if needed, as sometimes a simple restart can fix glitches.
If that doesn’t work and your screen remains black, try connecting your phone to a computer with iTunes (or Finder on Mac). Once connected, you can force restart your iPhone without losing data, which may help reset the system and disable VoiceOver.
Now, if your passcode isn’t accepting input, remember that VoiceOver may require you to tap the numbers twice or use specific gestures. When you see the passcode screen, try tapping each number twice to enter it accurately. If your passcode is still not accepted, even though you’re entering the correct code, it might be a software glitch. In this case, restoring your phone through iTunes/Finder could help, but make sure you have a backup, just in case.
Another challenge is Siri — since VoiceOver is active, Siri might not respond because the feature is disabled or not accessible in your current state. Normally, you can ask Siri to turn off VoiceOver, but because Siri isn’t available now, the best solution is restoring your device as described or resetting settings via a computer.
If none of these steps work, it might be time to reach out to Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. Sometimes, software bugs or hardware issues can cause this kind of problem and professional help is the safest route.
In the future, be cautious with accessibility features. They are helpful but can be accidentally activated if you press the right buttons multiple times. If you want to prevent this happening again, you can disable certain accessibility shortcuts in your settings once your phone is fixed.
Remember, you’re not alone—many people experience strange issues with their devices, and most can be resolved with a little patience and expert help.
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