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If your old HTC phone stays dark when you press the power button, work through the checks in order: confirm the model, make sure the phone is really off, verify the power source, allow enough charging time, and only then try the power-on or reboot step that HTC documents for your exact handset. Most of the fixes are simple, but the button combinations differ between models, so the model comes first.
Identify your exact HTC model first
HTC’s troubleshooting pages are written for individual models, and the steps change from one handset to the next. The hold times, the charging indicator, and the button combinations for an HTC 10 are not the same as those for a Desire 12s, a Bolt, a One A9, or an EXODUS 1. Before you press anything beyond the basic checks, find the model name. Look at the original box, the purchase receipt, or the order confirmation from the seller. Once you have the name, search HTC’s support site for that model and the phrase “What can I do if my phone will not power on?” or “What should I do if my phone will not charge?”, which are the wordings HTC uses on its own pages.
Step 1: Confirm the phone is actually off
Press the POWER button once and wait several seconds. A dark screen can mean the handset is in sleep mode rather than fully powered down. If the previous screen returns, the phone was asleep and the problem is not a dead battery. If nothing appears, continue with the steps below.
Step 2: Check the power source and the charging path
Most no-start cases begin with the power path, so check each link before you assume the phone has failed.
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- Display: 5.0-inches
- Camera: HTC UltraPixel
- Processor Speed: 2.3 GHz
- OS: Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
- Unlocked cell phones are compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile as well as with GSM SIM cards (e.g. H20, Straight Talk, and select prepaid carriers). Unlocked cell phones will not work with CDMA Carriers like Sprint, Verizon, Boost or Virgin.
- Plug the charger into a wall outlet that you know works. HTC recommends a wall outlet rather than a computer USB port during this kind of troubleshooting.
- Test the outlet with a different device, such as a lamp or a phone charger you already use, to confirm it supplies power.
- Inspect the cable for fraying, kinks, or a bent connector at either end.
- Inspect the handset’s charging port for lint, debris, or visible damage. Clear loose debris gently with a dry, non-metal tool, and do not force anything into the port.
- Use the charger and cable supplied with the phone, or an HTC-approved replacement. HTC warns that third-party chargers and cables may not work correctly and could damage the phone.
If you need a replacement cable or charger, check these before you buy: the connector type on the handset, whether the accessory is listed as compatible with your exact model, whether the charger’s output matches what the model requires, the condition of the cable you already have, and the seller’s return terms. HTC’s pages do not establish a single cable standard across all of its phones, so compatibility must be checked model by model.
Step 3: Allow time for a deeply drained battery
A battery that has been fully discharged for a long time may need to stay connected to power before the phone shows any charging sign. HTC’s published figures for specific models are below. They apply only to the model named, and they are not universal intervals for every HTC handset.
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- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
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| Model (HTC support region) | Documented charging wait | Documented power-on wait |
|---|---|---|
| HTC 10 (United States support page, undated) | At least 5–10 minutes on charge before trying to start. A very low battery may take up to 2 minutes for the notification LED to change. | Press and hold POWER for 10–15 seconds after the phone is confirmed to be charged. |
| HTC Desire 12s (United Kingdom support page, undated) | Up to 2 minutes for a drained battery to appear to be charging. | Not stated on the charging page reviewed. |
| HTC Bolt (United States support page, undated) | Up to 2 minutes for a drained battery to appear to be charging. | Not stated on the charging page reviewed. |
Do not assume your phone has a notification LED. Some HTC models have one and some do not, so if you cannot see a light, check for an on-screen charging icon after the wait. If the phone is still dark after the documented wait for your model, move on to the next step.
Step 4: Try the model’s documented power-on step
Each model’s support page names its own press-and-hold time. Use the one for your handset.
- HTC 10: After confirming the phone is charged, HTC’s support page says to press and hold the POWER button for 10–15 seconds. The exact wording is: “After you have confirmed the phone is charged, try to power it on by pressing and holding the POWER button for 10-15 seconds.”
- HTC EXODUS 1: HTC’s 2018 quick start guide says that to restart a frozen phone, you hold the POWER button for eight seconds until it restarts.
- Other models: Follow the press-and-hold instruction on the support page for your specific model. If that page does not mention a hold time, do not guess; check the next step and the escalation advice below.
Step 5: Use a hardware-button restart only for your exact model
HTC’s published restart procedures combine the POWER button with VOLUME DOWN, with VOLUME UP, or with all three buttons together. Each combination is held for a model-specific interval and released when the screen shows what to do next. Because several combinations exist, and some can open low-level screens, use the procedure on the HTC page for your model and nothing else.
- Confirm the model name and find the matching HTC page.
- Hold only the button combination that page lists for your model, for the time it gives.
- Release the buttons when the screen indicates, as the page describes.
- If a menu appears, choose only an option that is plainly labeled REBOOT, or Fastboot > Reboot, and only when the matching HTC page tells you to.
- If you see any other option, do not select it. Press POWER to back out, or wait for the phone to time out if you cannot exit.
HTC warns that some combinations open Bootloader or Download Mode rather than a normal restart, and that selecting unfamiliar options could void the warranty or brick the phone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Step 6: Escalate when nothing responds
Stop when you have tried each of these without a response: a working outlet, a verified charger and cable, a clean port, the full documented charging wait, and the correct restart for your model. Repeatedly holding buttons or trying random menu options adds risk without adding information. At that point, contact HTC support for your model, or take the handset to a qualified hardware technician who can test the battery and the board. This guide does not recommend a particular repair service.
What not to do
- Do not factory reset the phone to make it power on. HTC says a reset erases data, media, and files. The phone may need an adequate charge and your account credentials to complete the process. On Android 5 or later, you may need to sign in with the same Google account that was previously logged in on the device.
- Do not open the handset or pry out the battery. HTC’s EXODUS 1 guide specifically warns against forcing the phone open or removing the battery. That warning applies to that model. Before you assume the battery can be removed on your phone, check the support page for your exact model.
Sources for the model-specific figures above are HTC’s official support pages for the HTC 10, Desire 12s, and Bolt, which are undated, and HTC’s EXODUS 1 Quick Start Guide, published in 2018. Check those pages for your model before relying on any figure, because the instructions can differ by region and model.
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