If your iPhone screen looks off, Face ID is acting strange, the speakers sound distorted, or touch input feels unreliable, there is a built-in diagnostics area that can help you check a few things before you head straight to Apple Support.
I tested this on an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the main thing to know is that Apple has a hidden Diagnostics and Repair mode built into newer iPhones. It is not something most people stumble into by accident, but once you know the button sequence, it is pretty straightforward.
Quick Answer
To access iPhone Diagnostics mode, power the iPhone all the way off, wait a few seconds, then hold both volume buttons while plugging the phone into power. Keep holding the volume buttons through the Apple logo until the Diagnostics and Repair screen appears.
From there, you can connect to Wi-Fi, agree to the diagnostics privacy screen, and run available tests such as display pixel anomalies, audio, multi-touch, Face ID sensors, camera image quality, and Apple’s mobile resource inspector.
How To Open iPhone Diagnostics
The process starts with the iPhone fully powered down. On the iPhone 15 Pro Max I used, I held the volume up button and the side button until the power-off slider appeared, then shut the phone down normally.
After the phone is off, wait around 15 seconds. Then hold the volume up and volume down buttons at the same time while plugging the iPhone into power. I used a small battery bank, but a normal charger should serve the same purpose.
The important part is to keep holding both volume buttons even after the Apple logo appears. It feels longer than you expect. In my test, holding one thumb across both volume buttons did not work well, so I had better luck pressing them with two separate fingers.
Eventually the iPhone booted into the Diagnostics and Repair screen. That is the hidden menu we are looking for.
- Power the iPhone completely off.
- Wait briefly after shutdown.
- Hold volume up and volume down together.
- Plug the iPhone into power while holding both buttons.
- Keep holding through the Apple logo.
- Release when the Diagnostics and Repair screen appears.
What Happens Next
Once Diagnostics and Repair mode loads, the phone asks you to continue, choose a Wi-Fi network, and agree to Apple’s diagnostics privacy information.
After that, the iPhone shows a diagnostics menu. In my test, it looked like it was connecting to Apple Support, so I would treat this as more than a completely offline hidden settings screen. I do not know exactly how much is processed locally versus sent back through Apple’s diagnostic systems, but the phone does appear to use Apple’s support flow as part of the process.
That matters because this is not just a secret toy menu. It is tied into Apple’s repair and support tools, and it also lines up with Apple opening more repair options through self-service repair.
Available Tests
The Diagnostics and Repair menu gave me several options to check different parts of the iPhone. These are practical tests, especially if you are trying to decide whether a problem is hardware-related before making an appointment or sending the device in.
The display pixel anomalies test is meant to help identify problems on the screen, such as dead pixels or unusual display behavior. The test shows a series of color panels and asks you to mark anything abnormal on the display.
There is also an audio test for self-service repair. That test plays tones through the internal speakers and asks you to confirm whether you can hear them clearly and whether they sound distorted. It also records a short audio clip so the microphones can be checked.
The multi-touch test is there to help identify problems with touch response. That could be useful if your screen sometimes misses taps, does not recognize gestures correctly, or behaves inconsistently.
Other available checks include Face ID sensors and camera image quality. I did not run every test all the way through in this walkthrough, but those options were visible in the diagnostics menu.
- Mobile Resource Inspector
- Audio for self-service repair
- Display pixel anomalies
- Multi-touch response
- Face ID sensors
- Camera image quality
Pixel Test Notes
I started with the display pixel anomalies test because it looked like one of the shorter tests, around one to two minutes.
The test presents different color panels on the screen. The idea is that if you see a display issue, you mark the affected area. If the screen looks normal, you continue through the panels.
One thing I noticed while testing live is that tapping around on the screen can make the test confusing if you are not careful. Pressing the side button brought up a skip option, which is useful to know if you get stuck or need to move past a screen.
When This Is Useful
This is most useful when you suspect something is wrong but you are not sure whether it is hardware, software, or just a weird temporary issue.
For example, if your speakers sound strange, the audio diagnostic gives you a more structured way to check them. If you think part of your screen is not responding, the multi-touch test may help confirm the issue. If you are worried about dead pixels, the display test gives you a simple way to inspect the panel.
It is also useful if you do not live near an Apple Store or repair provider. Running a basic diagnostic first can give you more information before you contact support.
A Few Caveats
I tested this on an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Based on what I found going into the video, this appears to apply to newer iPhones, possibly iPhone 12 and newer, but I would not assume every model and iOS version behaves exactly the same.
Also, this does not replace Apple Support or a proper repair diagnosis. It gives you a way to check specific parts of the phone, but if your device has a serious issue, you may still need Apple or an authorized repair provider to finish the diagnosis.
The other thing to remember is that some tests are designed around Apple’s repair process. If you are using this as a normal iPhone owner, the best use is troubleshooting and gathering information, not trying to interpret every internal result like a repair technician.
Key Takeaways
- You can open iPhone Diagnostics and Repair mode by powering off the phone, holding both volume buttons, and plugging it into power.
- Keep holding the volume buttons through the Apple logo until the diagnostics screen appears.
- The menu includes tests for display pixel anomalies, audio, multi-touch, Face ID sensors, camera image quality, and parts validation.
- The display pixel test can help check for dead pixels or visible screen defects.
- The audio test checks speakers and microphones with tones and a short recording.
- This is useful before contacting Apple Support, especially if you want a clearer idea of what may be wrong.
Watch the Video
The video above above for the full walkthrough, including the exact button timing, what the Diagnostics and Repair menu looks like, and how the display pixel anomaly test appears on the iPhone.
