Key points
- Restarting means turning the iPhone off and back on again. The buttons you use depend on the model.
- If the iPhone is not responding and you cannot turn it off, force a restart using a button combination.
- Erasing the iPhone is a different operation: it is called "Erase All Content and Settings" and removes all content.
In this article
- When to restart the iPhone
- How to restart an iPhone with Face ID
- How to restart an iPhone with a Home button
- iPhone 6, 7, 8 and iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation)
- iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5 and earlier
- How to turn off iPhone in Settings
- How to force restart iPhone
- iPhone with Face ID, iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation) and earlier
- Restart, reset and erase: the differences
- Common issues when restarting
- iPhone will not turn off
- iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo
- An app closes on its own or stops responding
- iPhone restarts on its own
- Frequently asked questions
- How often should I restart the iPhone?
- Do I lose data when restarting my iPhone?
- How do I restart my iPhone if a button isn't working?
- Conclusion
When to restart the iPhone
Apple suggests restarting the iPhone when it is not working correctly. If turning it off and on again does not resolve the issue, the next step is to force a restart. Restarting is also one of the steps Apple recommends when an app stops responding or closes unexpectedly.
How to restart an iPhone with Face ID
These steps apply to iPhone X, 11, 12, 13 and later models. The iPhone SE is not included in this group: it has a Home button and follows the next section.
- Press and hold one of the volume buttons and the side button until the "slide to power off" slider appears.
- Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for the iPhone to turn off.
- To turn it back on, press and hold the side button (on the right-hand side) until you see the Apple logo.
How to restart an iPhone with a Home button
iPhone 6, 7, 8 and iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation)
- Press and hold the side button until the "slide to power off" slider appears.
- Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for the iPhone to turn off.
- To turn it back on, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5 and earlier
- Press and hold the top button until the "slide to power off" slider appears.
- Drag the slider and wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to turn off.
- To turn it back on, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo.
How to turn off iPhone in Settings
On any model, you can also turn off your iPhone without the volume buttons: open Settings > General, scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap "Shut Down". Drag the slider. Then turn it back on with the button, as in the steps above.
How to force restart iPhone
Force restart when your iPhone is not responding and you cannot turn it off and on normally. Apple recommends the same when your iPhone will not turn on or the screen stays black.
iPhone with Face ID, iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- Press and quickly release the volume up button.
- Press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Press and hold the side button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the button. It may take more than 10 seconds.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- Press and hold both the side button and the volume down button at the same time.
- Release both when you see the Apple logo. It may take more than 10 seconds.
iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation) and earlier
- Press and hold the Home button and the side button (or top button) at the same time.
- Release both when you see the Apple logo, after about 10 seconds.
If the iPhone will not turn on: Charge it for an hour and try again. If the low battery icon appears, charge it for 30 minutes or until it turns on. If it still will not turn on, contact Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider for support.
Restart, reset and erase: the differences
| Action | What happens | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Restart | The iPhone turns off and back on | When it isn't working properly |
| Force restart | The iPhone restarts using a button combination | When it isn't responding and you can't turn it off |
| Reset all settings | Settings return to defaults. Does not erase data or media | When you are trying to resolve an issue |
| Erase all content and settings | Removes all content and restores iPhone to factory settings | Before selling, giving away or trading in iPhone |
| Restore on a computer | Erases iPhone | To erase iPhone from a Mac or PC |
Both reset options are in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Back up before touching either. You will find the steps to erase in the guide how to erase an iPhone.
Common issues when restarting
iPhone will not turn off
If the "slide to power off" slider does not appear or the iPhone does not respond to touch, force a restart using the steps above.
iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo
When restoring or migrating an iPhone with iOS 13 or later, the Apple logo and progress bar may remain on screen for more than an hour. If the progress bar has not moved for at least an hour:
- Connect the iPhone to a computer.
- Put it into recovery mode. On iPhone 8 and later, press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
- On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, open iTunes. On a PC, use the latest version of the Apple Devices app or iTunes.
- When prompted to update or restore, choose "Update". The iPhone will install the latest version of iOS. If you choose "Restore", you will erase the iPhone.
An app closes on its own or stops responding
Apple suggests these steps, in this order:
- Force the app to close and open it again.
- Restart the iPhone.
- Check for app updates: in the App Store, tap your profile icon and then "App Updates". If none are available, update the iPhone software.
- Delete the app and download it again. You may lose data saved in the app.
iPhone restarts on its own
If the iPhone restarts on its own repeatedly, back it up and request a diagnostic from Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I restart the iPhone?
Restart when your iPhone isn't working properly. That's how Apple describes restarting in the iPhone manual.
Do I lose data when restarting my iPhone?
Restarting means turning your iPhone off and back on again. The operation that removes content is different: 'Erase All Content and Settings', in Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. In recovery mode, choose 'Update' first, because 'Restore' erases the iPhone.
How do I restart my iPhone if a button isn't working?
If a volume button fails, turn the iPhone off in Settings > General > Shut Down and turn it back on with the side button. If the side button fails, use AssistiveTouch, which has an action to restart the iPhone without buttons: enable it in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch, tap the AssistiveTouch menu button and choose the restart action. If you can't find it, customise the top-level menu: tap an icon and change its action. To repair the button, contact Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider.
Conclusion
In most cases, you restart your iPhone with one or two buttons and the 'Slide to Power Off' slider. If it doesn't respond, force a restart. If the problem persists, request a diagnosis from Apple or an Apple Authorised Service Provider. If you're thinking of switching iPhones, refurbished models from iOutlet come with 24 months warranty.
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