Restart an iPhone to fix fundamental issues, such as poor cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity, app crashes, or other everyday problems. The steps used to restart an iPhone depending on the model you have.
Even though the iPhone is very reliable, it is sometimes necessary to restart it to fix a problem. Technically, there are many types of reboots and restarts, so it’s important to know how to deal with each one and which one you want to use in a given situation.
- The basic option is to restart an iPhone and turn it off and then turn it back on. This is also called a soft reset.
- If a restart doesn’t fix the problem or your iPhone is frozen, try a forced restart (which can also be called a hard reset). Neither a reboot nor a forced reboot wipes the data or settings on the iPhone, so there’s nothing to worry about.
- These two methods of restarting are not the same as a reset, which erases all the content on the iPhone and returns it to factory condition. After restoring your iPhone, you can also restore your data from a backup. This is the more extreme option, which we will cover at the end of this article.
The instructions in this tutorial apply to all iPhones from the iPhone 11 to the latest iPhone.
How to restart iPhone 11, iPhone XS / XR, and iPhone X
On the iPhone X, XS/XR, and iPhone 11, Apple has assigned new functions to the side button on the side of the device. It can be used to activate Siri, view the emergency SOS function, or other activities. Due to this change, the reboot process differs from the method used on previous models.
To restart iPhone 11 or iPhone XS/XR/X, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button at the same time. The volume up button also works, but using it you may accidentally take a screenshot.
On iPhone 7, you have to use the Volume Down button instead of the Volume Up button.
- When the shutdown slider appears, release the Side and Volume Down button.
- Move the slider from left to right to turn off the phone.
A good time to clean your iPhone screen is when the device is turned off. This ensures that you don’t accidentally press any options or accidentally change settings.
- Wait about 30 seconds. When the iPhone is off, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. Let go of the side button and let the phone reboot.
How to restart iPhone, all other models
To restart all other iPhone models, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button. On older models, this is located on the top of the phone. On iPhone 6 and later, it’s on the right side.
- When the shutdown slider appears on the screen, release the Sleep / Wake button.
- Move the shutdown slider from left to right. This prompts the iPhone to shut down. A spinner appears on the screen indicating that the shutdown is in progress. It may be faint and difficult to see.
- When the phone turns off, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button.
- When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the Sleep/Wake button and wait for the iPhone to finish restarting.
How to force restart iPhone 11, iPhone XS / XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone SE 2
A basic gradual reboot fixes many problems but doesn’t fix them all. In some cases, such as when the phone is completely locked and unresponsive to pressing the Sleep / Wake button, you need to try a force restart.
On iPhone with Face ID (iPhone 11 series, iPhone XS/XR, or iPhone X series), iPhone 8 series, or iPhone SE 2, follow these steps to perform a force restart:
- Click and release the Volume Up button.
- Click and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo (ignore the slide to turn off the slider that appears), then release it.
- Wait for the phone to restart.
How to force restart iPhone (other models)
A force restart or hard reset restarts your phone and refreshes the memory where apps run. It doesn’t delete the data but it helps the iPhone from scratch. When you need to force restart an older iPhone model (except iPhone 7, which is in the next section), follow these steps:
- With the phone screen facing you, press and hold the Sleep / Wake button and the Home button at the same time.
- Continue to hold the buttons when the power off slider appears, do not release the buttons.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button.
- Wait for the iPhone to restart.
How to force restart iPhone 7 series
The process for restarting the iPhone 7 series is slightly different. This is because the Home button is not a physical button on these models; is a 3D touch panel. As a result, Apple has changed the way these models are forcibly restarted.
With the iPhone 7 series, press and hold the Volume Down button and the Sleep / Wake button at the same time until you see the Apple logo, then release the buttons and wait for the phone to restart.
A forced restart is a way to fix much less common problems.
