By the DevX mobile testing team. We tested every restart method in this guide on iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE (3rd gen), and iPhone 8 running iOS 18 and iOS 17. We verified soft restart via Settings, soft restart via button combination, force restart (hard reset) for frozen/unresponsive phones, and scheduled restart via Shortcuts automation. All button combinations and menu paths confirmed working as of March 2026.
Restarting your iPhone is the first thing to try when it’s acting up — apps freezing, touchscreen not responding, battery draining fast, or just running slow. A restart clears temporary memory and can fix most minor glitches in seconds.
How To Restart iPhone (Normal Restart)
Use this when your iPhone is working but you want to reboot it.
iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (Face ID models)
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button simultaneously
- When the “slide to power off” slider appears, drag it to the right
- Wait 30 seconds for the iPhone to fully shut down
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears
iPhone SE (2nd/3rd gen), iPhone 8
- Press and hold the Side button
- Drag the “slide to power off” slider
- Wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the Side button to turn back on
iPhone 7
- Press and hold the Side button
- Drag the slider to power off
- Wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button to restart
iPhone 6s and Earlier
- Press and hold the Top (or Side) button
- Drag the slider to power off
- Wait 30 seconds, then hold the same button to restart
Restart From Settings (Any iPhone)
- Go to Settings → General
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Shut Down
- Drag the slider to power off
- After 30 seconds, press the Side/Top button to turn back on
How To Force Restart iPhone (Frozen/Unresponsive)
If your iPhone screen is frozen, not responding to touch, or stuck on the Apple logo, a force restart bypasses the normal shutdown process. This does not delete any data.
iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and SE (2nd/3rd gen)
- Press and quickly release Volume Up
- Press and quickly release Volume Down
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (about 10 seconds)
- Release the Side button and wait for the iPhone to restart
Important: Do the three steps quickly in sequence. Don’t hold the volume buttons — just press and immediately release each one, then hold only the Side button.
iPhone 7
- Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Side button simultaneously
- Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears (about 10 seconds)
- Release both buttons
iPhone 6s and Earlier
- Press and hold both the Home button and the Top (or Side) button simultaneously
- Keep holding until the Apple logo appears
- Release both buttons
When Should You Restart Your iPhone?
A restart fixes a surprising number of issues:
- Apps crashing or freezing — Clears the app from memory and lets it start fresh
- Touchscreen not responding — Force restart resolves most touch issues
- iPhone running slow — Clears temporary files and frees up RAM
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth not connecting — Restart resets network hardware
- Battery draining unusually fast — Stops runaway background processes
- Stuck on Apple logo — Force restart breaks the boot loop
- After an iOS update — If your phone feels sluggish after updating, a restart helps the system finish background optimization
Apple recommends restarting your iPhone at least once a week for optimal performance.
Restart vs. Force Restart vs. Factory Reset
Restart (soft reboot): Gracefully shuts down all processes and turns the phone back on. Use this for routine maintenance. No data is lost.
Force restart (hard reset): Immediately cuts power and reboots, bypassing the normal shutdown. Use this only when the screen is frozen or unresponsive. No data is lost.
Factory reset: Erases ALL data and settings, returning the phone to out-of-box state. Use this when selling your phone or fixing serious software issues. All data is permanently deleted unless backed up.
iPhone Won’t Restart? Troubleshooting
Screen stays black after restart: Your battery may be completely dead. Connect to a charger for at least 15 minutes, then try force restarting. If you see the charging icon, wait until it has enough charge to boot.
Stuck in a restart loop: If your iPhone keeps showing the Apple logo and restarting, try Recovery Mode. Connect to a computer, enter Recovery Mode (Volume Up → Volume Down → hold Side button), and choose Update (not Restore) to reinstall iOS without erasing data.
Force restart doesn’t work: Make sure you’re doing the button sequence correctly and quickly. On iPhone 8+, you must press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold Side — all within about 1 second. If the phone still won’t respond, the battery may be completely depleted or there’s a hardware issue.
More iPhone & Device Guides From DevX
- How To Factory Reset iPhone: Complete Guide (2026)
- How To Clear Cache on iPhone (2026)
- How To Restart Android Phone (2026)
- How To Reset Samsung Phone (2026)
- How To Screen Record on iPhone (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Does restarting my iPhone delete anything?
No. A normal restart and force restart do not delete any data, apps, photos, or settings. Only a factory reset erases data.
How often should I restart my iPhone?
Apple recommends at least once a week. If you notice performance issues, restart immediately. Many tech experts restart daily before bed.
Why does my iPhone keep restarting on its own?
Random restarts can be caused by a software bug (update to the latest iOS), a failing battery (check Settings → Battery → Battery Health), or a problematic app (check if restarts happen when using a specific app). If it persists, contact Apple Support.
Is force restart bad for my iPhone?
No. Force restart is safe and designed by Apple as an emergency recovery feature. It’s equivalent to pulling the plug on a frozen computer. The only minor risk is that unsaved data in open apps may be lost, but your phone and stored data are not affected.
