How to Force Restart an iPhone

If your iPhone has become unresponsive, frozen, or is otherwise not functioning properly you may need to force restart it. Force restarting an iPhone will not erase any of your data, but can be an effective way to clear out any temporary issues that might be causing the phone to act up.

How to restart an iPhone

Restarting your iPhone is a great way to troubleshoot issues, clear out random errors, or just give the device a fresh start. Luckily, the process is fairly easy no matter which iPhone model you own. Before you begin though, make sure to double check which version of the iPhone you have so you’re using the correct steps for your device. Fortunately, finding your exact model information isn’t too difficult — just take a look at our article on how to identify your iPhone and it’ll quickly become clear which category yours falls into.

Once you’ve found your model number, restarting your device is simple. With the latest models starting with the iPhone 8, all you have to do is hold down both Sleep/Wake button (Power) and Home buttons until your iPhone’s screen goes blank and the Apple logo appears — this should take around 10 seconds. If you own one of the earlier handsets such as an iPhone 7 or before, repeat this same process but instead of pressing ‘Home’ button use Volume Down button instead. Your phone will soon turn back on with everything back in its place like before.

Performing a force restart on an iPhone

Forcing an iPhone to restart can help with technical issues such as when it is unresponsive or cannot be turned off and on. Depending on the device model, this restart process may differ. To force restart an iPhone that supports iOS 16, one must press and quickly release the volume up button followed by the volume down button. To initiate a restart of your device, hold down the side button until the Apple logo is visible, then let go of the button.

The previous procedure should be followed for all devices later than the iPhone 5s, including iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later versions of iPads. However, if you have an iPhone 7, iPhone 6s, or earlier SE (1st generation ), they do not support iOS 16 and need to follow the instructions available in iOS 15 instead. Knowing how to correctly force restart your device will properly address any malfunctions or troubleshooting needs that may occur in its use.

Force-restart an iPhone 7

It is sometimes necessary to force-restart an iPhone 7 in order to fix common software issues. Though it may sound a bit intimidating, the process is quite straightforward and easy. To start this process, simultaneously use button combination hold down the volume down button and the side button until the Apple logo appears on your screen. This usually takes around 10 seconds. During this time, It is important not to release either of these buttons before the logo appears or your device will not successfully restart.

When you have completed the process, your iPhone 7 should automatically restart as normal giving you access back to your applications and data. Afterward, if any strange behavior with your phone persists you may need to consider updating iOS via iTunes or visit an Apple Retail Store for professional support. Force-restarting an iPhone 7 is a recommended method for those who are having problems but be sure that you know what you are doing before proceeding.

iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 6, and earlier models

The iPhone SE (1st generation) was released in 2016 and was one of the first iPhones to feature a 4 inch display. It also featured an A9 processor, 12MP iSight camera, front facing FaceTime HD Camera, fingerprint sensor, and a long battery life. While it had many features of the newer devices at a lower price point, there were some issues with reliability that users experienced over time.

For those with an iPhone SE or older device like the iPhone 6, performing a hard reset is an easy way to fix any performance issues or glitches occasionally encountered. To complete this process on your device, you will need to press and hold both the Power and Home buttons until the Apple logo appears. This will usually take around 10-15 seconds while you are holding both buttons down. Once completed, your phone should be rebooted and running smoothly again as if it were new out of the box!