How to Restart iPhone (and Force Restart When Frozen)

Restarting is the oldest fix in the book and it still solves a surprising amount: apps that won't open, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth that won't connect, a phone that feels sluggish. iPhones don't have a single restart button, which is why so many people search for this. There are two methods, a normal restart and a force restart, and which buttons you press depends on your model.

Restart an iPhone X or later

This covers every iPhone with Face ID, including iPhone 11, 12, 13 and every model since.

1. Press and hold the side button and either volume button together.
2. When the power-off slider appears, let go and drag the slider.
3. Wait about 30 seconds for the iPhone to switch off completely.
4. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

If you only press the side button on these models, you'll wake Siri instead of the power menu. The volume button is what makes the slider appear.

Restart older iPhones

Model	Button to hold
iPhone 6, 7, 8 and SE (2nd and 3rd generation)	The side button
iPhone SE (1st generation), 5 and earlier	The top button

Hold the button until the slider appears, drag it, wait 30 seconds, then hold the same button again until you see the Apple logo.

Force restart a frozen iPhone

Use this when the screen won't respond and you can't reach the slider. On iPhone 8 and later, including all Face ID models:

1. Press and quickly release volume up.
2. Press and quickly release volume down.
3. Press and hold the side button. Keep holding when the slider appears.
4. Let go when the Apple logo appears.

The rhythm matters. The first two presses are quick taps, one after the other, and the side button needs a long hold, often longer than people expect. If you see the power-off slider and let go, you've only done a normal restart request; keep holding through it.

Restart without the buttons

If a button is broken, open Settings, General and scroll to the bottom to tap Shut Down. To turn the phone back on, plug it into a charger. You can also ask Siri to restart the iPhone. And if you use AssistiveTouch, its on-screen menu includes a Restart option under Device, More.

What a restart fixes, and what it doesn't

• Usually fixes: frozen apps, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth glitches, a slow or warm phone, notifications that stopped arriving.
• Doesn't fix: a full storage warning, a faulty app that needs an update, or hardware problems.

A restart doesn't delete anything. Your photos, messages and apps are all still there afterwards.

If the iPhone won't turn back on

1. Plug it into a charger you know works and leave it for a while. A completely flat battery can take some time to show anything.
2. Try the force restart steps while it's charging.
3. If nothing happens, Apple's next step is its article on an iPhone that won't turn on or is frozen, and then a repair booking.

Turn it off for a while, not just a restart

Sometimes a phone that's warm and sluggish benefits from being off for a few minutes rather than restarting straight away. Switch it off with the slider, leave it to cool somewhere out of the sun, then turn it back on. It's also worth taking off a thick case while it cools.

How often should you restart?

There's no need to restart every day. Once a week or so, or whenever the phone feels off, is plenty. If you're restarting daily to keep things working, an app or setting is causing trouble; check for updates in Settings and the App Store. Apps that misbehave often have their own fixes too, such as the camera issues in my guide to an iPhone camera black screen. If the camera is the part that's playing up, my guide to getting the iPhone camera to focus has more fixes to try after a restart.

Restart versus force restart

A normal restart lets iOS close everything in order, which is the gentler option and the one to use whenever the screen responds. A force restart cuts the power to the software straight away. It's safe, and Apple suggests it for a frozen phone, but if you were in the middle of typing something in an app, that unsaved text may be lost. Use the force restart only when the normal one isn't possible.

Restart your other Apple gear too

When Bluetooth accessories misbehave, restarting both ends helps. If your AirPods won't connect after an iPhone restart, put them in the case and close the lid for a moment. If an Apple Watch is acting up, restart it as well, because the watch and iPhone talk to each other constantly and a glitch on one can affect the other.

My verdict

Side button plus volume, drag the slider, wait 30 seconds: that's a normal restart on any modern iPhone. When the screen is frozen, tap volume up, tap volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo. Neither deletes anything, so try them before anything more drastic.

Frequently asked questions

How do I restart my iPhone?

Hold the side button and a volume button until the slider appears, drag it, then hold the side button to turn it on.

How do I force restart an iPhone?

Press volume up, press volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

How do I restart the newest iPhones?

The same way as any Face ID iPhone: side button and a volume button, then drag the slider.

Does restarting an iPhone delete anything?

No. Your data stays exactly where it was.

How do I restart an iPhone with a broken button?

Use Settings, General, Shut Down, then plug it in to turn it on.