Experiencing issues with your iPhone becoming unresponsive or frozen? A force restart, also known as a hard reset, is often the quickest and most effective solution to get your device back to normal. This process is different from a regular restart and is designed to address more serious software glitches. This guide will walk you through exactly how to force reset your iPhone, regardless of your model.
For iPhone models like iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and newer generations:
- Simultaneously press and hold down the volume up button and the side button (power button) until the power-off slider appears on your screen.
- Release both buttons and drag the slider to the right to power off your iPhone. Wait for approximately 30 seconds to ensure it’s completely turned off.
- To power your iPhone back on, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
If you own an iPhone 8, iPhone 7, iPhone 6, or iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), the force restart process is slightly different:
- Press and hold the side button (power button) located on the right side of your iPhone until the power-off slider is displayed.
- Drag the slider to power off your device and wait for 30 seconds.
- Turn your iPhone back on by pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
For owners of older iPhones such as iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5, or earlier models:
- Locate the top button (power button) on the top of your iPhone and press and hold it until you see the power-off slider.
- Drag the slider to the right to turn off your iPhone and wait for half a minute.
- To turn it back on, press and hold the top button until you see the Apple logo.
When should you consider a force restart? If your iPhone is frozen, applications are unresponsive, the touchscreen isn’t working, or it’s behaving erratically, a force restart is a safe and effective first step in troubleshooting. It’s important to remember that a force restart should only be used when a normal restart is not possible.
If you’ve tried force restarting your iPhone and are still experiencing issues, further troubleshooting or contacting Apple Support might be necessary.
