A force restart is useful when an iPhone is frozen, the screen is unresponsive, or a normal restart is not possible. It does not erase your photos, apps, or settings. The button sequence depends on the iPhone model.
Model warning: Force-restart buttons vary by iPhone generation. Face ID models and iPhone 8 or later use Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side; older Home-button models use different combinations. A force restart does not erase your data.
Force restart an iPhone with Face ID or iPhone 8 and later
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button.
- Keep holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release it.
The first two button presses should be quick. If you hold a volume button too long, you may open a different screen instead of starting the force-restart sequence.
Force restart iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus
Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button at the same time. Continue holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears, then release them.
Force restart iPhone 6s, iPhone SE first generation, and older models
Press and hold the Home button and the Side or Top button together. Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears.
Force restart versus a normal restart
A normal restart is preferable when the iPhone is responding because it lets iOS shut down in the usual way. A force restart is designed for situations where you cannot use the on-screen power controls or the device has stopped responding.
Neither type of restart is the same as a factory reset. Restarting does not intentionally delete your data.
If the iPhone still will not start
Connect the iPhone to power and leave it charging for a while, especially if the battery may be completely depleted. Check the cable, power adapter, and charging port if there is no sign of charging.
If the phone remains stuck on the Apple logo, repeatedly restarts, or shows a recovery screen, the next step may involve a computer and recovery mode. Backups are important because some recovery procedures can eventually require restoring the device.
Why the Apple logo can take a moment to appear
Do not release the Side button simply because the screen goes dark. During the force-restart sequence on a modern iPhone, keep holding it until the Apple logo actually appears. If Siri or the power-off screen appears instead, start the sequence again and make the two volume-button presses quicker.
Do not use force restart as routine maintenance
There is no need to force restart an iPhone on a schedule. Use a normal shutdown and restart when the device responds. Reserve the force-restart sequence for a frozen screen, an app or interface that has locked up, or another situation where the ordinary controls cannot be used.
Matthew Roberts created this site to help his friends and family with questions that they might have about how to change the settings on their iPhones. It now serves as an archive of iPhone how-to guides to help anyone that stumbles upon this website.