To turn on an iPhone, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This basic method works on current iPhones and most recent models.
How to Turn On an iPhone
- Locate the Side button on the right edge of the iPhone.
- Press and hold it.
- Release the button when the Apple logo appears.
- Wait for the Lock Screen, then enter your passcode if requested.
If the iPhone Does Not Turn On
Connect it to a known-good charger and give the battery time to charge, then try the Side button again. A completely discharged battery may not show the normal startup screen immediately.
If the iPhone Is Frozen Rather Than Off
On iPhone 8 and later, press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. This is a force restart and is different from simply turning on a powered-off iPhone.
How to Turn an iPhone Off
On an iPhone with Face ID, hold the Side button and either Volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider. You can also go to Settings > General > Shut Down. Current iOS versions also provide a power control in Control Center.
Home-Button iPhones
Older Home-button models still use their power/side button to start the device. The exact physical location of the button varies on older hardware, but you hold the power button until the Apple logo appears.
Summary
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. If nothing happens, charge the iPhone and try again; if it is frozen, use the correct force-restart sequence instead.
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.