Learn how to quickly force restart or reset an unresponsive iPhone with these simple steps, so you can resolve common software glitches and get your device working again in no time.
There’s nothing more frustrating than using your iPhone, only to find that it suddenly becomes unresponsive.
Whether it’s stuck on a black screen, frozen on an app, or not reacting to touches, having your iPhone freeze up can be a major headache. Fortunately, force restarting or resetting your iPhone can resolve most common issues and bring your device back to normal operation.
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In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to force restart or reset your iPhone, depending on the model you own. We’ll also cover some common scenarios where these techniques come in handy and provide additional tips on troubleshooting unresponsive iPhones.
When to Force Restart or Reset Your iPhone
Force restarting your iPhone is typically the first solution when your phone is frozen or not responding to touch. Here are some common situations where you might need to force restart your iPhone:
- The iPhone screen goes black and doesn’t respond to taps or button presses.
- The iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo or a loading screen during startup.
- Apps freeze, causing the entire device to become unresponsive.
- The touch screen doesn’t react to swipes or taps.
- The iPhone keeps rebooting or crashing unexpectedly.
If your phone is still unresponsive after trying a force restart, you may need to reset the device or use recovery mode to restore it. Force restarting or resetting won’t delete your data unless you go through a full factory reset, which should be used as a last resort.
How to Force Restart an iPhone
The process for force restarting your iPhone varies slightly depending on the model you own. Below are the steps for the different iPhone versions:
iPhone 8 and Later (iPhone X, XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15)
- Press and release the Volume Up button: Quickly press and let go of the Volume Up button.
- Press and release the Volume Down button: Quickly press and let go of the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button: Hold the Side (or Power) button until the Apple logo appears on the screen. This may take about 10-15 seconds.
- Once the Apple logo appears, release the Side button. The iPhone should restart normally.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
- Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons: Press both the Volume Down button and the Power button simultaneously.
- Keep holding both buttons for about 10-15 seconds, or until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- Release both buttons once you see the Apple logo. Your iPhone will restart.
iPhone 6s and Earlier (iPhone SE 1st generation)
- Press and hold the Home and Power buttons: Simultaneously press the Home button (located below the screen) and the Power button on the side or top of the device.
- Continue holding both buttons for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple logo appears.
- Release both buttons once the logo shows up. Your iPhone will restart.
How to Perform a Soft Reset
A soft reset is simply turning your iPhone off and on again, which can help resolve minor glitches or performance issues. This is different from a force restart, as you can perform a soft reset when your iPhone is still responsive.
Here’s how to do a soft reset:
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down (or Volume Up) button: For iPhones with Face ID, hold both the Side button and one of the Volume buttons until the “Slide to Power Off” slider appears.
- Drag the slider to turn off the iPhone: Once the slider appears, drag it to power off the phone.
- Wait a few seconds: After the device is off, wait for 10-15 seconds.
- Press the Side button to power it back on: Hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, and your iPhone will restart.
For older models like the iPhone SE (1st generation) or iPhone 6s, press and hold the Power button until the “Slide to Power Off” option appears, then follow the same steps to turn the device back on.
Resetting Your iPhone to Factory Settings
If a force restart or soft reset doesn’t resolve the issue, you may need to perform a factory reset. Keep in mind that this option will erase all your data and return the device to its original factory settings. Therefore, it’s important to back up your iPhone before doing a reset.
Follow these steps to reset your iPhone:
- Go to Settings: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General: Scroll down and tap “General.”
- Tap Reset (or Transfer or Reset iPhone): In newer iOS versions, you may see the option “Transfer or Reset iPhone.”
- Tap Erase All Content and Settings: This will erase everything on the phone, so be sure you’ve backed up your data.
- Enter your passcode: If prompted, enter your device passcode to confirm.
- Confirm Erase iPhone: Your iPhone will restart, and the reset process will begin. This can take several minutes, and once it’s done, the iPhone will restart as a brand-new device.
After resetting, you can restore your data from a backup using iCloud or iTunes.
Additional Troubleshooting Tips
If your iPhone continues to be unresponsive or freezes regularly, here are a few additional troubleshooting steps from https://ligames.net:
- Check for iOS updates: Software bugs can cause iPhones to freeze. Updating to the latest iOS version can resolve these bugs. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Free up storage space: A lack of storage can lead to performance issues. Delete unused apps, large files, or old photos to free up space.
- Restore using iTunes or Finder: If a force restart or reset doesn’t work, connect your iPhone to a computer and use iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac) to restore your device.
Conclusion
When your iPhone becomes unresponsive, force restarting or resetting the device is a simple and effective way to troubleshoot the problem.
Whether you’re dealing with a frozen screen or a glitchy app, these steps can help restore your iPhone to normal. With the right approach, you can quickly fix most common issues and get back to using your device in no time.
