How to Restart Your iPhone (Every Model, 2026)

Knowing how to restart your iPhone is one of the simplest ways to fix a slow, frozen, or glitchy phone. The steps depend on your model, since newer iPhones use a different button combination than older ones. 

This guide covers a normal restart, a force restart for a completely frozen screen, and what to do if your buttons are not working at all, no matter which iPhone you own.

Which Restart Method Should You Use

Normal restart: Use this when your iPhone still responds to touch and the buttons work fine. It is gentle, takes about 30 seconds, and is a good habit for regular phone care.

Force restart: Use this only when your screen is frozen, apps will not close, or you are stuck on a black screen or spinning wheel. It forces the phone to shut down and reboot without deleting anything.

Restart through Settings: Use this if your physical buttons are damaged or unresponsive. It gets the same result without needing hardware buttons at all.

How to Restart iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, and Later

These newer models all use the same button combination.

1. Press and hold the volume button on the left side.
2. Press and hold the side button at the same time.
3. Keep holding both buttons until the power off slider appears.
4. Drag the slider from left to right.
5. Wait 30 seconds for the phone to fully turn off.
6. Press and hold the side button again to power it back on.
7. Let go once you see the Apple logo.
8. Wait for the home screen to load.

If the phone still misbehaves after this, move on to the force restart steps below.

How to Force Restart iPhone X and Newer Models

Only use this when your iPhone is completely frozen and a normal restart is not possible.

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. Keep holding even if the power off slider appears; do not let go for this.
5. Continue holding until the screen goes black and restarts on its own.
6. Release the button once the Apple logo appears.
7. Wait for the phone to finish booting up.

This method works even when nothing else responds, and it does not affect your data or files.

How to Restart iPhone 6, 7, 8, or SE

Older models use a simpler single-button process.

1. Press and hold the side button.
2. Wait for the power-off slider to appear.
3. Drag the slider from left to right to shut down.
4. Wait 30 seconds for the phone to fully power off.
5. Press and hold the side button again to turn it back on.
6. Let go when the Apple logo appears.
7. Wait for the home screen to load fully.

If your phone does not respond to this, try the force restart method for these models below.

How to Force Restart iPhone 8 or SE

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button until the screen goes black.
4. Keep holding even if the power slider appears on screen.
5. Release only once the Apple logo shows up clearly.
6. Wait for the phone to finish restarting.

How to Force Restart iPhone 7 or 7 Plus

The iPhone 7 uses a slightly different combination than other models.

1. Press and hold the volume down button.
2. At the same time, press and hold the side button.
3. Keep holding both buttons for at least 10 seconds.
4. Let go once the Apple logo appears.
5. Wait for the restart to finish.

How to Restart iPhone SE First Generation or Earlier

Very old iPhone models place the power button on the top edge instead of the side.

1. Press and hold the top button until the slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to power off the phone.
3. Wait 30 seconds for the device to fully shut down.
4. Press and hold the top button again to turn it on.
5. Let go once the Apple logo appears.

How to Force Restart iPhone SE First Generation or Earlier

1. Press and hold the top button and the Home button together.
2. Keep holding both for at least 10 seconds.
3. Release once the Apple logo appears on screen.
4. Wait for the restart to finish loading.

How to Restart Your iPhone Using Settings Only

If your physical buttons are broken or unresponsive, you can still restart through the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Shut Down.
4. Drag the slider from left to right to power off.
5. Wait 30 seconds for the phone to fully turn off.
6. Press the side button to turn it back on.

This works as a reliable backup any time your hardware buttons are not cooperating.

What to Do After You Restart Your iPhone

Check whether the original problem is gone once your phone boots back up. If the issue continues, check for a pending software update in Settings, under General, then Software Update. You can also restore from a recent backup if problems persist across multiple restarts. If nothing works after several attempts, it is worth contacting Apple Support directly, since the issue may point to a hardware problem rather than something a restart can fix.

When a Restart Will Not Fix the Problem

A restart clears temporary glitches, but it will not fix everything. If your iPhone keeps freezing right after it boots up, or if it gets stuck on the Apple logo during startup, the issue may go deeper than a simple restart can solve, and you may need to look into a specific fix for that symptom or update your software through recovery mode instead.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to restart your iPhone no matter which model you own. A normal restart handles most small glitches, while a force restart is there for anything that freezes your screen completely. If your buttons stop working, the Settings menu gives you a reliable backup option. Try the gentlest method first, and only move to a force restart if the normal steps do not work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I restart my iPhone? 

Restarting once a week is a reasonable habit. It clears temporary files and refreshes memory, which can help your phone run a bit smoother over time.

Will restarting my iPhone delete any data? 

No. A normal restart or a force restart does not delete photos, apps, or files. Only a factory reset erases your data.

Can force restarting damage my iPhone? 

No. Apple built this feature specifically to recover from a frozen screen, and it is safe to use whenever your phone stops responding.

What is the difference between a restart and a force restart? 

A normal restart shuts your phone down gracefully. A force restart cuts power immediately without waiting, which is why it works even when the screen is unresponsive.

Why won’t my iPhone turn back on after I restart it? 

Try plugging it into a charger for at least 15 minutes, since a drained battery can look identical to a phone that will not turn on. If it still does not respond, try the force restart steps for your model.