iPhones are pretty reliable, but sometimes issues may occur. Sometimes, your iPhone freezes, hangs, starts acting bizarrely or becomes unresponsive. When things do not work as expected, the last resort is to force your iPhone to restart.
Previously, I explained the different ways to turn your iPhone off and on. This article explains how you can force your iPhone to restart.
When Should You Force Restart?
Now and then, your iPhone or iPad might suffer some form of a software glitch. It can be an iOS update gone wrong, a rogue app, or just an iOS bug that won’t go away.
Force restarting is most helpful when your iPhone is stuck and unresponsive. When you can’t even turn off your device, try force rebooting it—it usually fixes the issue.
How to Force Restart an iPhone
The process of force restarting an iPhone differs between phone models. While the process is different, the result is the same. Follow the steps for your device.
How to force restart an iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)
- Press and quickly release the volume up button.
- Press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Press and hold the side button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the side button (this takes about 10 seconds).
How to force restart an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus
- Press and hold both the side button and the volume down button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons (this takes about 10 seconds).
How to force restart an iPhone 6s and earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation)
- Press and hold both the Home button and the side button or the top button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons (this takes about 10 seconds).
Conclusion
Force Restarting an iPhone resolves many iOS issues. If your device won’t boot up, or if you’re experiencing a system-level bug, before taking a trip to the Genius Bar, see if a force restart will fix the issue.