How to Restart iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide for Every Model
Restarting your iPhone is one of the simplest yet most effective troubleshooting steps for fixing minor glitches and improving performance. Whether your phone is acting slow, apps are freezing, or you just need a quick refresh, learning how to restart iPhone can solve many common problems. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through restarting every iPhone model, from the latest versions to older ones.
Why Restarting Your iPhone is Important
A restart can fix a variety of issues, including:
- Performance improvement: When your iPhone starts to slow down or lag, restarting can free up memory and improve speed.
- Bug fixes: Minor software glitches can often be resolved with a simple restart.
- Battery life improvement: Restarting your phone can help recalibrate battery performance and extend battery life.
- App crashes: If your apps freeze or crash frequently, a restart can provide a clean slate for the apps to run smoothly again.
No matter which iPhone you have, restarting is a quick way to keep your device functioning efficiently.
How to Restart iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14
The process for restarting newer iPhone models like the iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14 is straightforward but slightly different from earlier models, since these phones don’t have a physical home button.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button:
- Press and hold the Side button (located on the right side of the phone) and either the Volume Up or Volume Down button (located on the left side) at the same time.
- Wait for the “slide to power off” slider to appear:
- Continue holding both buttons until the “slide to power off” option appears on the screen.
- Slide to power off:
- Drag the slider from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
- Wait for 30 seconds:
- Once the iPhone is off, wait around 30 seconds.
- Turn your iPhone back on:
- To turn the iPhone back on, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
How to Restart iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Generation and Later)
For users with an iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd Generation), or later, the restart process involves using the Side button.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press and hold the Side button:
- Press and hold the Side button until the “slide to power off” slider appears.
- Slide to power off:
- Drag the slider from left to right to turn off your iPhone.
- Wait for 30 seconds:
- Once the phone is off, give it a few seconds before turning it back on.
- Turn the iPhone back on:
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
How to Restart iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
If you have an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, the restart process is slightly different because these models have a clickable home button.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press and hold the Side button:
- Press and hold the Side button on the right side of the phone until the “slide to power off” slider appears.
- Slide to power off:
- Slide the power off slider from left to right.
- Wait for 30 seconds:
- Let the phone fully power off, then wait for 30 seconds before turning it back on.
- Turn the iPhone back on:
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
How to Restart iPhone 6, iPhone SE (1st Generation), and Earlier Models
If you’re using an older model such as the iPhone 6, iPhone SE (1st Generation), or even earlier models like the iPhone 5s, restarting your iPhone is quite similar but involves the top button rather than the side button.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Press and hold the Top button:
- Press and hold the Top button (located at the top of your iPhone) until the “slide to power off” slider appears.
- Slide to power off:
- Slide the slider from left to right to power off your iPhone.
- Wait for 30 seconds:
- Once your iPhone is off, wait for about 30 seconds.
- Turn the iPhone back on:
- Press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears, indicating the phone is turning back on.
How to Force Restart iPhone (Hard Reset)
Sometimes, a regular restart isn’t enough to resolve an issue, especially if your iPhone is frozen or unresponsive. In this case, performing a force restart (also known as a hard reset) can help. Force restarting does not erase any data but forcibly powers the device off and on.
Force Restart iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and iPhone 14:
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Force Restart iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Generation and Later):
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Force Restart iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus:
- Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button simultaneously.
- Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, then release both buttons.
Force Restart iPhone 6, iPhone SE (1st Generation), and Earlier Models:
- Press and hold the Home button and the Top (or Side) button at the same time.
- Continue holding until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then release both buttons.
Troubleshooting Common Restart Issues
1. iPhone Won’t Turn On After Restart:
- If your iPhone doesn’t turn on after restarting, try plugging it into a power source and letting it charge for a few minutes. Then, press and hold the Side or Top button to turn it on again.
2. iPhone Freezes During Restart:
- If your iPhone freezes during a restart, force restart the device using the instructions above for your model.
3. Restart Doesn’t Fix the Issue:
- If restarting doesn’t solve the issue, consider updating your iPhone to the latest iOS version or resetting your settings. If problems persist, contact Apple Support.
When to Restart Your iPhone
Restarting your iPhone periodically can help improve performance and resolve minor issues. You may want to restart your iPhone when:
- Your phone feels slow or unresponsive.
- Apps are crashing frequently.
- The screen freezes and won’t respond to touch.
- You’ve installed a new software update.
- You notice battery life draining faster than usual.
Regularly restarting your iPhone can keep it running smoothly and ensure the best possible performance.
How to Restart iPhone: Quick Reference Table
| iPhone Model | How to Restart | Force Restart |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14 | Press Side + Volume button > Slide to Power Off > Hold Side to turn on | Volume Up + Volume Down + Hold Side until Apple logo appears |
| iPhone 8, SE (2nd Gen and later) | Press Side button > Slide to Power Off > Hold Side to turn on | Volume Up + Volume Down + Hold Side until Apple logo appears |
| iPhone 7, 7 Plus | Press Side button > Slide to Power Off > Hold Side to turn on | Hold Volume Down + Side button until Apple logo appears |
| iPhone 6, SE (1st Gen), and earlier | Press Top button > Slide to Power Off > Hold Top to turn on | Hold Home + Top (or Side) button until Apple logo appears |
Conclusion
Learning how to restart iPhone is a simple yet effective way to solve common problems like slow performance, app crashes, and system glitches. Whether you’re using one of the latest models or an older iPhone, restarting can help your device run more smoothly. For more in-depth guides and troubleshooting tips, visit AnswerHowTo.com, your go-to source for practical solutions.