How to Force Restart Your iPhone?

iPhone by default comes with an option to shut down and reset when needed. You can do this by going to “Settings > General > Shut Down or Reset”. However, there are no options to restart your phone which you need on many occasions. Depending up on the model, here is how you can force restart your iPhone.

Force Restarting iPhone

Generally, you do not need to restart unless your iPhone is not responding at all. It could be due to an app crashed or your iPhone is frozen during installing iOS or an app. For force restarting models with Face ID, you need to use the 3 buttons on the sides as shown in the below picture. The side button on the right side was earlier called as sleep/wake button.

For older iPhone 6 models, you need to use the iconic home button.

1. Force Restart on iPhone 8 or Later

Follow the below instructions on iPhone 8, X, X_S, X_R, 11, 12, 13, 14 or later. It should work on all Face ID models with iOS 16 or later.

• First, press and release the volume up button.
• Next, do the same with volume down button.
• Last, press and hold side button till Apple logo appears then release the button.

Your iPhone will restart from there and hope that fixes your problems.

2. Force Restart iPhone 7

If you are using iPhone 7, the side button is called sleep/wake button.

• Press sleep/wake button and hold.
• Then press volume down button.
• Apple logo will appear indicating the phone is restarting.
• Release both sleep/wake and volume down buttons.

3. Force Restart iPhone 6

Follow the below instructions for iPhone 6, 6s or SE with Home button.

• Press and hold sleep/wake button.
• Now press the home button.
• Apple logo will appear and leave sleep/wake and home buttons.

Final Words

Though there are no restart option available in settings app, you can follow the above instructions depending upon the model. Force restarting your iPhone is one of the troubleshooting options you can use to resolve most of the hanging and crashing problems. This is also the only option when your iPhone is frozen without responding.