How to Force Restart a Frozen iPhone Without Losing Data

If your iPhone is frozen, showing a black screen, or ignoring touch input, try a force restart. A force restart reboots the phone without erasing your photos, apps, messages, or settings. It is different from a factory reset, which removes personal data.

Restart, force restart, or factory reset?

• Normal restart: turn the iPhone off with the on-screen slider, then turn it back on. Use this when the screen still responds.
• Force restart: use a button sequence to reboot an unresponsive iPhone. This does not erase the device.
• Factory reset: erase the iPhone and return it to its initial setup state. This is not necessary for an ordinary freeze and should not be confused with restarting.

A restart can close an app or process that stopped responding. Work that was not saved inside an open app may be lost, but data already stored on the iPhone remains intact.

Try a normal restart first

iPhone with Face ID

1. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag slide to power off and wait for the screen to go dark.
3. Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone with a Home button

Press and hold the side button—or the top button on models that place it there—until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, wait for the phone to shut down, and hold the same button again until you see the Apple logo.

If the buttons work but you prefer an on-screen command, open Settings > General > Shut Down.

Force restart iPhone 8 or later

This sequence applies to iPhone 8 and newer models, including iPhones with Face ID and the second- and third-generation iPhone SE.

1. Quickly press and release Volume Up.
2. Quickly press and release Volume Down.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. Keep holding when the screen goes dark, and release the button when the Apple logo appears.

The first two presses must be quick. If the emergency or power-off screen appears, begin the sequence again and complete the volume-button presses more quickly.

Force restart iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus

Press and hold the side button and Volume Down at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears, then release them.

Force restart iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation), or earlier

Press and hold the Home button and the side or top button together. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, then release both buttons.

If the iPhone still does not respond

1. Charge it: connect the iPhone to a known-working charger and cable. Leave it connected before trying the force-restart sequence again.
2. Check the buttons: remove a case that may be obstructing a button and confirm the buttons can move normally.
3. Let it cool: if the device is unusually hot, disconnect it from charging and allow it to return to a normal temperature.
4. Use recovery options carefully: if the iPhone remains stuck on the Apple logo or recovery screen, connect it to a Mac or PC. Try the offered Update option before Restore when appropriate, because Restore erases the device.
5. Get service: seek Apple or qualified repair support if the phone will not power on, a button is damaged, or the problem repeatedly returns.

After the iPhone restarts

Install available iOS and app updates, check that the iPhone has adequate free storage, and note which app was open when the freeze occurred. If the same app repeatedly causes the problem, update or reinstall that app after confirming its data is backed up.

A force restart is the safest first response to a completely frozen iPhone because it does not intentionally alter stored data. Backups are still important: recurring freezes, storage faults, or physical damage can create problems that a restart cannot fix.