How to restart a frozen iPhone

Before you start

• Check it's really frozen: try tapping the screen and pressing the side button once.
• If the battery might be flat, plug it in for 15 minutes first.

0 of 2 done. Ticking just helps you keep track; nothing is saved or sent.

Steps

iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and later, including Face ID models

1. 1

   Press and quickly release the volume up button

2. 2

   Press and quickly release the volume down button

3. 3

   Press and hold the side button

   Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, then let go. It can take 10 seconds or more, and you may see the "slide to power off" screen first: keep holding.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

1. 1

   Press and hold the volume down button and the side button together

2. 2

   Let go when the Apple logo appears

iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation) and older

1. 1

   Press and hold the Home button and the side (or top) button together

2. 2

   Let go when the Apple logo appears

If this happens, try this

• If one app keeps freezing

  Update it from the App Store, or delete and reinstall it.

• If the iPhone freezes often

  Install the latest iOS update in Settings > General > Software Update, and check you have free storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

• If you only see the Apple logo, over and over

  It may need its software reinstalling from a computer. Back up first if you can, and get help if you're unsure.

• If the screen is black but the phone rings

  The display may be faulty rather than frozen.

Things to be careful about

• A force restart doesn't delete anything. Don't reset or erase the iPhone to fix a freeze unless everything else has failed and you have a backup.

• If the phone is hot, swollen or damaged, stop and get it checked rather than restarting it repeatedly.