An iPhone force restart uses Volume Up, Volume Down, then Side on newer models; older iPhones use two-button holds.
A frozen screen can make how to force restart iPhone feel harder than it is, but the fix is mostly button timing. A force restart cuts power to the stuck session and starts iOS again without erasing photos, apps, messages, or settings.
The button combo depends on the iPhone model. Newer iPhones use a three-step press pattern, iPhone 7 models use Side plus Volume Down, and older Home-button models use Home plus Side or Top.
When A Force Restart Helps
A force restart helps when an iPhone is frozen, stuck on a black screen, locked on an app, or not reacting to taps. A normal restart is better when the screen still responds, because the power-off slider lets iOS close down in the usual way.
Use a force restart for a stuck device, not for routine daily restarts. The process should not delete your data, but unsaved work inside a frozen app may be lost because the app never got a chance to save it.
Force-Restart Steps For Every iPhone Button Layout
Most iPhone models from iPhone 8 forward use the same three-button rhythm. The presses need to be separate and crisp; holding the first volume button too long can open the power slider instead.
- Press and release Volume Up.
- Press and release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the Side button on the right edge.
- Release the Side button when the Apple logo appears.
The Apple logo means the restart command landed and iOS is loading again. The screen may stay dark for several seconds before the logo appears, so keep holding the Side button until the logo shows.
Which iPhone Button Combination Do You Need?
The iPhone button combination changes once you move back to iPhone 7 or older models. Match the model group first, then run the exact button sequence for that row.
| iPhone Model Group | Buttons To Press | When To Release |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 8 and later | Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side | Release Side at the Apple logo |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side | Release Side at the Apple logo |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation) | Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side | Release Side at the Apple logo |
| iPhone 7 | Hold Side and Volume Down together | Release both buttons at the Apple logo |
| iPhone 7 Plus | Hold Side and Volume Down together | Release both buttons at the Apple logo |
| iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus | Hold Home and Side together | Release both buttons at the Apple logo |
| iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5s, and earlier | Hold Home and Top together | Release both buttons at the Apple logo |
Apple says the Apple logo may take longer than 10 seconds to appear on a frozen iPhone, so do not let go too early. The current Apple frozen iPhone restart steps also separate newer Face ID models, iPhone 7 models, and older Home-button models by button layout.
What If The Apple Logo Never Appears?
An iPhone that never shows the Apple logo may be out of battery, stuck deeper in startup, or dealing with a button problem. Charge the iPhone before assuming the restart failed.
Plug the iPhone into a known-working charger and cable for at least one hour. If the low-battery icon appears, keep charging until the iPhone starts or until you have given it enough time to wake from a drained battery.
Button timing also causes many failed attempts. On iPhone 8 and later, the first two presses are taps, not holds. The only long hold is the Side button at the end.
Normal Restart Versus Force Restart
A normal restart shuts down the iPhone through the on-screen power slider. A force restart bypasses the slider, so it is the better move only when the screen or buttons leave you stuck.
Do not confuse force restart with erase, reset, recovery mode, or a factory restore. A force restart is a startup command; it does not sign you out of Apple Account, remove eSIM service, delete apps, or wipe photos.
| Situation | Move To Use | Why It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Screen responds normally | Normal restart | iOS can shut down through the slider |
| Screen is frozen | Force restart | The button combo works without touch input |
| iPhone keeps restarting by itself | Restart-loop troubleshooting | A button combo may restart it once, but the cause still remains |
| iPhone will not turn on after charging | Service or recovery help | Battery, cable, port, or system damage may be involved |
| You plan to sell the iPhone | Erase all content and settings | A force restart does not remove personal data |
If the iPhone starts restarting again after the logo appears, treat it as a restart loop, not a one-time freeze. A separate iPhone keeps restarting fix can help you sort battery, storage, update, and app causes after the device wakes.
Fix The Attempt Before Trying Harder
A failed force restart often comes from one small timing mistake. Run the model-matched sequence once more, slower at the start and firmer on the final hold.
- Remove a thick case if it blocks the Side, Volume, Home, or Top button.
- Use separate presses for Volume Up and Volume Down on iPhone 8 and later.
- Keep holding the final button combo until the Apple logo appears, even if the screen stays black at first.
- Try another charger if the iPhone shows no logo, no battery icon, and no vibration.
- Stop pressing buttons once the Apple logo appears, because the restart has already started.
The best sign is plain: the Apple logo appears, then the Lock Screen returns. After that, enter your passcode once; Face ID or Touch ID usually needs the passcode after a restart.
Use The Smallest Fix That Works
The smallest fix depends on whether the iPhone is still responsive. Use the normal restart when touch works, the force restart when the screen is stuck, and deeper repair steps only when the iPhone still will not start.
- Try the power-off slider if the screen responds.
- Use the button combo for your exact iPhone model if the screen is frozen.
- Charge for one hour if the screen stays black after the button sequence.
- Repeat the model-matched sequence once after charging.
- Use repair or recovery help if the iPhone still shows no logo, battery icon, or Lock Screen.
That sequence keeps the fix narrow. You get the frozen iPhone moving again without jumping straight to erase, reset, or recovery steps that solve a different problem.
References & Sources
- Apple Support.“If your iPhone won’t turn on or the screen is black.”Lists current force-restart button steps for Face ID iPhones, iPhone 7 models, and older Home-button models.