Quick answer
To force restart an iPhone 8 or later, including every model that runs iOS 27, press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button. Keep holding past the power-off slider until the Apple logo appears, then let go. It takes about 10 seconds and does not erase anything.
Force restart or normal restart?
The two do the same job in different ways, and you should try the gentler one first if the iPhone still responds.
| Normal restart | Force restart | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | iOS closes apps, saves data and powers off in order | The iPhone reboots immediately, without waiting for the software |
| Screen needs to work | Yes, to use the slider | No, buttons only |
| Deletes data | No | No |
| Use it when | An app or feature is misbehaving | The screen is frozen, black or not responding |
For a normal restart on an iPhone with Face ID, hold the Side button and either volume button until the slider appears, then drag it. On any iPhone you can also go to Settings › General › Shut Down. Wait for the iPhone to turn off, then hold the Side button to start it again.
A force restart does not delete photos, messages, apps or settings. The only thing at risk is unsaved work in the app that was open when the iPhone froze.
How to force restart iPhone 8 and later
This method covers every iPhone that runs iOS 27, from the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) to the iPhone 18 Pro. It also applies to iPhone 8, iPhone X, XS and XR. The iPhone SE models have a Home button but use the same sequence, not the Home button method.
- Press and quickly release Volume Up.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the Side button on the right edge.
- Keep holding when the "slide to power off" slider appears. Do not touch it.
- Release the Side button when the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.
Give the iPhone a minute or two to finish starting up. The first two presses need to be quick, one straight after the other. A slow press on either volume button just changes the volume, and the sequence does not start.
How to force restart older iPhones
Older models that cannot run iOS 27 use different buttons.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
The Home button on these models does not physically click, so Apple used a different combination.
- Press and hold Volume Down and the Side button at the same time.
- Keep holding both until the Apple logo appears, then release.
iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation) and older
- Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button (on the side or top) at the same time.
- Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, then release.
When you should force restart
A force restart is for situations where a normal restart is impossible:
- The screen is frozen and does not respond to touch.
- The screen is black or white, but the iPhone is clearly on because it still rings or vibrates.
- An app has locked up the iPhone and you cannot get back to the Home Screen.
- The iPhone keeps showing the Apple logo and never finishes starting up.
For an app that is merely slow or crashing, close it from the App Switcher and reopen it first.
What to do if a force restart does not work
Hold the Side button longer
The most common mistake is letting go when the power-off slider appears. Keep holding until the Apple logo shows, which can take 10 seconds or more. If nothing changes, repeat the sequence two or three times with a full hold.
Charge it first
An iPhone with a flat battery can look frozen or dead. Plug it into a wall charger rather than a computer port, leave it for 30 minutes and force restart it again while it stays on the charger. If it will not charge either, our iPhone charging fix guide works through the possible causes.
Use recovery mode
If the iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo or keeps restarting, a computer can reinstall iOS. Connect it to a Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app, put it into recovery mode and choose Update. That reinstalls iOS without erasing your data. Restore erases the iPhone, so try Update first. Our guide to an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo after the iOS 27 update walks through recovery mode step by step.
Contact Apple
If the iPhone does not respond to buttons, charging or a computer, the problem is likely hardware. Contact Apple Support or book a repair.
If you need to force restart often
A one-off freeze is not unusual. Needing a force restart several times a week points to an underlying problem.
- A misbehaving app. If it always happens in the same app, update or reinstall it.
- Storage that is almost full. iOS struggles with very little free space. Our guide to cleaning up iPhone storage shows where to start.
- A software bug. Install the latest update from
Settings › General › Software Update. The current public release is iOS 27.0.1. - Failing hardware. If freezes continue after updating and resetting, contact Apple.
Freezes on the iOS 27 beta
Beta software is unfinished, and freezes and crashes are more common on it than on a public release. If you are running the iOS 27 beta, update to the newest build first; right now that is iOS 27.2 beta 4 (24B5110a), released on 13 October 2026. Check our list of known iOS 27 bugs to see whether others have the same problem.
If the freezes make the iPhone unusable, you can leave the beta. Turning off Settings › General › Software Update › Beta Updates keeps your current build and moves you to the next public release with a higher version number. To go back straight away, restore iOS 26.6.1 RC, which Apple is currently signing, from a Mac or PC.
What to do next
If the iPhone is working again but the freeze came after an update, report it so Apple can fix it. Our guide to reporting bugs in the iOS 27 beta explains what to include.
Frequently asked questions
How do I force restart my iPhone?
On iPhone 8 and later, including every iPhone that runs iOS 27, press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button. Keep holding through the power-off slider until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears, then let go. The iPhone then starts up normally, usually within a minute or two.
Does a force restart delete anything?
No. A force restart does not erase your photos, messages, apps or settings. It simply cuts the current session and makes the iPhone boot again, much like holding the power button on a frozen computer. The only thing you can lose is unsaved work in the app that was open when the iPhone froze, such as a half-written message that had not been saved as a draft.
Why is my force restart not working?
The most common mistake is letting go of the Side button too soon, when the power-off slider appears. Keep holding until the Apple logo shows, which can take 10 seconds or more. Press Volume Up and Volume Down quickly, one after the other. If nothing happens at all, the battery may be flat: charge the iPhone from a wall charger for 30 minutes, then try again.
What is the difference between a restart and a force restart?
A normal restart shuts iOS down in an orderly way: apps close, data is saved and the iPhone powers off before you turn it back on. A force restart skips that and makes the iPhone reboot immediately, without waiting for the software. Use a normal restart for routine glitches and a force restart only when the screen is frozen or the iPhone does not respond.
My iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo after a force restart. What now?
Charge it for a while and force restart again. If it still loops, connect it to a Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app, put it into recovery mode and choose Update, which reinstalls iOS without erasing your data. Our guide to an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo covers every step, including recovery mode.
Is it bad to force restart an iPhone often?
An occasional force restart does no harm. Needing one several times a week is a sign of an underlying problem, though: a misbehaving app, storage that is almost full, a software bug, often on beta builds, or failing hardware. Update iOS and your apps, free up space and, if you are on the iOS 27 beta, check whether the problem is a known beta bug.