Home – How-to – How to force restart iPhone or iPad (All models)

How to force restart iPhone or iPad (All models)

How to force restart all iPhone or iPad models

While the Apple iPhone is known for its seamless performance, it is just another piece of tech and can experience a few hiccups sometimes. Although simply restarting your iPhone can fix most of such hiccups, you won’t be able to do so if your iPhone 16 screen goes unresponsive. In that case, instead of trying to restart, you can force restart your iPhone, which is one of the quickest approaches to get your iPhone back on track.

Whether you own the latest iPhone 16 and SE 3rd generation or are using an iPhone 6s with a Home button, a force restart can come in handy to resolve any issues along the way. Here’s how to force restart all iPhone models.

How to force restart iPhone 8 and later

iPhone 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11 series, XS, XR, and iPhone X have Face ID and no Home button. iPhone SE 2022, SE 2020, and 8 series have a Home button with Touch ID. But the process to force a restart of all these devices is the same.

  1. From the left side of the device, press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Next, press and immediately release the Volume Down button.

    Press and Quickly Release Volume buttons on iPhone
  3. Finally, from the device’s right side, press and hold the Side button.

    Press and Hold the Side button on iPhone 11
  4. Release the Side button when you see the Apple logo on your iPhone screen.

How to force restart your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus

iPhone 7 or 7 Plus has its unique method for force restart, which is different from all old or new iPhone models. Here’s how to force restart an iPhone 7.

  1. Press and hold the Side button on the right side of the iPhone, and the Volume Down button on the left side together.

    Press and Hold Side Button and Volume Button Together
  2. Let go of both buttons when you see the Apple logo appear on screen.

This method is also used for the iPod Touch 7th Gen. Just use the Top button instead of the Side button.

How to reboot iPhone with Home button

Here’s how you can force restart an iPhone with the Home Button, i.e., iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, iPhone SE 1st generation, iPhone 5s, 5c, and earlier models.

  1. Press and hold the Home button on the front of the device and the Side button on the right side of the device together.

    Press Home Button and Side Button Together on iPhone 6s
  2. Let go of the buttons when you see the Apple logo on the screen.

These steps are also applicable for the iPod Touch 6th Gen. Just use the Top button instead of the Side button.

How to hard reset iPad models with Face ID

The flagship iPads have Face ID and no traditional Home button. The process of rebooting these iPads is the same as with iPhone 8 and later. Here’s how.

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button on the right side of the iPad.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button on the right side of the iPad.

    Press Quickly Release Volume buttons on iPad
  3. Finally, press and hold the Power button on the top of the iPad.

    Press and Hold Power button on iPad
  4. Let go of the Power button when the iPad restarts.

How to reboot an iPad with a Home button

  1. Press and hold the Home button on the front side of the iPad and the Top button together.

    Press and Hold Home Button and Top Button on iPad
  2. Let go of both buttons when you see the Apple logo on your iPad screen.

That’s all, folks!

This is how you can force restart your iPhone, iPad, and other devices. If this didn’t solve your problem, you may want to put your iPhone or iPad in Recovery mode or DFU mode. Have more questions? Feel free to mention them in the comments section below, and we’ll get back to you.

Video: Force restart/reboot all iPhone and iPad models

FAQs

Is force restarting an iPhone safe?

Yes, force restarting your iPhone is perfectly safe. It’s just like rebooting your computer. That said, there’s really no reason to use it over a normal reboot unless your iPhone is frozen.

Does a force restart on iPhone delete everything?

Nope. All of your personal data, downloaded apps, contacts, messages, etc. will be right where you left it after the reset. Resetting your iPhone to factory settings using “Erase all Content and Settings”, on the other hand, will delete everything.

In case you missed it:

2 comments
  1. i have tried the 3 steps for forcing a shut down but my sreen will turn black and then returns to green, It never shows the apple logo

    1. Your iPad’s display might have physical damage, or a major software bug might be causing the green screen issue. I suggest you contact Apple Support.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *