How to Force Restart Any iPhone Model? 

Any gadget can glitch or experience unforeseen performance issues. In many cases, users can solve such problems with force restart. Often, it is the first and free step to take before looking into cell phone repair technician jobs and offers. In collaboration with Jooble, we’ve prepared a complete guide to the iPhone force restart feature.

Do you have a particular question about force restarting an iPhone? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page. 

Understanding Resets: Soft Reset, Force Restart, and Factory Reset

Before taking any action, it is essential to understand the difference between the various options available.

A soft reset is basically a restart of your smartphone. It is a standard function that turns all applications and the operating system off and turns them on after. It can fix a lot of bugs you might be experiencing. It can be used if:

• Your Wi-Fi connection isn’t working;
• You have trouble with the speaker;
• One application is frozen;
• The cellular connection is not working.

Overall, if the system doesn’t work correctly and you do not know why – you can opt for a soft reset to restart it. None of your settings or files will be erased. But the cash files will be cleared. A soft reset is a safe procedure users should do regularly, about once a week.

A force restart is also called a hard reset. You can do it in case the whole operating system is frozen. It is possible because it is on the hardware rather than the software level. It turns the power off and on for the device. So your files and settings will be safe. And it doesn’t clear cash. Force restart can often be the only option if your iPhone lags pretty hard.

It is not a procedure to do all the time. But sometimes, it can be highly beneficial to troubleshoot the device.

Factory reset is the option to wipe out your iPhone to its factory state. All the files and settings will be erased. After such a procedure, you’ll have a clear phone as if you had just bought it. It can also solve a lot of software issues and bugs. However, it is a last resort. Users might opt for it if nothing else can be done. The main reason is that there might be a lot of files without backups.

Soft Reset vs. Force Restart: What is Better?

Many sources claim that a force restart is better than a soft reset for troubleshooting and fixing bugs. However, it is not valid.

Soft reset allows closing all applications correctly and with notice. On the other hand, a force restart does the opposite. It cuts the power off, and all applications are closed without proper procedures. It might lead to the corruption of files. The difference between those two options is the level at which it happens.

A soft reset is on the software level, and a force restart is on the hardware level. Usually, it is recommended to use a soft reset when possible. For example, a force restart is used when your whole iPhone is frozen. So the operating system isn’t working, and you cannot use a soft reset. For example, if the screen is not responsive.

How to Force Restart iPhone?

If the soft reset is not an option, you can force restart your iPhone. Here is a complete guide on how to do it for different models of iPhones.

Initiating a Force Restart on iPhone 14 Series

If you have an iPhone 14 series with iOS 16, here is what you need to do to force restart the device:

• Press the volume up button quickly;
• Then press the volume down button the same way;
• After that, press and hold the side button;
• When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the side button.

Force Restarting iPhone X to iPhone 13 Series

If you have iPhone X or iPhone 13 series, you can also force restart your device when it is frozen and unresponsive.

If your device supports Face ID, you can force restart the phone. To do so, press the volume up button, then the volume down button, and press and hold the power button on the top of your phone until you see the Apple logo on the screen.

If your device does not support Face ID, the process is the same, but instead of pressing and holding the power button, you need to press and hold the side one.

Method to Force Restart iPhone 9 Series

Those who have iPhone 9 series should follow these steps:

• Hold a phone facing you with the screen;
• Press and hold Wake/Sleep and Home simultaneously;
• The slide-off bar will appear on the screen but do not release buttons. Continue holding them;
• After that, the Apple logo will appear on the screen. Now you can let the buttons go;
• Wait until the device reboots and restarts.

How to Soft Reset an iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd Generation), or Later?

The process for restarting your device forcefully for iPhone 8 and iPhone SE is the same as for iPhone 14 series:

• Press the volume up button;
• Press the volume down;
• Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

After these three steps, your device will reboot.

Performing Force Restart on iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

For the iPhone 7 series, the process is somewhat different. It is because there is no physical Home button there. But do not worry; you can still force restart your phone. You must simultaneously press and hold Sleep/Wake and the Volume Down buttons. Hold them until the Apple logo appears. It means that the device is restarting.

Instructions for Force Restarting iPhone 6S, Earlier Models, and iPhone SE (2016)

For these older models, you need to press and hold two buttons at the same time – the Home and the Side. Or you can press and hold the Home and the Power. You also need to keep holding them until you see the Apple logotype.

Solutions for an iPhone That Resists a Force Restart

In case your device doesn’t respond to these procedures, you can use iTunes to fix the issue. For instance, go to your iTunes account if an iPhone doesn’t force restart.

After opening the app:

1. Click the phone icon.
2. Select the “restore the phone” option.
3. Choose the data backup option and restore your iPhone.

If this doesn’t work, there is one last option. It is to opt for the Recovery mode. It is a last resort because it will erase the data on the device. So it brings it to the factory settings. Users can also do it through iTunes.

First, you need to download any available updates and install them on your computer. After that, put your device into Recovery mode. Now you can plug it into your computer. Then, iTunes will detect the device and its Recovery mode. It will offer you to restore the iPhone. Agree to the process and wait until it is done. Now your gadget is back to factory settings.

All in all, a force restart is a valuable option if your iPhone freezes and there is no way to use a soft reset. It will shut the power off and on and reboot your phone.

Credits: Thanks for the photo to Canva.

At ipoki.com we only mention the products that we’ve researched and considered worthy. But it’s important to mention that we are a participant of several affiliate programs, including Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate ipoki.com earns from qualifying purchases.