A force restart is the fix for an iPhone that’s frozen, stuck on the Apple logo, or otherwise unresponsive. Unlike a restore, it doesn’t touch your data. The button combination differs by model; here are the exact steps for every current iPhone, including the iPhone 17 series.
The Button Combinations
iPhone 8 and Newer
All Face ID models: iPhone 11 through 17 series, iPhone Air, and iPhone SE 2nd/3rd generation.
- Press and quickly release Volume Up
- Press and quickly release Volume Down
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (15–30 seconds), then release
The timing matters: each volume press should be a quick tap, and you keep holding Side through the “slide to power off” screen. Don’t release when it appears.
(Official Apple instructions: Apple Support.)
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
- Press and hold Side + Volume Down together
- Keep holding both until the Apple logo appears, then release
Don’t use Volume Up on these models; Side + Volume Down is the combination.
iPhone 6s, 6, SE (1st gen) and Earlier
- Press and hold Home + Sleep/Wake (Top or Side) together
- Keep holding both until the Apple logo appears, then release
Ignore the “slide to power off” slider if it appears; keep holding.
What a Force Restart Does (and Doesn’t)
It cuts power to a reboot without the normal shutdown sequence: RAM clears, processes restart, and most software freezes resolve. Your data, settings, and apps are untouched.
What it won’t do: fix hardware faults, unlock a disabled iPhone, remove Activation Lock, or install updates. It’s a reboot, nothing more.
If It Doesn’t Work
Work down this ladder:
- Charge for 30 minutes with an original cable, then try again. A dead battery mimics a frozen phone
- Check the buttons. Do they click? A failed button means the combination can’t register
- Slow down. Make deliberate, distinct taps for the volume keys, and hold the final button longer than feels necessary
- Stuck on the Apple logo afterward? Wait 5 minutes, then force restart once more. If it returns to the logo, that’s a deeper failure; connect to a computer and follow our Recovery Mode guide
- Completely unresponsive to everything? That’s hardware territory: Apple Support, a Genius Bar, or an authorized service provider
If It Works but the Problem Returns
A freeze that comes back after every restart points to a cause, not a glitch:
- Check storage (Settings > General > iPhone Storage). Below ~1 GB free causes instability
- Update iOS (Settings > General > Software Update) and update your apps
- Note the pattern. Does it freeze in one specific app? Delete and reinstall that app
- Still cycling? Reset All Settings (Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset), and if even that fails, see the full troubleshooting guide
That’s the whole skill: three button combinations, one safe first step for almost any unresponsive iPhone.