Restart, recovery, backup, and transfer
Power off and force restart
Most people call this turning the phone off, and what to do when it will not respond.
A normal shutdown is in Settings under General, and a force restart uses a button sequence that differs by model generation.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 11 and later
- Settings
- General
- Shut Down
What it does
Shut Down at the bottom of the General screen works even when the buttons do not. A force restart on a modern iPhone is volume up, volume down, then hold the side button until the logo appears.
Older models use different sequences: iPhone 7 and 7 Plus use volume down with the side button, and earlier models use the Home button with the side button.
What changes
When it is on
Not applicable. These are actions.
When it is off
Not applicable.
Should you turn it on?
Battery
No real change
Privacy
No real change
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Not applicable.
Questions people actually ask
- How do I force restart my iPhone?
- Press volume up, press volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Older models use different sequences.
- How do I turn my iPhone off without the buttons?
- Settings, then General, then scroll to the bottom and choose Shut Down.
If it is not working
- A force restart does not erase anything. It is safe to try first.
- Press and release the volume buttons quickly, then hold the side button. Holding all three does not work.
- If the phone will not start at all, connect it to power and leave it for an hour before trying again.