How to turn off and restart an iPhone: a guide for every model
On an iPhone with Face ID (X and newer), turn the phone off by holding down the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time until a slider appears at the top, then drag it to the right. On an iPhone with a Home button (SE, 8 and earlier), just hold the side button alone. Settings → General → Shut Down also works universally. When the phone freezes and doesn't respond, use a force restart: quickly press and release volume up, quickly press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. A force restart doesn't erase any data.
On an iPhone with Face ID (X and newer), turn the phone off by holding down the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time until a slider appears at the top, then drag it to the right. On an iPhone with a Home button (SE, 8 and earlier), just hold the side button alone. Settings → General → Shut Down also works universally. When the phone freezes and doesn't respond, use a force restart: quickly press and release volume up, quickly press and release volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. A force restart doesn't erase any data.
In this article
- Why Apple hid the shutdown option
- How to turn off an iPhone with Face ID (X, XR, XS, 11 through 17)
- How to turn off an iPhone with a Home button (SE, 8, 7, 6s and earlier)
- Turning off via Settings (works on every model)
- Force restart when the iPhone doesn't respond
- When a restart helps and when the problem lies elsewhere
- Turning off the phone before selling or trading it in
- When the phone doesn't respond and it's more likely a hardware issue
Why Apple hid the shutdown option
On older iPhones, holding the top button was enough. But since the iPhone X, the side button is also used to summon Siri, so holding it alone won't turn the phone off — it launches the voice assistant instead. That's why the shutdown slider only appears when you combine it with a volume button.
The difference between three operations that are often confused:
- Shutdown — the phone shuts down cleanly and stays off until you switch it back on.
- Restart — shutting down and immediately turning back on. This solves the vast majority of minor glitches: a frozen app, mobile data or Wi-Fi that won't connect.
- Force restart — forcibly interrupting the running system. Use this when the screen doesn't respond at all. It doesn't erase data or settings; it's not a factory reset.
How to turn off an iPhone with Face ID (X, XR, XS, 11 through 17)
Applies to all models without a Home button, including the iPhone 16e and all Pro variants.
1. Hold two buttons at once
The side (right-hand) button together with either volume button. Hold for about two seconds.
2. Wait for the slider
A slider labelled "slide to power off" appears at the top of the screen. Release the buttons.
3. Drag the slider to the right
The screen goes dark; the phone finishes shutting down a few seconds after that.
4. Turning it back on
Hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Once it starts up, the system will ask for your passcode — Face ID won't work yet.
How to turn off an iPhone with a Home button (SE, 8, 7, 6s and earlier)
Also applies to the 2nd- and 3rd-generation iPhone SE, which have the classic round button below the screen.
1. Hold the side or top button
On the iPhone SE, 8, 7 and 6s the power button is on the right side. On older models and the 1st-generation iPhone SE, it's on the top.
2. Drag the slider
Once the "slide to power off" slider appears, release the button and drag the slider to the right.
3. Turning it back on
Hold the same button again until the Apple logo appears.
Turning off via Settings (works on every model)
The safest route if one of the physical buttons is damaged.
1. Open Settings
The grey app with gears on your Home Screen.
2. Go to General
Scroll down the list to General and open it.
3. All the way down → Shut Down
Shut Down is right at the bottom of the list. Then drag the slider to the right.
Force restart when the iPhone doesn't respond
Use this when the screen has frozen, the phone is stuck on the Apple logo, or it doesn't respond to touch at all. No data is erased.
iPhone 8, SE (2020/2022) and all newer models
Quickly press and release volume up. Quickly press and release volume down. Then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears — this can take up to 15 seconds. Don't let go early.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
Hold the side button and volume down together until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s, SE (1st generation) and earlier
Hold the Home button and the side (or top) button together until the Apple logo appears.
If even that doesn't help
Plug the phone into a charger and let it charge for at least 30 minutes, then try the force restart again. A completely flat battery won't respond to button presses.
When a restart helps and when the problem lies elsewhere
A restart is the first step for most software glitches. For some issues, though, it only fixes the symptom.
- A restart usually helps with: A frozen app, mobile data not working after a signal drop-out, Wi-Fi that won't connect, unresponsive Bluetooth, or an overheated phone after long navigation use.
- A restart won't help: the phone turns itself off: Usually a worn battery. Check Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80% it's time for a replacement.
- A restart won't help: fast battery drain: Check Settings → Battery to see which app is behind it. Common causes are background navigation and a weak signal that forces the phone to boost its transmission power.
- A restart won't help: repeated freezing: If the phone freezes several times a week, it's usually down to full storage or a specific faulty app. Free up space and try reinstalling the problematic app.
- A restart won't help: black screen but the phone vibrates: Likely a hardware fault with the screen or connector. This calls for a service inspection.
Turning off the phone before selling or trading it in
If you're turning off the phone because you want to sell it, hand it over, or send it in for a claim, simply switching it off isn't enough. Before handing it over, always:
1. Back up your data to iCloud or a computer.
2. Sign out of your Apple account — Settings → your name → all the way down → Sign Out. Without this, the phone remains locked by Find My, which the new owner won't be able to bypass.
3. Restore factory settings — Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings.
4. Remove the phone from the device list in your iCloud account.
Only then should you turn the phone off. If you're not sure about this process, any iLoveServis store will help you with it.
When the phone doesn't respond and it's more likely a hardware issue
When a force restart doesn't help even after charging, the phone keeps restarting in a loop, or it gets stuck on the Apple logo, it's usually a deeper problem — a corrupted system, a faulty battery, or the aftermath of a drop or contact with water.
In that situation, it makes sense to have the phone inspected before you invest more time in it. We run iLoveServis service centres at eleven stores and carry out diagnostics on the spot. If it turns out a repair isn't worth it, you can switch to a different iPhone — every device in our range has 86–100% battery health, has passed a thorough technical check, and comes with a 2-year warranty. Delivery takes 2 business days, or you can collect the phone at selected stores.