How to Force Restart Any iPhone or iPad: A Complete Guide

Your iPhone freezes at the worst possible time. The screen stops responding, you tap, you press the Side button, nothing. Payment queue moving, thumb getting sweaty, phone still frozen. Deep breath. The quickest fix that actually works when the screen ignores you is a force restart.  

A force restart is different from a normal shutdown from the power slider; it is a hardware level reboot that kicks in when iOS hangs. On iPhone 16 Pro the button combo uses the Side button and the volume keys, older models use different steps, and I spell out each one. Follow the guide and you can get back to your Lock Screen without erasing photos or apps. Clear steps, all models covered, no data loss. 

Force Restart vs. Standard Restart

• Standard Restart: Use this gentle reset when your iPhone still responds but feels slow or touch lags. Power it off from the software menus, then turn it back on. On iPhone 16 Pro, open Settings, General, Shut Down to get the slider, then hold the Side button to start up. Quick refresh, no drama.  
• Force Restart: This is for emergencies. If the iPhone is frozen, unresponsive, or stuck on a black screen, use the button combo to reboot even if the touchscreen will not respond. On iPhone 16 Pro: press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. Older models use different steps.  

Will I lose data?

No. A force restart does not delete photos, messages, or apps. It restarts the phone only. 

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How to Force Restart Your iPhone (Step-by-Step)

Find your iPhone model below and follow the steps.  

(Press the buttons with a firm click, in this exact order. This helps when the iPhone is unresponsive or frozen and a normal restart will not work.)

For iPhone 8, SE (2nd gen & later), – 16 Series

iPhone 16e, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, XS, XR, and iPhone X have Face ID and no Home button. Whereas 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. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. Do not hold.  
2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Same deal, a quick tap. 
   
3. Press and hold the Side button on the right. Keep holding even if the power off slider shows up.  
   
4. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, then release. The phone restarts, lock screen returns. 

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

1. Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake Side button together. Both at once.
   
2. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, then let go. The restart begins, give it a few seconds

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

For iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), and Earlier

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. Press both together.  
   
2. Keep holding until the Apple logo shows, then release. The device restarts and boots normally.

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

How to Force Restart Your iPad (Step-by-Step)

Find your iPad model below and follow the steps. 

(Press the buttons with a firm click, exactly in this order. This sequence helps when the iPad is unresponsive or completely frozen and a normal restart will not work at all.) 

Hard Reset iPad With Face ID

These are the iPad Pro models with Face ID and no Home button. The reboot sequence matches iPhone 8 and later, so the muscle memory carries over. Follow these steps exactly.

1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. 
2. Immediately press and quickly release the Volume Down button. 
   
3. Press and hold the Top button. (Power button). Keep holding even if the power off slider appears.
   
4. Keep holding the Top button until the Apple logo appears, then release. The iPad restarts to the Lock Screen.

Reboot an iPad With a Home Button 

On older iPads with a Home button, use this method.

1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (Top) button simultaneously.
   
2. Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears, then release. The restart begins and finishes in a few seconds.

When Should You Use a Force Restart?

• The screen goes frozen or black and won’t respond, so you can’t use your iPhone normally.  
• Your iPhone ignores every tap and button press, so you can’t interact with it at all.  
• An app crashes and locks up the whole device, preventing you from closing it or getting back to the Home Screen.  
• You get stuck on the Apple logo during startup, and the device won’t finish booting like usual.  

What to Do if a Force Restart Doesn’t Work

Still stuck? Don’t worry try these steps:

Step 1: Charge Your iPhone  

Plug the iPhone into power for at least 30 minutes. A flat battery can block a restart. Try the force restart again while it is charging. Use a known good cable or charger to rule out power issues.  

Step 2: Connect to a Computer  

If it still will not turn on, connect the iPhone to a Mac or PC. Open Finder on a Mac or iTunes on Windows, then follow the prompts to update or restore the device. Keep it plugged in until the process completes.  

Step 3: DFU Mode (Advanced)  

If Recovery Mode does not help, Device Firmware Update (DFU), is a deeper restore option. Use it only if you feel comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, since it reinstalls firmware.  

Step 4: Contact Apple Support  

If none of this works, the iPhone may have a hardware issue. Reach out to Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for professional help. Booking a Genius Bar appointment saves time.

Final Thoughts

A force restart is the quickest first aid for an unresponsive iPhone. Do it right and the frozen screen, a stubborn app, or a phone that refuses to power off or back on usually clears in seconds. Knowing the exact button combo for your model, especially the iPhone 16 Pro sequence, lets you react fast without digging through menus. The move only restarts the system, so your photos, messages, and apps stay put. Keep this guide close so the steps are ready when you need them, bookmark it in Safari or drop it in Notes for easy reach. One calm sequence, Apple logo, relief. And if you have a trick that helped you in a pinch, share it in the comments. 

Video: Force restart/reboot all iPhone and iPad models

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