Has your iPhone been a bit stubborn, freezing up or just not responding? A hard reset, sometimes called a force restart, is often the first port of call for these sorts of glitches, and the good news is, it won’t wipe your precious photos, apps, or messages.
It’s different from a ‘reset all settings’, which just reverts your preferences, and definitely not the same as ‘erase all content and settings’ (the factory reset), which clears everything off your phone. A hard reset is more like pulling the plug and plugging it straight back in – a quick way to reboot the system when the usual off/on isn’t working.
Here’s how to do it, depending on which iPhone model you have.
How to Force Restart (Hard Reset) Your iPhone
The steps involve pressing a specific sequence of buttons quite quickly. Don’t worry if you see the “slide to power off” prompt during this process; you need to ignore that and keep holding the button(s) until the Apple logo appears.
Here are the steps for common iPhone models:
For iPhone 8 or later (including iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd generation):
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding it even if you see the power off slider.
- Release the Side button only when you see the Apple logo appear on the screen.
For iPhone 7 or 7 Plus:
- Press and hold both the Side button and the Volume Down button simultaneously.
- Keep holding them until you see the Apple logo, then release both buttons.
For iPhone 6s or earlier (including iPhone SE 1st generation):
- Press and hold both the Home button and the Top (or Side) button simultaneously.
- Keep holding them until you see the Apple logo, then release both buttons.
Once the Apple logo appears, your iPhone is restarting. This process forces the device to shut down completely and then reloads the software, which can often clear up minor glitches or unresponsiveness.
When Should You Perform a Hard Reset?
This action is your go-to fix if your iPhone is:
- Frozen and won’t respond to touch.
- Stuck on a black screen or the Apple logo.
- Won’t turn on after an update or restore.
- Has a screen that’s on, but the buttons aren’t working.
- Experiencing apps that keep crashing and have locked up the device.
Remember, this is a quick fix. It doesn’t erase your data and can often get your device working again in seconds.
What if the Force Restart Doesn’t Work?
Sometimes, even a force restart isn’t enough to get things moving. If you’ve tried the button combination and your iPhone still isn’t responding, the sources suggest a few potential reasons and further steps:
- Software Glitch: Ensure your iPhone’s iOS is up to date, as outdated versions can cause issues. You can check for updates in Settings > General > Software Update.
- Check Siri Settings: Some users have reported issues with force restart if “Press Side Button to invoke Siri” is enabled. Try disabling this setting in the Siri section of your Settings app.
- Battery Issues: If the battery is very low, iOS might prevent a restart. Try plugging your iPhone in to charge for at least an hour.
More Advanced Solutions
If the problem persists after trying the above and the force restart itself isn’t working, the sources mention considering more significant steps like restoring your iPhone using iTunes or Finder, performing a factory reset (which will delete data, so back up first!), using a third-party iOS system repair tool, or contacting Apple Customer Support, as it could be a hardware issue.
Key Takeaways
- A hard reset, or force restart, is a useful technique for fixing frozen or unresponsive iPhones.
- It involves a specific sequence of button presses that varies by iPhone model.
- Crucially, it does not delete your personal data.
- If a force restart doesn’t solve the issue, updating iOS, checking Siri settings, charging, or trying more complex solutions like restoring or factory resetting might be necessary.
Hopefully, following these steps gets your iPhone back up and running smoothly. Troubleshooting can be a bit of a faff sometimes, but knowing these simple resets is always a good start!
