Force Reset an iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide

To force reset an iPhone that is frozen, use the button combination for your model and keep holding until the Apple logo appears. A force reset iPhone procedure, also called a force restart, does not erase your photos, apps, messages, or settings.

When should you force reset an iPhone?

Force restart an iPhone when the screen is frozen, the display stays black, an app will not close, or the phone does not respond to normal taps and button presses. A force restart cuts off the current software session and starts iOS again.

Try a normal restart first if the screen and buttons still work. Turn the iPhone off with the on-screen power slider, wait briefly, and turn it back on. A normal restart gives the system time to close running processes.

Use a force restart when you cannot reach the power slider or the iPhone remains stuck. If an app is merely slow but the phone still responds, close the app or restart normally before using the forced procedure.

How do you force reset an iPhone with Face ID?

These steps apply to iPhone 8 and later, including iPhone models that use Face ID. The timing matters: press the volume buttons quickly, then continue holding the side button even if the power-off slider appears.

1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. Keep holding the side button when the screen turns black or the power-off slider appears.
5. Release the side button when the Apple logo appears.
6. Wait for the iPhone to finish starting. Enter the device passcode if requested.

If nothing happens, repeat the sequence with quicker presses on the two volume buttons. Make sure you release each volume button before holding the side button.

How do you force reset an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus?

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus use a different two-button combination.

1. Press and hold the side button and Volume Down button at the same time.
2. Continue holding both buttons while the screen changes or turns black.
3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
4. Wait for the iPhone to complete its startup.

How do you force reset an iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, or older model?

Use these steps for iPhone 6s and earlier models. They also apply to the first-generation iPhone SE, which has a physical Home button.

1. Press and hold the Home button and the side or top button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both buttons when the display turns black.
3. Release the buttons when the Apple logo appears.
4. Allow the iPhone to restart before trying to use it.

Later iPhone SE models use the iPhone 8-and-later sequence: Volume Up, Volume Down, and then hold the side button.

Does a force reset erase your iPhone data?

A force reset does not intentionally delete personal data, apps, account details, or settings. It only forces the operating system to stop and restart.

Work that was not saved before the iPhone froze may be lost. For example, text entered into an app but not saved or submitted might not return after startup.

A factory reset is different. A factory reset erases the iPhone and returns it to its setup state. Do not choose an option labeled Erase All Content and Settings when you only want to restart a frozen phone.

What should you do if an iPhone force reset does not work?

If the iPhone does not respond, connect it to power and leave it charging before trying the correct button sequence again. Check that the case is not blocking a button and that each button moves normally.

If the Apple logo remains on the screen for a long time or the iPhone repeatedly restarts, use recovery mode. Recovery mode is a troubleshooting state that lets a Mac or Windows computer update or restore iOS.

1. Connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer with a compatible cable.
2. Open Finder on a current Mac. On Windows or an older Mac, open the Apple device-management software available for that computer.
3. Use the force-restart button sequence for the iPhone model, but do not release the final button when the Apple logo appears.
4. Keep holding until the recovery-mode screen appears.
5. When the computer offers Update or Restore, try Update first. Update attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing personal data.
6. Use Restore only if Update fails and you understand that restoring erases the iPhone.

DFU mode, or Device Firmware Update mode, reloads the device firmware and is a deeper recovery option. Because entering DFU mode varies by model and restoring through it can erase data, follow Apple’s current instructions or get official support rather than guessing.

If the buttons do not work, the computer never recognizes the iPhone, or the phone shows no sign of power after charging, contact Apple Support for model-specific help. Do not attempt to bypass a device passcode or Activation Lock.

What is the difference between force reset and factory reset?

• Force reset or force restart: Restarts an unresponsive iPhone with hardware buttons. It does not intentionally erase stored data.

• Normal restart: Shuts down and starts the iPhone through the regular controls. Use it when the device still responds.

• Factory reset: Erases content and settings, removes personal information from the device, and returns the iPhone to its setup state. Back up important data before using it.

If your goal is to make a frozen screen respond again, use a force restart. A factory reset is for erasing the device or resolving a problem only after less destructive troubleshooting has failed.

How can you get official help with an iPhone reset?

Open {site} and look for iPhone Support if the force restart and recovery-mode update do not solve the problem. Have the iPhone model, the behavior shown on the screen, and the troubleshooting steps you already tried ready.

Apple Support can confirm the correct button sequence, explain current recovery options, and help when a computer does not detect the device. Use official guidance before restoring the iPhone, especially when you do not have a recent backup.