How to Reset a Frozen iPhone

To reset a frozen iPhone without losing data, use the force-restart button sequence for your iPhone model. A force restart shuts down and starts the iPhone again but does not erase your photos, apps, messages, or settings.

Start with the steps below even if the screen is black or does not respond to touch. Remove a bulky case first if it prevents the buttons from moving normally.

Signs Your iPhone Is Frozen

A frozen iPhone stops responding to normal input. The screen may remain stuck on one image, an app may refuse to close, or the display may be black even though the phone appears to have power.

Common signs that an iPhone is frozen include:

• The screen does not react when you tap or swipe.
• The Side, Top, or Home button produces no visible response.
• An app or the Apple logo remains on the screen for several minutes without changing.
• The phone does not respond to the usual shutdown controls.

A slow iPhone still reacts, even if menus and apps take longer to open. Before forcing a restart, wait briefly to see whether a busy app finishes. If the phone remains completely unresponsive, use the appropriate force-restart sequence.

Force Restart Steps by iPhone Model

A force restart is a hardware-button command that reboots an unresponsive iPhone without using the screen. The correct sequence depends on the model.

For iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone models that use Face ID:

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 goes dark. Release it only when the Apple logo appears. This can take longer than ten seconds.

Press the volume buttons separately and quickly. Holding a volume button with the Side button opens a different control and does not complete the force restart.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus:

1. Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button at the same time.
2. Continue holding both buttons for at least ten seconds.
3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE first generation, and earlier models with a Home button:

1. Press and hold the Home button and the Side or Top button at the same time.
2. Continue holding both buttons for at least ten seconds.
3. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

If the Apple logo appears, allow the iPhone to start normally. Enter the device passcode when asked; a restart may require the passcode instead of Face ID or Touch ID.

What to Do If a Force Restart Doesn't Work

If the frozen iPhone does not restart, connect it to power and leave it charging for a while, then repeat the exact force-restart sequence. Check that the cable, power adapter, and charging connection are secure.

If the phone still will not start, use recovery mode. Recovery mode lets a Mac or Windows computer attempt to update or restore an iPhone that cannot start normally.

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 on that computer.
3. Perform the force-restart 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, showing a cable and computer symbol.
5. When the computer offers Update or Restore, try Update first. Update attempts to reinstall iOS while preserving personal data.
6. Use Restore only if Update fails and you understand that Restore erases the iPhone.

DFU mode, or Device Firmware Update mode, reloads the iPhone firmware at a deeper level than recovery mode. Its timing and button sequence vary by model, the screen stays black while it is active, and restoring through DFU mode erases the device. Because an incorrect attempt can be mistaken for a powered-off phone, use DFU mode only with model-specific instructions from Apple Support or with help from Apple.

Will Resetting a Frozen iPhone Erase Your Data?

Force restarting a frozen iPhone does not erase its data. It only interrupts the current operating state and starts iOS again, much like restarting a computer.

The reset options have different effects:

• Force restart: Does not erase photos, apps, messages, accounts, or settings.
• Recovery-mode Update: Attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing personal data.
• Factory reset or recovery-mode Restore: Erases the iPhone and returns it to its setup state.
• DFU restore: Erases the iPhone while reinstalling its firmware and software.

A factory reset is not the first step for a frozen iPhone. Consider an erase only after a force restart and recovery-mode update have failed, or when Apple Support recommends it. A recent backup may let you restore personal data after the erase.

When to Contact Apple Support

Contact Apple Support if the iPhone remains frozen after repeated force-restart attempts, the computer cannot detect it in recovery mode, or the same freeze returns frequently. Support is also appropriate when a button does not click or respond, the phone becomes unusually hot, or the display stays black despite charging.

Open {site} and choose the support option for iPhone. Have the iPhone model, Apple Account information, a description of what was on the screen, and the troubleshooting steps already attempted ready. If possible, note whether the computer recognized the device and displayed an error message.

Preventing Future iPhone Freezes

After the frozen iPhone works again, a few maintenance steps can reduce repeat problems:

• Install available iOS updates through Settings when the phone has a reliable connection and enough battery power.
• Check iPhone Storage in Settings and remove unneeded downloads, large videos, or unused apps if storage is nearly full.
• Update apps through the App Store so they remain compatible with the installed iOS version.
• Close and reopen an app that repeatedly becomes unresponsive. Routine force-closing of every background app is unnecessary because iOS manages background activity.
• Restart the iPhone normally from time to time, especially after an app or system feature behaves unexpectedly.
• Keep a current backup so personal information can be recovered if a later repair requires the iPhone to be erased.