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How do I force restart an iPhone that will not start up normally?

Reviewed by John Porter, Editor ·

Answer

Use Apple’s force-restart button sequence for your iPhone model (for iPhone 8 and later: quick volume up, quick volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo).

Before you start: stop right away if…

  • A force restart does not erase data; a computer restore can.

Follow these steps

  1. Charge for several minutes

    Plug the iPhone into a known-good charger and cable. Leave it for at least 15 minutes even if the screen stays black.

    You should see: A battery or Apple logo may appear, or the phone still stays dark.

  2. Force restart iPhone 8 or later

    Press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (up to about 20 seconds). Ignore any slide to power off if it appears mid-hold.

    You should see: The Apple logo appears and the phone boots.

  3. Turn off accessibility zoom if the display is huge

    If it boots with enlarged text, double-tap the screen with three fingers or go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom and turn Zoom off.

    You should see: The display returns to a normal size.

  4. Try again once more if needed

    If the first force restart fails, charge another 15 minutes and repeat the exact button sequence once.

    You should see: The phone starts, or it remains unresponsive.

  5. Seek service if it still will not boot

    If the iPhone never shows an Apple logo after charging and two force restarts, contact Apple Support or an authorized provider—hardware or deeper recovery may be required.

    You should see: You have a clear next step for repair or recovery mode help.

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Extra tips

What to look for: No response to the side button, a stuck Apple logo, a frozen accessibility zoom/enlarged display, or a black screen while charging

Before you change anything: Connect a known-good charger and cable first. Identify whether the model is iPhone 8/later or an older Home-button model—the force-restart steps differ. Avoid DFU restores until force restart and charging are tried.

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