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On an iPhone, “hard reset” usually means a force restart: a button sequence that reboots the phone when the screen is frozen, touch input does not work, or the normal power-off controls are unavailable. It does not erase your photos, apps, messages, or other personal data.
The correct button combination depends on the iPhone model. Use the model groups below, and keep holding the final button until the Apple logo appears—even if it takes longer than 10 seconds.
Force restart an iPhone 8 or later
This method applies to:
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
- iPhone X, XS, XR, and later Face ID models
- iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)
- Press and quickly release Volume Up.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the Side button.
- Release the Side button when the Apple logo appears.
The first two presses must be quick; do not hold either volume button. The Side button may need to be held for more than 10 seconds.
Force restart an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus
- Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button at the same time.
- Keep holding both buttons until the Apple logo appears.
Do not use the Home button combination on an iPhone 7. Its force-restart shortcut is Side plus Volume Down.
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- Use the Lightning to USB Cable to charge and sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to your Mac or Windows PC.
- This USB 2.0 cable connects your iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to your computer’s USB port for syncing and charging. Or you can connect to the Apple USB Power Adapter for convenient charging from a wall outlet.
- USB power adapters sold separately.
- Cable Length: 1 meter or 3 feet
Force restart an iPhone 6s or earlier
This method applies to:
- iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- iPhone 6 and earlier
- iPhone SE (1st generation)
- Press and hold the Home button and the Side button at the same time.
- On models with a Top button instead of a Side button, hold the Home and Top buttons.
- Continue holding until the Apple logo appears. Apple says this normally takes around 10 seconds.
Force-restart combinations at a glance
| iPhone model | Button sequence |
|---|---|
| iPhone 8 or later; iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) | Quickly press Volume Up, quickly press Volume Down, then hold Side |
| iPhone 7 and 7 Plus | Hold Side and Volume Down together |
| iPhone 6s or earlier; iPhone SE (1st generation) | Hold Home and Side, or Home and Top, together |
Force restart versus a normal restart
Use a normal restart when the iPhone is responding. On current iPhones, go to Settings > General > Shut Down, drag the power-off slider, and wait for the iPhone to turn off. You can then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Depending on the model, you can also display the power-off slider with these buttons:
- Face ID iPhones: hold either Volume button and the Side button until the slider appears.
- iPhone 6, 7, 8, and SE (2nd or 3rd generation): hold the Side button.
- iPhone SE (1st generation), iPhone 5, and earlier: hold the Top button.
Wait about 30 seconds after dragging the slider, then hold the appropriate power button to turn the iPhone back on. A force restart is for an unresponsive iPhone and should not be confused with an ordinary shutdown.
Does a hard reset erase an iPhone?
No. A force restart only interrupts the current operation and starts iOS again. It is not a factory reset, and it does not intentionally delete personal data. Unsaved work in an app can still be lost if that app was frozen, but your stored content remains on the iPhone.
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- DESIGNED BY APPLE — Ideal for charging, syncing, and transferring data, this 1-meter cable has a USB-C connector on one end and a Lightning connector on the other.
- FAST AND CONVENIENT CHARGING — Use this cable with your Apple 18W, 20W, 29W, 30W, 61W, 87W, or 96W USB‑C Power Adapter to charge your iOS device and even take advantage of the fast-charging feature on select iPhone models.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX — Apple USB-C to Lightning Cable (1 m) only. Power adapter sold separately.
- CABLE LENGTH — 1 meter (3 feet).
Apple uses separate commands for settings resets and erasure:
| What you want to do | Menu path or action | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Reset settings without deleting content | Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset | Choose a specific reset, such as Reset All Settings or Reset Network Settings. Personal data and media remain. |
| Erase the iPhone before selling or starting over | Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings > Continue | Personal information, apps, content, and settings are removed and the iPhone returns to factory settings. |
| Reinstall iOS from a computer | Enter recovery mode, then choose Restore | iOS is reinstalled and the iPhone is erased. |
Reset All Settings does not delete photos or apps, but it does reset items such as network settings, the keyboard dictionary, Location Services, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards. Other choices under the Reset menu include Delete All eSIMs, Reset Keyboard Dictionary, Reset Handwriting Style, Reset Home Screen Layout, and Reset Location & Privacy.
Be careful with eSIMs
During Erase All Content and Settings, an iPhone with an eSIM lets you choose whether to erase or keep the eSIM. If you erase it, you must contact your carrier to reactivate the cellular plan.
What to do if the iPhone stays black
- Connect the iPhone to a working charger and cable.
- Let it charge for up to one hour.
- Try the correct force-restart sequence for the model again.
If a low-charge battery image appears, check the cable, power adapter, charging port, and wall outlet. Continue charging for about 30 minutes or until the iPhone starts.
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- DESIGNED BY APPLE — Ideal for charging, syncing, and transferring data between USB-C devices, this 2-meter charge cable is made with a woven design and has USB-C connectors on both ends.
- FAST AND CONVENIENT CHARGING — Supports charging of up to 240 watts and transfers data at USB 2 rates. Pair the USB-C Charge Cable with a compatible USB-C power adapter to conveniently charge your devices from a wall outlet and even take advantage of the fast-charging feature on select iPhone and Mac models.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX — Apple USB-C Woven Charge Cable only. Power adapter sold separately.
- CABLE LENGTH — 2 meters (6 feet).
If the iPhone remains completely black after charging and a force restart, the problem may involve the battery, display, charging hardware, buttons, or another internal component. Apple recommends service when the device still will not turn on.
Use recovery mode when a force restart is not enough
Recovery mode is appropriate when:
- The Apple logo has stayed onscreen for several minutes without a progress bar.
- A computer does not recognize the iPhone or reports that it is in recovery mode.
- The Connect to computer screen appears.
- The iPhone repeatedly launches Recovery Assistant and cannot complete recovery.
Connect the iPhone to a computer with a USB cable first. Open Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on Windows. If Apple Devices is unavailable, use iTunes. Macs running macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier also use iTunes.
Enter recovery mode
- iPhone 8 or later, including SE (2nd generation and later): quickly press Volume Up, quickly press Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Connect to computer screen appears.
- iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: hold the Side or Top button and Volume Down together until the Connect to computer screen appears.
- iPhone 6s or earlier, including SE (1st generation): hold Home and the Side or Top button together until the Connect to computer screen appears.
When Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes displays the recovery options, choose:
- Update: reinstalls iOS while attempting to keep personal data. Choose this first when preserving data matters.
- Restore: reinstalls iOS and erases the iPhone.
If the software download takes more than 15 minutes, the iPhone may leave the Connect to computer screen. Allow the download to finish, then repeat the recovery-mode button sequence and choose the required option again.
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- DESIGNED BY APPLE — Ideal for charging, syncing, and transferring data between USB-C devices, this 1-meter charge cable is made with a woven design and has USB-C connectors on both ends.
- FAST AND CONVENIENT CHARGING — Supports charging of up to 60 watts and transfers data at USB 2 rates. Pair the USB-C Charge Cable with a compatible USB-C power adapter to conveniently charge your devices from a wall outlet and even take advantage of the fast-charging feature on select iPhone models.
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX — Apple USB-C Woven Charge Cable only. Power adapter sold separately.
- CABLE LENGTH — 1 meter (3 feet).
When to wait before using recovery mode
If the iPhone is showing an Apple logo with a progress bar after restoring from a backup or migrating from another iPhone, do not immediately interrupt it. For iOS 13 or later, Apple says to wait until the progress bar has not moved for at least one hour before using recovery mode.
Why the force restart may not work
- The timing is wrong: on iPhone 8 and later, Volume Up and Volume Down must be quick presses before you hold Side.
- A button is damaged or stuck: a required button may not register, so service may be necessary.
- The battery is fully discharged: charge for up to one hour before trying again.
- The display has failed: the iPhone may be running even though the screen is black.
- The fault is hardware-related: a force restart cannot repair a failed battery, damaged charging port, liquid damage, or other component failure.
A force restart is safe to try when the phone is frozen, but repeatedly forcing it to restart will not fix a hardware problem. If charging, the correct button sequence, and recovery-mode Update do not bring it back, arrange Apple or authorized service.
Sources
- Apple Support: If your iPhone won’t turn on or is frozen
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Force restart iPhone
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Erase iPhone
- Apple iPhone User Guide: Reset iPhone settings
- Apple Support: If you can’t update or restore your iPhone
- Apple Support: If your iPhone won’t turn on or is frozen
FAQ
Will a force restart delete everything on my iPhone?
No. A force restart only reboots the iPhone. It is different from Erase All Content and Settings and from choosing Restore in recovery mode.
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How long should I hold the Side button?
Hold it until the Apple logo appears. On iPhone 8 and later, this can take longer than 10 seconds. On iPhone 6s and earlier, Apple says the process takes around 10 seconds.
What is the force restart shortcut for an iPhone 7?
Hold the Side button and Volume Down button together until the Apple logo appears. Do not use Home plus Power for an iPhone 7.
What should I do if my iPhone is still black after a force restart?
Charge it for up to one hour, then try the sequence again. If it still will not start, the issue may involve the battery, display, buttons, charging hardware, or another component, and service may be required.
Does recovery mode erase the iPhone?
Not necessarily. Choosing Update reinstalls iOS while attempting to preserve personal data. Choosing Restore reinstalls iOS and erases the iPhone.
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Should I use Reset All Settings instead of a force restart?
Use Reset All Settings only when the iPhone is working and you need to troubleshoot configuration problems. It preserves personal data but resets network, privacy, Location Services, keyboard, Apple Pay, and other settings. It cannot help if the screen is completely unresponsive.
The Bottom Line
For most iPhones, quickly press Volume Up, quickly press Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. iPhone 7 uses Side + Volume Down, while iPhone 6s and earlier use Home + Side/Top. This force restart does not erase the phone. If charging and the correct sequence fail, try recovery-mode Update before choosing Restore, and seek service if the iPhone remains unresponsive.
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