A soft reset, also known as a soft reboot, is a simple way to reboot your iPhone without losing any data or settings. It can help resolve many minor software issues and glitches like freezing, app crashes, or an unresponsive touch screen. Unlike a hard reset, a soft reset doesn’t wipe any data from your device.
Doing a soft reset is easy and only takes a few seconds to complete. And it should be one of the first troubleshooting steps you try when experiencing problems with your iPhone. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do a soft power reset on iPhone.
When to Do a Soft Reset on iPhone
Here are some common situations when performing a soft reset on your iPhone can help:
- Your iPhone screen freezes or is unresponsive
- Apps launch slowly or crash frequently
- Buttons or touch screen are not responding
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections are acting faulty
- Battery is draining faster than usual
- You can’t install app updates
- iPhone won’t turn off normally
- Photos, videos, or music won’t sync from iPhone to computer
A soft reset essentially clears out memory, shuts down all open apps, and reboots your iPhone. This can fix minor software glitches, refresh connections, and get things running more smoothly again.
How to Soft Reset iPhone 8 and Earlier
For iPhone 8 and earlier models (iPhone 7, 6s, etc.), here are the steps to soft reset:
- Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on the right side of your iPhone until the slider appears.
- Drag the slider to power off the device.
- After the screen goes black, wait 5 seconds then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button again until you see the Apple logo.
That’s all there is to it! Your iPhone will start back up, hopefully having resolved the issues you were experiencing.
How to Soft Reset iPhone X and Later
For iPhone X and later models, the process is slightly different since there is no longer a home button:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo appear.
This reboot process may take up to 30 seconds. Release the Side button after you see the Apple logo and your iPhone will finish rebooting as normal.
Soft Reset iPhone Using Shortcuts App
You can also create a custom shortcut in the Shortcuts app to soft reset your iPhone with just a tap. Here’s how:
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
- Tap the + icon to create a new shortcut.
- Search for and select the “Shutdown” action.
- Tap Next, then tap the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Choose “Add to Home Screen” and give the shortcut a name like “Soft Reset.”
- Tap Add in the upper right corner to finish.
Now you’ll have an app icon you can tap to instantly soft reset your iPhone! Just make sure not to delete the shortcut if you restore your device or it will disappear.
Important Notes About iPhone Soft Resets
- A soft reset does NOT delete or erase any data or settings – it simply reboots your iPhone.
- Closed apps will restart and you may have to log in again after a reset.
- If you were on a phone call, the call will disconnect during a reset.
- Allow a minute or two for full reboot process to finish after you see Apple logo.
- A reset alone may not fix hardware issues like damaged display/buttons.
Performing regular soft resets every few weeks can help prevent minor performance issues. Now you know exactly how to quickly soft reset any iPhone model!
When Should You Do a Hard Reset Instead?
If your iPhone is still misbehaving or freezing even after one or more soft resets, it may be time to try a hard reset instead. A hard reset erases all content and settings from your iPhone and reinstalls the latest iOS version.
Here are some instances when a hard reset is recommended over a soft reset:
- You forgot your passcode and the iPhone is disabled
- Preparing to sell or give away your iPhone
- Experiencing severe performance issues or crashes
- Suspect your iPhone has a virus or malware
- Reset doesn’t resolve the problems
Before performing a hard reset, always backup your iPhone to iCloud or iTunes. Then use the process below based on your iPhone model:
Hard Reset iPhone 8 or Earlier
- Press and quickly release Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down button.
- Press and hold Power button until you see the Apple logo.
Hard Reset iPhone X and Later
- Press and quickly release Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release Volume Down button.
- Press and hold Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
- With iTunes open on your computer, connect your iPhone via USB.
- In iTunes, click Restore to wipe your device and reinstall iOS.
This will completely erase your iPhone and restore it to factory settings. Use this method as a last resort if soft resets are not resolving the issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a soft reset delete everything?
No, a soft reset does NOT delete or erase any data, apps, settings, photos, or other information from your iPhone. It simply restarts your device.
Will I lose all my stuff if I soft reset?
You will not lose anything by doing a soft reset. All your apps, data, and settings will remain intact after the reboot.
Is soft reset the same as force restart?
Yes, the terms soft reset and force restart refer to the same process of rebooting your iPhone without wiping data.
Why is my iPhone still frozen after reset?
If your iPhone is still frozen or acting abnormally after multiple soft resets, there may be a deeper hardware or software issue. Try a hard reset or contact Apple support for further troubleshooting.
How long does a soft reset take?
The soft reset process itself takes just seconds. Allow 1-2 minutes for your iPhone to fully restart and boot back up afterwards before using it.
Will I lose signal after resetting iPhone?
Your cell signal may temporarily disconnect during a reset but will reconnect once your iPhone finishes restarting.
Is soft reset the same as restart?
Yes, a soft reset achieves the same effect as restarting your iPhone. Both terms refer to rebooting without erasing data.
Can soft reset fix water damage?
No, soft resetting cannot fix liquid or water damage. You’ll need to completely dry out the device and may require hardware repairs.
Conclusion
Soft resetting can solve many minor iPhone issues you may encounter. For iPhone 8 and below, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until sliding to power off, wait 5 seconds, then hold Sleep/Wake again to reboot. For iPhone X and later, press Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold the Side button to reset.
Remember that a soft reset won’t delete any of your information – it simply reboots your iPhone’s software and hardware. Try it first for frozen screens, app crashes, connection issues, or sluggish performance. If problems persist after multiple resets, you may need to perform a hard reset or contact Apple support.