Restarting your iPhone is a simple but useful troubleshooting step that can keep the device running smoothly. There are a few common instances when restarting your iPhone is recommended. Understanding when and why to restart can help you get the most out of your iPhone.
When Your iPhone is Acting Up
If your iPhone is acting sluggish, apps are freezing or crashing, or things just don’t seem right, restarting your iPhone should be one of the first troubleshooting steps you take. The vast majority of minor software glitches are often fixed with a simple restart. Rebooting clears out bad code and memory leaks, closes background apps, and gives the operating system a fresh start. Try restarting your iPhone if you experience any of the following issues:
- Slow performance
- Apps freezing or crashing
- Problems connecting to WiFi or cellular data
- Battery draining faster than usual
- Overheating
- Unresponsive touchscreen
- Trouble loading webpages
- Error messages
Before restarting, close all apps and save any work. Press and hold the side button and either volume button at the same time until you see the power off slider. Drag the slider to turn your iPhone completely off. Wait 30 seconds, then turn your iPhone back on. This forces your device to reboot from a clean state which should clear any minor software glitches.
After Major iOS Updates
Apple releases major iOS software updates around once per year to introduce new features and security patches. Major iOS updates include upgrades like iOS 13 to iOS 14 or iOS 14 to iOS 15. Installing a major iOS update brings lots of new code to your iPhone, which can slow performance and cause glitches as your device optimizes itself.
Restarting your iPhone after a major iOS update helps things run more smoothly. It clears any leftover temporary files or caches from the install process and allows the new OS to complete any needed housekeeping. The reboot lets the iPhone reload into the new iOS version from fresh so everything works as intended. For the smoothest experience, be sure to restart after applying any significant iOS updates.
If Your iPhone is Stuck
On rare occasions, an iPhone might become completely unresponsive and fail to power off normally. This can happen if iOS crashes hard or the device freezes up. If your iPhone is stuck on a screen, endlessly looping, or otherwise unresponsive, a forced reboot may help. To forcibly restart your frozen iPhone, press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears as the device restarts. This restart procedure forces the iPhone to reboot even if the software is not responding.
Before Troubleshooting
Before you spend time investigating any major iPhone issue, restarting your device is a good first step. Rebooting will clear any simple software glitches that could be causing problems. If you plan to troubleshoot things like battery life problems, app crashes, overheating issues, WiFi problems, or anything else that seems broken, always restart your iPhone first. That way you can determine if the problem stems from a larger issue, or was just a minor software bug fixed by a restart.
After Drops or Damage
Dropping your iPhone or otherwise damaging it can sometimes cause problems, like crashing apps or erratic touchscreen behavior. If your device experiences any issues after being dropped, restarting it is advised. The reboot will clear any temporary glitches or memory errors that may have been caused by physical shock to the device. Restart to make sure the iPhone is stable after drops or damage.
When Switching Major Settings
Making significant changes to your iPhone settings can sometimes require a restart. If you toggle major settings like turning iCloud Backup, Find My iPhone, or Face ID on or off, a restart helps ensure proper functionality. Rebooting allows the iPhone to reinitialize with those new settings fully applied. Major app uninstalls or installing iOS beta software also may warrant a restart.
After Battery Dies
Allowing your iPhone battery to completely drain 100% until the device shuts down is not recommended. However, if it does happen, be sure to give your iPhone a few minutes to restart normally once plugged into power. Then reboot it manually by holding the side and volume buttons. This ensures any crashes or odd behaviors that may occur from total battery depletion are cleared up.
Conclusion
Restarting your iPhone is useful to refresh the operating system and clear any minor glitches. The best times to restart include when your iPhone is acting up, after major iOS updates, if it becomes stuck or unresponsive, before troubleshooting issues, after physical drops or damage, when changing major settings, or if the battery dies completely. Restart by holding the side and volume buttons until the power off slider appears. Allow 30 seconds before turning your iPhone back on so it fully reboots. Performing occasional restarts helps ensure optimal performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I restart my iPhone regularly?
There is no need to restart your iPhone regularly without a specific reason. However, occasionally restarting it can help clear any minor glitches and keep things running smoothly. Consider rebooting your device every month or so, before major updates, and whenever issues occur.
Will restarting delete everything on my iPhone?
No, restarting your iPhone will not delete any of your data or settings. It simply powers the device off and back on, allowing iOS to reload from a clean state.
Is it bad to restart my iPhone too often?
No, there are no downsides to restarting your iPhone reasonably often. Frequent restarts will not cause damage. The only downside is a minor inconvenience of waiting through the reboot process.
How long should I wait after restarting my iPhone before using it again?
After restarting your iPhone, wait 1-2 minutes before using it. This allows the device to fully reload, re-optimize, and stabilize. Rushing to use it immediately may result in glitches or instability.
What is the difference between restarting and resetting my iPhone?
Restarting simply powers the device off and back on normally. Resetting erases the iPhone and restores it to factory default settings. Restart to fix minor issues. Reset if you want to wipe the iPhone completely.
Will restarting my iPhone fix a cracked screen?
No, restarting your iPhone will not fix physical damage like a cracked screen. Restarting only fixes minor software glitches, not hardware issues. A cracked screen requires a device repair or replacement.
When to Avoid Restarting Your iPhone
While restarting is generally safe, there are a few instances when you’ll want to avoid it:
- During a critical iOS update – Don’t interrupt a major iOS installation by restarting.
- When you have an alarm set – Restarting may disable alarms.
- When you have a very low battery – Make sure battery is at least 25% before restarting.
- If the device is already warm – Restarting when warm can overheat it.
- When diagnosing issues – Don’t restart before gathering diagnostics info.
Avoid restarting in these scenarios. In most other cases, restarting your iPhone is safe and recommended for optimal performance.
How to Restart an iPhone X and Later
On the iPhone X and later models without a Home button, restart by:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo appear.
How to Restart Earlier iPhone Models
On earlier iPhones with a Home button, restart by:
- Press and hold the Side button until the “slide to power off” prompt appears.
- Drag the slider to turn the iPhone completely off.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.
Signs Your iPhone Needs a Restart
Watch for these clues that indicate your iPhone could benefit from a reboot:
- Apps take a long time to open or crash frequently
- Slow Safari webpage loading
- Unresponsive or inaccurate touchscreen
- Spinning wheel that won’t go away
- Poor battery life and fast draining
- Overheating or very warm to the touch
- Choppy scrolling or stuttering interface
When you observe these types of issues, restart your iPhone before continuing to use it. The reboot will often clear up unstable software.
How to Restart iPhone Using Voice Control
You can also use the Voice Control accessibility feature to restart your iPhone hands-free by saying these commands:
- “Hey Siri, turn off iPhone”
- “Hey Siri, turn on iPhone”
Wait 30 seconds between turning off and back on to allow a full reboot.
My iPhone Won’t Power Off When I Try to Restart
If your iPhone won’t power off normally using the slider, you can force it by:
- Quickly pressing and releasing Volume Up.
- Quickly pressing and releasing Volume Down.
- Pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
This forces a reboot even if the iPhone is unresponsive.
Back Up Your Data Before Restarting
While restarting does not erase data, it’s smart to back up your iPhone before rebooting just in case:
- Use iCloud Backup to safely store data in iCloud.
- Sync iPhone to iTunes on your computer.
- Export photos to your computer or cloud storage.
This provides a redundancy if any issues were to occur during the restart process.
Save Open Work Before Restarting iPhone
To avoid data loss, be sure to:
- Close any open apps.
- Finish saving any documents.
- Pause any downloads or uploads.
- Stop navigation or music playback.
This prevents any work from being interrupted mid-progress and lost during the restart.
Allow Sufficient Time for iPhone to Restart
After powering your iPhone off, wait at least 30 seconds before turning it back on. This gives the device time to fully shut down. Then allow 1-2 minutes after restarting before using your iPhone. This provides sufficient time for everything to reload and optimize following the reboot.
Restarting in Safe Mode
You can also restart your iPhone in Safe Mode, which loads a minimal version of iOS with only essential apps and services. This can help isolate software issues:
- On an iPhone 8 or earlier, press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold Side until you see the Apple logo.
- On iPhone X or later, press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then press and hold Side to reboot.
When Restarting Continuously
If you find yourself needing to constantly restart your iPhone to keep it working well, that likely indicates a larger underlying problem. Some things to try include:
- Update to the latest iOS software version
- Reset network settings
- Restore iPhone from a backup
- Wipe iPhone completely and set up as new
- Factory reset all settings
- Take device to Apple Store for diagnostic testing
Frequent restarts needed suggest the iPhone needs servicing for optimum stability.
Key Takeaways
- Restart iPhone regularly by holding Side and Volume buttons until slider appears.
- Reboot fixes many minor iOS glitches and issues.
- Restart after major iOS updates, drops, freezes, and settings changes.
- Allow iPhone to fully power down before turning back on.
- Restarting does not delete any data or settings.
Understanding when and how to properly restart your iPhone is key to keeping it operating smoothly and optimally over time.
| Situation | Restart Recommended? |
|---|---|
| iPhone very warm | Yes |
| Updating to new iOS version | Yes |
| Apps crashing frequently | Yes |
| Screen unresponsive | Yes |
| Planning to troubleshoot issues | Yes |
| Low battery warning | No |
This table summarizes common situations and whether restarting your iPhone is recommended as a troubleshooting step.
Summary of Key Restart Tips
Here is a quick summary of important tips to remember when restarting your iPhone:
- First step when troubleshooting minor issues
- Press and hold Side and Volume buttons until slider pops up
- Power off completely before turning back on
- Allow 30 seconds before rebooting
- Back up data first as a precaution
- Close open apps before restarting to prevent data loss
- Restart after major iOS updates or setting changes
- Perform occasional restarts for optimal performance
Following these tips will allow you to effectively reboot your iPhone whenever needed.