Quick answer

To hard reset (force restart) your iPhone, quickly press Volume Up , then Volume Down , then hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. This won’t delete your data; it just forces the phone to reboot.

If you actually meant factory reset (erase everything), that’s a different process done in Settings or via a computer.

What “hard reset” means on iPhone

On iPhone, “hard reset” usually means a force restart :

  • Used when the screen is frozen, black, or unresponsive.
  • Does not erase apps, photos, or settings.

Some people also use “hard reset” to mean factory reset , which does erase everything and returns the phone to out‑of‑the‑box state.

Below are both, so you can pick what you need.

How to hard reset (force restart) by model

iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and newer (including SE 2/3)

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side (power) button on the right.
  4. Keep holding until you see the Apple logo , then release.

Tip: If the “slide to power off” screen appears, don’t slide ; just keep holding the Side button until the Apple logo shows.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

  1. Press and hold both :
    • Volume Down button
    • Side (power) button
  2. Keep holding both until the Apple logo appears (about 10+ seconds), then release.

iPhone 6s, 6, SE (1st gen), and older with Home button

  1. Press and hold both :
    • Home button
    • Side (or Top) power button
  2. Hold until the Apple logo appears, then release.

This is the standard method discussed across Apple support content and tech guides as of 2025–2026.

How to factory reset (erase everything)

Use this if you’re selling the phone, giving it away, or doing a full clean‑slate reset. This deletes all data.

From Settings (if you can access the phone)

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap General.
  3. Tap Transfer or Reset [iPhone].
  4. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  5. Tap Continue.
  6. Choose whether to keep or delete your eSIM (if applicable).
  7. Enter your device passcode , then your Apple Account password.
  8. Wait for the iPhone to erase and restart.

From a computer (if locked/frozen or you can’t use Settings)

This is more advanced and typically used when the phone is locked or won’t start normally.

  1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC.
  2. On Mac: open Finder ; on PC: open iTunes (or Apple Devices app on newer Windows).
  3. Put the iPhone into recovery mode (button combo varies by model; Apple’s support page has the exact steps for each iPhone).
  4. When the computer detects it in recovery mode, choose Restore.
  5. Confirm and wait for the restore to complete.

If you’re unsure which method fits your situation, say your iPhone model and whether you can get into Settings, and I can walk you through the exact steps.

TL;DR

  • Frozen/unresponsive but you just want it to reboot? Use the hard reset / force restart button combo for your model.
  • Want to wipe the phone completely? Use Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings , or restore via a computer.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.