To restart an iPhone, you either do a normal restart (turn it off, then back on) or a force restart if it’s frozen.

Quick Scoop

  • Normal restart is what you use most of the time when the phone is working but just acting a bit weird.
  • Force restart is for when the screen is frozen or the phone won’t respond at all.
  • The exact buttons you press depend on which iPhone model you have (Face ID vs Home button).

Normal restart (all models)

This is the gentle, everyday way to reboot your phone.

  • Go to Settings → General → Shut Down , then drag the slider to power off.
  • Wait about 30 seconds until the screen goes completely black.
  • Hold the Side button (or Top button on very old models) until the Apple logo appears to turn it back on.

Button restart by model

How you power off with buttons depends on whether your iPhone has Face ID or a Home button.

iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and later (no Home button)

  • Press and hold the Side button + either Volume button until the “slide to power off” slider appears.
  • Drag the slider and wait for it to turn off, then hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 6, 7, 8, SE (2nd & 3rd gen)

  • Press and hold the Side button until the power slider appears.
  • Drag the slider, wait for shutdown, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo shows.

iPhone SE (1st gen), 5, or earlier

  • Press and hold the Top button until the power slider appears.
  • Drag the slider, wait for it to power off, then hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears.

Force restart (if it’s frozen)

If your iPhone won’t respond, a force restart cuts the power at a deeper level without wiping your data.

  • iPhone 8 and later / Face ID models / SE 2nd & 3rd gen
    1. Quickly press and release Volume Up.
2. Quickly press and release **Volume Down**.

3. Press and **hold the Side button** until the Apple logo appears, then release.
  • iPhone 7 / 7 Plus
    • Press and hold both the Volume Down + Side button together until the Apple logo appears, then release.
  • iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), and earlier
    • Press and hold both the Home button + Top/Side button together until the Apple logo appears, then release.

Quick forum-style tip & context

If your iPhone is glitching after an update, a simple restart often fixes odd battery drain, lag, or app crashes without needing a full reset.

  • Many user help threads mention that a restart or force restart is the first thing suggested before trying more advanced troubleshooting.
  • With newer iOS versions, Apple keeps the restart gestures consistent across recent models, so once you learn the Face ID method, it works on most current devices.

TL;DR:
Use Settings → General → Shut Down or the Side + Volume buttons to power off, then turn it back on with the Side button; if it’s frozen, use the force restart button combo for your specific model.

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