Force restarting is a way to reboot your iPhone when it becomes unresponsive by pressing and holding certain buttons. It cuts power to the device and restarts it, which can fix many issues caused by apps freezing or the system being unresponsive (Source). Force restarting is commonly used when an iPhone’s screen is frozen or apps aren’t loading properly.
However, sometimes force restarting an iPhone doesn’t work. The phone remains frozen or unresponsive even after attempting to force restart it. This means there is likely a deeper issue causing the iPhone to get stuck.
Confirm the Issue
If your iPhone is unresponsive and you need to force restart it, first try the standard force restart process again to confirm it is not working. The force restart procedure involves quickly pressing and releasing the Volume Up button, then quickly pressing and releasing the Volume Down button, then pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears (source).
Attempt the force restart process a few times while carefully following the steps. If the iPhone screen remains frozen and non-responsive, you can confirm the force restart is not working as expected.
Before moving on to other solutions, also try alternative buttons like holding the Side button and Volume Down or holding the Sleep/Wake button on earlier iPhone models. If the force restart still fails, you can be certain there is an underlying issue preventing the standard restart process from working.
Rule Out Simple Issues
Before trying more complex solutions, it’s wise to rule out any basic issues that could be preventing the iPhone from force restarting. Here are some things to check:
- Make sure the iPhone is charged sufficiently. The battery needs to have at least some charge for a force restart to work.
- Inspect the physical buttons on the iPhone like the volume and power buttons. If they are damaged or unresponsive, it could prevent the force restart key combination from working.
- Check if any accessibility settings are enabled like AssistiveTouch which could override the force restart buttons.
- Try force restarting without any connected devices or accessories plugged into the iPhone.
- Attempt force restarting in a different location in case it’s an environmental factor causing the issue.
- If the iPhone was recently dropped or damaged, there could be a hardware issue preventing force restarts.
Ruling these basic factors out first is an easy initial troubleshooting step before attempting more complicated solutions. Force restarting requires precise timing of the button presses, so anything that interferes with the buttons can cause it to fail. If the force restart still doesn’t work after checking these issues, it’s time to move on to the next steps.
Try an Alternate Force Restart
If the standard force restart is not working, you can try an alternate hard reset method as another option to force restart the iPhone. This involves pressing and releasing the volume up button first, then pressing and releasing the volume down button, and finally pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears (source). This alternate combination of button presses can help restart the iPhone when the standard force restart steps are not successful.
To do the alternate force restart:
- Press and quickly release the volume up button
- Immediately press and quickly release the volume down button
- Finally, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo on the screen
Keep holding the side button even if the screen goes black. The Apple logo will eventually appear to indicate the iPhone has force restarted. The alternate force restart works the same as the standard one, it simply uses a different button press sequence to restart the device when needed.
Reset Network Settings
One potential solution to try when force restarting an iPhone doesn’t work is to reset the network settings. This clears out any problematic network configurations that may be causing connectivity issues and prevents the iPhone from force restarting properly.
To reset network settings on an iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset and tap on Reset Network Settings. This will delete any saved Wi-Fi networks, cellular plans, and VPN configurations, but it won’t erase any data or media content. The device may take a few minutes to restart and reconnect to nearby networks after resetting the network settings.
Resetting network settings can help resolve any conflicts or bugs in the network configuration that could be interfering with the normal restart process. It’s worth trying this option before attempting more advanced troubleshooting steps like restoring or contacting Apple support. Just be aware it will require re-joining any Wi-Fi networks and reconfiguring cellular and VPN connections afterwards.
For step-by-step instructions see: Reset the Network Settings on Your iPhone to Fix All Kinds of Problems
Restart in Recovery Mode
If force restarting doesn’t resolve the issue, try restarting your iPhone in recovery mode:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using the provided USB cable.
- On an iPhone 8 or later, 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 you see the recovery mode screen.
- For earlier iPhone models, press and hold the Home and Top (or Side) buttons together until you see the recovery mode screen.
- Keep holding the buttons until you see the Connect to iTunes screen.
- This will restart your iPhone in recovery mode.
- To exit recovery mode, simply force restart your iPhone again.
Restarting in recovery mode allows your iPhone to be restored or updated through iTunes or Finder. This may help resolve any software issues preventing your iPhone from responding.
Source: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201263
Restore iPhone from Backup
One way to get your iPhone working again when force restarting doesn’t work is to restore it from a previous backup. Before restoring, it’s critical that you create a current backup of your iPhone. You can back up your iPhone data to iCloud or to a computer using iTunes or Finder.
To create an iCloud backup, make sure your iPhone is connected to WiFi, then go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap Back Up Now. Your iPhone data will back up to iCloud.
To create a backup on your computer, connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable. Open iTunes on a Windows PC or Finder on a Mac. Select your iPhone, then on a Windows PC click Summary then Back Up Now. On a Mac, click General then Back Up Now. Your iPhone data will back up to your computer.
Once you have a current backup, you can restore your iPhone by erasing it then restoring from the backup. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This will erase your iPhone data. After it restarts, you can restore from your iCloud or computer backup by following the on-screen setup prompts.
Restoring your iPhone from a backup this way can help resolve software issues when force restarting is not working. Make sure you have a current backup before erasing your device.
Update iOS
One potential reason Force Restart is not working could be a bug in the current iOS version installed on your iPhone. Apple periodically releases software updates that fix bugs and improve the overall stability of iOS.
To update to the latest iOS version:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap “General” and then “Software Update.”
- If an update is available, tap “Download and Install.”
- Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the latest iOS update.
Installing the most current iOS update can potentially resolve any software bugs preventing Force Restart from working properly. Apple actively tests and updates iOS to address issues, so maintaining an up-to-date OS is one troubleshooting step for Force Restart problems.[1]
Contact Apple Support
If force restarting and resetting network settings don’t resolve the issue, the next step is to contact Apple Support for further assistance. Apple provides several ways to get in touch regarding iPhone issues that may require hardware repair or replacement:
- Call Apple Support at 1-800-275-2273 in the US or your local support number. Support is available 24/7.
- Initiate a live chat or SignTime ASL chat at support.apple.com/contact.
- Schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store for in-person support. Make an appointment online or through the Apple Support app.
An Apple Support representative can run diagnostics, recommend solutions, or set up a mail-in iPhone repair if needed. Provide as much detail as possible about the force restart issue for best results. For hardware issues that persist across resets, getting in touch with Apple Support directly is the best way to determine next steps.
Get a Repair
If force restarting and all other troubleshooting steps don’t resolve the issue, your best option may be to get your iPhone repaired. You have a few repair options to consider:
Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider – Taking your iPhone to an Apple store or Apple authorized service provider will ensure certified technicians conduct the repair using genuine Apple parts. However, repair costs may be higher.
Third Party Repair Shop – You can often find independent and third party repair shops that will replace iPhone parts for a lower cost. However, the parts and workmanship may not be guaranteed to Apple’s standards.
Mail-In Repair Services – Some companies like iCracked and UbreakiFix offer mail-in iPhone repair services where you ship your device and they diagnose, repair, and return it. This can be more convenient but turnaround times will be slower.
In the end, an official Apple repair will likely be the most reliable option to get your iPhone working again, even if it costs more. Be sure to explore Apple’s repair pricing for your specific iPhone model to understand your best repair option.