How to Completely Restart an iPhone: Soft Reset, Force Restart, and Factory Reset Explained
Restarting an iPhone sounds simple — but "completely restart" can mean very different things depending on what you're trying to fix. There's a meaningful difference between a quick reboot, a force restart, and a full factory reset. Knowing which one applies to your situation matters, because one is harmless and reversible, while another wipes everything permanently.
What Does "Completely Restart" Actually Mean?
Most people use "restart" loosely. In Apple's world, there are three distinct operations:
- Soft restart — powers the device off and back on, no data lost
- Force restart — forces the hardware to reboot when the software is frozen, no data lost
- Factory reset (Erase All Content and Settings) — wipes the device back to out-of-box condition, all data removed
Each serves a different purpose. Using the wrong one wastes time at best, and destroys your data at worst.
How to Do a Standard Restart (Soft Reset)
A soft restart closes all running processes and reboots the operating system. This is the right first step for sluggish performance, minor glitches, connectivity issues, or apps that won't respond.
On iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and later:
- Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button simultaneously
- Drag the "slide to power off" slider
- Once the screen goes dark, press the Side button to turn it back on
On iPhone SE (2nd/3rd generation) and iPhone 8: Same process — Side button plus Volume button.
On iPhone SE (1st generation) and iPhone 6s or earlier:
- Press and hold the Top button (or Side button on some models)
- Drag the "slide to power off" slider
- Press the button again to restart
A soft restart typically takes under 30 seconds and should be your default starting point for most everyday issues.
How to Force Restart an iPhone 🔄
A force restart is for situations where the screen is completely frozen, the device won't respond to touch, or it's stuck in a loop. It bypasses the operating system entirely and triggers a hardware-level reboot.
On iPhone 8 and later (including all Face ID models):
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (about 10 seconds), then release
The key word is "quickly" on the first two steps — this is a sequential press sequence, not a simultaneous hold.
On iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
On iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), and earlier: Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (Top) button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
A force restart does not erase data. The phone simply reboots the same way a regular restart does — it just cuts through a frozen state to do it.
When to Consider a Full Factory Reset
A factory reset — found under Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings — returns the iPhone to a completely blank state. Every app, photo, message, account, and personal setting is removed.
This is appropriate when:
- You're selling or giving away the device
- You're troubleshooting a persistent software problem that hasn't responded to other fixes
- The iPhone is behaving strangely after a failed update
- You're preparing to do a clean iOS reinstall
⚠️ Back up first. iCloud backups and local backups through Finder (macOS) or iTunes (Windows) both work. A factory reset without a backup means that data is gone permanently.
Recovery Mode and DFU Mode: The Deeper Resets
Beyond a standard factory reset, two more technical options exist for serious software problems:
| Mode | What It Does | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery Mode | Allows you to reinstall iOS via a computer | Stuck on Apple logo, bootloop, major iOS failure |
| DFU Mode (Device Firmware Update) | Deepest restore — reinstalls both firmware and iOS | Persistent issues that Recovery Mode can't fix |
Both require connecting the iPhone to a Mac or PC with a cable. Recovery Mode is handled through Finder or iTunes. DFU Mode requires the same tools but uses a specific button sequence that varies by model.
These are not everyday operations. Most users will never need DFU mode. It's typically a last resort before considering hardware service.
The Variables That Change Your Approach
The right restart method depends on several factors:
- What's actually wrong — a slow app versus a frozen screen versus a persistent iOS crash are different problems
- Your iPhone model — button combinations differ meaningfully between older Home button models and newer Face ID models
- Whether you have a current backup — this determines whether a factory reset is a clean fix or a disaster
- iOS version — some reset options and menu locations have moved across major iOS updates
- Why you're restarting — preparing to sell a device, fixing a bug, or recovering from a crash all point to different options
A force restart that solves a frozen screen for one user might not even be necessary for another whose issue is a simple app crash that a soft restart resolves. And for someone handing off their device, neither restart option is enough — only a full erase clears personal data properly.
Understanding the mechanics is the straightforward part. Matching the right method to your specific situation — your model, your iOS version, what went wrong, and what you need afterward — is where your individual setup becomes the deciding factor.