If your iPhone or iPad is frozen or not recognizing touchscreen input, a forced restart may be required in order for it to work again. The Force Restart method allows you to shut down and restart iPhone without using the touch screen.
While it isn’t required very often, there are times when you want to force restart your device – in fact, I recently had to use the method myself. In my case, I was connecting an iPhone to a Mac when the phone got stuck in the “Trust this computer” pop-up window. The pop-up froze and none of the usual thawing tricks worked. (I tried calling the phone, but even the incoming call interface was showing under the pop-up and I couldn’t take the call.)
That left me with only one choice (other than waiting for the iPhone’s battery to run out, which I wasn’t patient enough to do): Force restart. Fortunately, it’s quick and easy.
Force restart iPhones and iPads without a home button
If your iPhone or iPad has Face ID (and therefore doesn’t have a Home button), here’s how to force a quick restart: Press volume up and release it, press Volume down and let go of it and finally hold that down Power button. You can release the power button as soon as the screen turns off. The Apple logo will appear on your screen and your iPhone or iPad will restart.
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The same steps can force restart an iPhone 8 or an iPhone 8 Plus as well. Just press volume up, Volume down, and hold the Side button until those phones are restarted.
Force restart an iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus or an iPod touch (7th generation)
The keyboard shortcut to force restart is slightly different for iPhone 7, 7 Plus, and iPod touch. If you have one of these devices, you can force a restart by pressing the button. hold side (or top) button and the Volume down Press until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Force restart an iPad with a Home button, an iPhone 6s or older device, or an iPod touch (6th generation)
If you have an iPad with a Home button, an iPhone 6s (or earlier), or an iPod touch (6th generation), you can force a quick restart if necessary. Just hold that Home button along with side (or top) button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
