If you've recently upgraded a device such as an iPhone 8, iPhone 7, or an older iPhone, you've probably noticed how different it is to use your phone without a physical Home button. But what about basic iPhone reset functions like force restarting your iPhone XS, or even more advanced functions like going into recovery mode or DFU mode? All of these functions previously required input from the Home button, so the methods have changed with the latest version of the new iPhones.
In this post and video walkthrough, we'll show you everything you need to know about performing these functions on your iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.
How to Enter Recovery Mode on iPhone XS, iPhone XR or iPhone X
Note: Steps 2-4 must be performed in quick succession. Watch the video above for an example.
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Mac (or PC with iTunes installed) using a Lightning to USB cable.
Step 2: Press and release the Volume Up button.
Step 3: Press and release the Volume Down button.
Step 4: Press and hold the Side button and continue to hold while the device reboots.
Step 5: Even after the Apple logo appears, continue to hold the Side button.
Step 6: Release the Side button after you see the Connect to iTunes logo and dialog.
Step 7: Launch iTunes and you will receive a message confirming that your connected iOS device is in recovery mode. You will then be presented with options to update or restore your iPhone's software.
Option 2: Shut down from the Settings menu
In addition to the hardware method of shutting down your iPhone, you can now turn off your iPhone thanks to an option available in the Settings app. To do this, go to the General page on the Settings page, then scroll down and click Shutdown to enable the Slide to Shutdown option.
How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone XS, iPhone XR or iPhone X
Note: Steps 2-4 must be performed in quick succession. Watch the video above for an example of how to enter DFU mode on iPhone XS.
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Mac (or PC with iTunes installed) using a Lightning to USB cable.
Step 2: Press and release the Volume Up button.
Step 3: Press and release the Volume Down button.
Step 4: Press and hold the Side button for 10 seconds until the iPhone screen turns black
Step 5: While continuing to hold the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds, and then release the Side button while continuing to hold the Volume Down button for an additional 10 seconds. The screen should remain black if done correctly.
Rebooting with non-working mechanical keys
An iPhone with broken buttons can be reset using AssistiveTouch. The function also allows you to control your phone with gestures, without using mechanical keys, and flexibly customize the controls for yourself.
Attention!
To reboot your phone using this method, you will need a computer and a USB cable. If you don't have a cable, a computer, and the buttons don't work, you won't be able to turn on your iPhone!
To enable the function, you need to go to the “Basic” – “Universal Access” – “AssistiveTouch” – “On” section. To turn off the iPhone, you need to open the AssistiveTouch menu that appears, select “Device” - “Screen lock” (press and hold, the “Turn off”, “Cancel” buttons should appear), and confirm the shutdown. After that, connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
How to Exit DFU Mode on iPhone XS, iPhone XR or iPhone X
Exiting DFU mode is a little more difficult than exiting normal recovery mode.
Step 1: Press and release the Volume Up button.
Step 2: Press and release the Volume Down button.
Step 3: Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Note: You can also use the same method to exit recovery mode.
How to force turn off iPhone 7
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to have to reboot different iPhone models, including versions 7 or 7 Plus. The method using the Home button will also not work in this case, because in this version Apple also changed the physical button under the screen to a touch button, which can also freeze. What to do in such a case?
The following actions are proposed:
- Press and hold the Power button on the right.
- Without releasing, press the volume down button located on the left.
- You must hold the keys down until the apple icon appears on the screen.
This combination is quite simple, the main thing is to perform all the actions sequentially.
How to Call Emergency SOS on iPhone XS, iPhone XR or iPhone X
Note. Emergency SOS will contact emergency authorities and send a text message with your location to your contacts. Obviously this should only be used in the event of a real emergency.
Step 1: Press and hold the Side + button or Volume button.
Step 2: Continue holding these buttons while the Emergency SOS countdown continues, or slide the SOS button on the Emergency SOS slider.
Reboot using Assistive Touch
The new iPhones now feature AssistiveTouch, which allows you to display a “floating” button on the screen. If you click on it, a menu with options will open. You can take a screenshot of the screen, control the volume, switch applications, etc. You can add other functions to this list of tasks, for example, reboot. We tell you how to restart your Apple smartphone:
- Open Settings and go to the “General” section.
- Select "Universal Access".
- Find Assistive Touch in the list and activate the toggle switch. A touch button should appear on the display.
- Restart is not one of the six standard options, but it can be added manually by clicking "Top Level Menu".
- Add an empty cell or change one of the options. Now, before turning off your iPhone X, you just need to press Assistive Touch and select “Restart”. And then confirm your choice by clicking “Restart”.
How to reboot if the buttons don't work
This problem occurs when the hardware of the module is damaged. As a rule, the “Home” and smartphone power buttons fail. There can be many reasons for this. At the same time, they simply stop pressing, as if they fall into the body, in this case the only option is to replace the module.
Of course, this makes it impossible to reboot the device. If it is not possible to take the device to a service center, then you can try to help the phone yourself.
If the power key is faulty, you can restart it through the accessibility settings (assistive touch). Lol, where is this extremely useful iOS feature.
Video instruction
Why does the iPhone screen not respond to touch?
The touch screen may freeze or not respond to touch due to software or hardware reasons.
Hardware causes of failure include:
- damage to the matrix after a fall from a height;
- overheating of the device, against the background of which the functionality of a small part of the screen is lost;
- wear and tear of the touchscreen, which occurs due to improper operation or prolonged use of the device (more than 8 years);
- the use of poor quality components when replacing a broken touchscreen (cheap Chinese spare parts do not have a long service life);
- The connection of the matrix cable is not strong enough.
Damage to the iPhone matrix is a common cause of loss of the sensor’s ability to respond to touch.
Among the main software reasons for the loss of functionality of the iPhone sensor, the following should be highlighted:
- the maximum level of load on the RAM and processor, which leads to the smartphone starting to freeze (the volume and lock keys do not respond to commands);
- a malfunction in the operating system;
- problems with matrix drivers;
- iPhone infection with malware;
- performing incorrect actions when performing flashing.
It is worth considering that iPhones can fail after any intervention in the functioning of the operating system. Below you can see the main levels of sensor failure.
Turning on and off in normal state
To deal with the problem, you should first find out how to turn off and turn on the iPhone in a working (functioning) state. To do this you need:
- Hold down the “Power” button;
- After some time, a message will appear on the screen: “Turn off” - in Russian localization, “Slide To Power Off” - in English;
- Swipe across the inscription from left to right;
- The device will turn off.
The smartphone is turned on by holding the “Power” button. You do not need to perform any other actions for the device to boot.
Reasons for iPhone freezing
All the reasons why a phone of any iOS model freezes are divided into software and hardware. Software problems include a violation in the program code of applications, which causes the smartphone to freeze. Software errors can be fixed at home, without the intervention of experienced specialists.
Problems of this kind occur when installing “crooked” application updates. In this case, the device begins to freeze or completely stops responding to pressing the “Home” key, it may turn off on its own or stop loading at the logo. We will look at solutions to just such damage to a gadget in this article.
Hardware errors are associated with mechanical damage to the phone. This could be a broken button, water getting under the case, the iPhone falling from a height, or a module cable jumping out of its mount on the board. Only a specialist from a service center can solve them; if you want, you can actually do it yourself, but before you start, you should read the article on how to disassemble smartphones.
Possible consequences of a reboot without using a sensor
If you apply Hard Reset once or twice, there will definitely be no . If you constantly resort to a “hard reset”, there is a risk that the memory module will fail, as a result of which all data stored on the iPhone will be lost. There is a widespread opinion among users: each subsequent Hard Reset increases the likelihood that the memory will “crumble.” However, this has not been confirmed by experts.
You should resort to a “hard reboot” only as a last resort - when other methods to solve the problem have already been tried and have not brought any results.
SOS mode
Another simple method for those who do not know how to turn off iPhone X and turn it on again. Press the lock button 5 times (that's right, five, Karl!) to activate SOS mode. In it you will see the treasured slider that allows you to turn off your iPhone.
Of course, there are many questions for Apple itself. If the Cupertino residents decided to use the power button for other purposes than its intended purpose, why not add this item to 3D Touch? Or at least make a separate button in the control center. One way or another, you have several methods at your disposal to turn off the iPhone XS Max. Choose the one you like best and is most convenient.
Lots of active applications
If a smart phone freezes at some stage of loading or operation, it is associated with a large number of background applications that load the processor and RAM of the device. To fix this problem, you need to disable programs running in the background that consume more resources and cause the device to lag.
You can do this by pressing the Home key twice. A list of active programs will appear on the screen. Click on each of them and hold the icon of the stopped program. After a slight vibration you need to confirm the action.
After double-clicking the Home button, it is possible to restore operation and restart the application.
What to do if restarting your iPhone doesn't help
For more serious problems, you will need to reset your device to factory settings. This procedure will erase all data from your phone and return it to default settings so you can start your iPhone from scratch. If your iPhone turns on, we recommend backing up your data to Apple's cloud (iCloud) or external storage before resetting.
If the problem cannot be solved, contact the official Apple support service for help, or contact the technical support for Apple Store customers at 8-800-333-51-73, who will advise you on any questions you may have.
Ways to turn off iPhone
You must understand that there may be a hundred reasons why the sensor does not work on an iPhone, so here you need to go through all the options for each case. Follow all the steps in order to decide which one is best for you. We'll start with the simplest one.
Normal smartphone shutdown
Turning off the iPhone is done with the Power button, which also locks (unlocks) the device. This method is only relevant if the screen does not work partially, for example, your lower part is broken and you cannot see anything, or the screen does not work at all, but the sensor works (even in this case, you can roughly guess when the strip should appear turn it off and pull it in the desired direction). Therefore, the procedure is as follows:
- On your device, hold down the Power key and wait a few seconds (3-5 seconds);
- If your screen is partially broken, but the sensor works, just pull the slider in the right direction and the phone turns off;
- If the screen is completely broken, but the sensor works, also press Power and wait a few seconds, after which you step back from the screen about 1 centimeter and swipe your finger to the right. This is a kind of “blind shutdown”. In some cases, it is necessary to repeat the operation several times to get where you want;
- If the screen does not work, the sensor does not work either, proceed to the next paragraph of our article.
Hard reboot (shutdown) iPhone
In most cases, when serious failures occur in the software or modules on the iPhone, a “hard reboot” is applied, which normalizes the stable operation of the device. It may also be useful to you if you need to turn off your iPhone, but the sensor does not work. It says reboot, you say, but we need a complete shutdown, don’t we? But there is a trick here. If you release the keys in time, the device will not turn on. Actually, the procedure is as follows:
For iPhone 6s and below
- Press and hold the Home and Power keys on your device at the same time for a few seconds until the screen goes dark;
- As soon as the screen goes dark, immediately release them without waiting for the Apple logo to appear.
For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
On the iPhone 7, by default, the reboot is performed using the Power and Volume Down keys, but this is just a reboot. If you need to turn off the iPhone 7 using the keys, then the procedure is as follows:
- Press the Home and Power keys simultaneously and wait for about 4-5 seconds;
- As soon as the screen goes dark, release them, after which the smartphone will no longer turn on to reboot.
For iPhone X
Here, the hard reset process is no different from the iPhone 6s. All you need to do is simply hold Home and Power for 4-5 seconds until the phone turns off. After this, immediately release the keys to avoid rebooting.
For models above iPhone X
In recent generations, the “hard reset” process itself is slightly different from all previous models. The procedure is as follows:
- Press and hold the Volume Up key and immediately release it;
- Next, hold down the volume down key and release;
- Hold down the Power key for a few seconds until the screen goes dark. If you tighten and do not release the button in time, the phone will begin to reboot.
How to turn off iPhone 5
IPhone 5 and 5S were considered the most stable models and were popular for a long time. They work great, almost as good as the latest phones.
If the screen is frozen
To turn off the iPhone if the screen does not work, you should simultaneously hold down “Home” and “Power” for 5-6 seconds. After this, the phone will turn off without additional manipulation.
Important!
This shutdown reboots the device and resets all settings. This allows it to recover and also function normally after being turned on.
How to turn off iPhone XS and XR
- Press and hold one of the volume buttons and the Power button on the right side of the iPhone.
- A shutdown slider will appear on the screen. Swipe it and your iPhone XS or XR will turn off.
How to Force Restart Your iPhone XS or XR
Please note: each of the listed actions must be performed quickly and consistently.
- Press the Volume Up button and release it.
- Press the Volume Down button and release it.
- Press and hold the Power button until the device reboots.
How to enter iPhone XS and XR into Recovery mode
Points 4-6 must be completed sequentially and quickly (similar to the previous manual).
- Install iTunes on your computer.
- Make sure you are using the latest version of the program.
- Connect your iPhone XS or XR to your computer using a cable and open iTunes.
- Press the Volume Up button and release it.
- Press the Volume Down button and release it.
- Press and hold the Power button while rebooting. Release the button when the Connect to iTunes screen appears.
- iTunes will prompt you to update or restore your connected device.
To exit recovery mode, simply hold down Power until the iTunes connection screen disappears.
Assistive Touch
Attention! This method is only relevant if you have previously activated the Assistive Touch option and the screen sensor at least somehow reacts to your actions.
- Now you only need to try to launch Assistive Touch on the smartphone screen (albeit on the working part of it);
- Next, select the “Device” item in the menu, hold down “Screen lock” for a few seconds and turn off the phone.
Battery completely drained
Another option is to wait until your phone's battery is completely drained. Yes, the method is not the most thoughtful, but it should also be taken into account. And you can charge the device without any problems by simply connecting the device to a charger or connecting it to a computer via a USB cable. Just keep in mind that if the device turns off and you have set a password at the entrance, then when you turn it on with a broken screen or a non-working sensor, you will not be able to use it and unlock it.
Low temperature
This option is not the smartest, but for desperate users we decided to talk about it too. Many people probably know that Apple technology doesn’t really like the cold, and if the environment is really such that your hands freeze, then your phone most likely won’t turn on or will slow down. So, you can take your iPhone outside during the cold season, when the temperature is at its lowest, and there is a chance that it will turn off automatically. Another option is to put it in the freezer, but we do not advise you to do this, as you may lose the device completely.
Removing the Battery
And another extreme measure is to remove the battery. Yes, iPhones require you to disassemble half the phone to remove the battery, but you can do it if you know how to handle such devices and repairs. Otherwise, you need to contact only specialists, otherwise there is a possibility of making the situation even worse and “killing” the iPhone completely. But with even a little experience, you can completely disassemble the phone, having a starter set of screwdrivers for working with such devices and turn it off. In general, disassembly will take no more than 15 minutes.
Turning off an iPhone with a broken screen or a non-working sensor is not a problem, because the developers and designers from Apple have thought through everything to the smallest detail and created all the conditions for different situations. But remember: if your smartphone is under warranty, then it is better to take the device to the store where you purchased it. It is possible that the sensor does not work due to low-quality components installed at the factory. And if this is a widespread problem (this is usually known on the Internet), then you may even have to replace the entire device.
If you still can’t turn off the device using the keys, write about it in the comments and indicate the specific model of your phone. Our website specialists will contact you and help solve this problem. Despite the fact that we have described in detail the instructions for different generations, beginners may have problems, so we are ready to help each visitor to our site individually if the situation requires it.
Soft reboot
So, the device is malfunctioning and won’t turn off. The user presses the standard shutdown key, but instead the device does not respond to commands.
If your iPhone won't turn off, there are several ways to restart its operating system. They can be roughly divided into soft and hard, since the latter can lead to data loss or disabling some smartphone functions. These methods bypass the OS and therefore work even on devices that are frozen.
To turn off your smartphone “softly” without harming the operating system, you need to simultaneously press the Lock and Home buttons. The keys are held in this position for several seconds.
After some time, the gadget should automatically reboot and start working normally.
Sometimes the smartphone asks you to swipe along the red bar at the top of the screen.
This key combination, in normal operation, is responsible for creating a screenshot. But, to take a screenshot, the keys are pressed for 1-2 seconds, and in case of a reboot, much longer.
Degrees of screen damage
The occurrence of problems with the iPhone is divided into several categories. In some cases, the entire display area may fail, and in some situations only a small part of the screen stops working:
- Category 1 – failure of the entire working area of the sensor;
- Category 2 – the presence of a reaction to touch only in certain areas of the touchscreen (for example, the top or bottom of the screen);
- Category 3 – incorrect page scrolling in the browser;
- Category 4 – phantom clicks (commands are executed even when the screen was not touched).
If software malfunctions occur frequently, it is recommended to completely reboot the device, which will make it possible to rid the RAM of excess and reduce the load on the processor. To do this, you should hold down the “Home” button and the lock key for 20 seconds. After a reboot, the device will start working faster and problems with the sensor will be eliminated. It is also worth clearing the RAM of unlicensed programs. Often such software runs with code containing errors. This causes the device to slow down and the screen to freeze. The salvation in this situation is to return the firmware to the factory version.
To avoid problems with your favorite smartphone, do not download unknown software that harms the operating system
In cases where the iPhone’s screen stops functioning normally and the device is under warranty, the easiest way is to take the device to a service center. Specialists will help restore the functionality of the sensor in a short period of time. However, in this case, the user will have to prove that the display or buttons were not damaged deliberately or due to improper use of the smartphone. If there is no evidence, the service center will carry out repairs only for a certain amount, which will include payment for services and the cost of new spare parts.
In other cases, you can try to reboot or turn off the phone yourself, which should help restore the display functionality.
