If your Apple iPhone or iPad screen is frozen or locked up, it’s not fun. Normally you can simply pull a battery from a device if it locks up. Apple devices don’t have a removable battery though. Instead, you’ll have to try these options.
Try to Power Off
- If a force quit does not work, turn the iPhone off and turn it on again. To do this, press and hold the “Sleep/Wake” button for a few seconds until a red slider appears, and then slide the slider to power the device off. Once powered down, press and hold the “Sleep/Wake” button to turn the device back on.
Force Reset
If all of the above didn’t do the trick, force a reset. Forcing a reset will not delete data from the device.
iPhone X & 8
- Quick press “Volume Up“.
- Quick press “Volume Down“.
- Press and hold Sleep“/”Wake” button until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 7
- Press and hold both the “Sleep/Wake” +”Volume Down” button for at least ten seconds.
iPhone 6 and older
- Other versions may require holding “Sleep/Wake” + “Home“.
Hopefully, one of these options have worked for you and your Apple iPhone is now working again. If not, you may need to try a restore using iTunes, which will wipe all data from the device. Data can usually be re-synced from your computer once restored.
FAQ
My iPhone/iPad won’t turn on. What do I do?
Ensure your device is plugged into the wall using the adapter and cable so that you get the most charge going. Wait about 10 minutes, then try the steps above.
Leolinda says
January 12, 2019 at 11:30 amVery helpful, the reset tip worked perfectly for me (iPhone X)
Hannah Wilson-James says
December 16, 2018 at 5:21 amI am in Morocco and just tried to get my international calling package up and running. After making my first call my screen stopped taking my touch (two options were putting in my passcode and sliding to turn off).
None of the methods you show work.
For some reason siri takes my touch and I can slide up for the tool screen but none of the tools work to touch.
I could really use some help ASAP
Jacqueline Lynch says
November 29, 2018 at 12:43 pmMy iPhone is stuck and I can’t force ito turn it off either. Please help me. I spend so much money on my iPhone and I can’t use it.
Julie says
June 30, 2018 at 11:48 amIt helps so much thank you!. I was also having problems with the zoom and got it working now. I wrote all the help tips down on a piece of paper to put in my wallet because this time I had to wait till I got home to get my iPad to find out what to do about my phone. 🤪
RainDance21337 says
June 6, 2018 at 12:11 pmThank you.. ! Thank you.. ! Was thinking “oh no, here’s another $800 down the drain.” But your Force Reset worked.. !
Thank you.. !
Abigail says
May 4, 2018 at 12:03 pmHey.
My iPad is blocked on the notifications center and I can’t swipe up so I can’t do anything.
Please help. Thank you. (Btw it isn’t a new iPad, its an old one)
lakeysha says
April 14, 2018 at 1:31 pmYAAAASSSS!!!!!!! this worked thanks….
Tammy says
March 19, 2018 at 12:18 pmIt worked!! Followed first 3 steps.
Thank you!
Mikable says
March 4, 2018 at 12:48 pmMy i7 froze this morning. I tried your restart method and the phone works great. Thank you…
Laidback Lenny says
March 2, 2018 at 8:12 amGadzooks! It worked! I have an iPhone se. Screen locked, touch buttons not working. Held sleep button and home button together. It shut off and then on. All works well. Thank you, Mitch!
Darla Erickson says
February 6, 2018 at 7:27 pmNo, I don’t see anything about my iPad frozen on magic puzzles. Help!
omar says
January 28, 2018 at 10:57 amthank you very much this was really helpfull
Nanette Vincent says
January 6, 2018 at 6:10 pmMy iPad is frozen on Google. I was trying to follow a recipe and the screen froze. I’m 91 years old band not good at following instructions. Everything else is working, the only problem is the Google screen in the midst of a kabochu recipe.
Dorothy says
January 3, 2018 at 3:24 pmNo it’s my iPad that hadthis mechanical man that was to rest my password It stops and won’t go off and won’t finish. I had a post on my timeline and a note above asking me if I posted it . I said no and that’s when the reset man came on
- says
December 26, 2017 at 3:37 pmThank you so much!! My phone is working again
DB says
December 9, 2017 at 11:23 pmComments did not prove effective.. Have repeatedly tried to power iPhone 8 off or hard reset without success. Had just completed programming a remote lighting device, when screen froze, approximately 8 hours ago.
mark says
December 9, 2017 at 7:21 pmiphone 8 plus is only a month old. i have recently updated to IOS 11.2. Everytime I go to photos and then want to send pic through messanger it locks up. Sometimes I can send one pic then if I want to send a 2nd it locks up. I have to close the app and try again. sometimes it is still locked up someitmes it will let me send the 2nd pic.
Vijay konala says
November 25, 2017 at 11:53 pmYup it’s working
Jenna says
November 22, 2017 at 2:36 amThis helped me so much! A notification was stuck at the top of my screen so i couldn’t power off. This showed me how to force shutdown. I could not live without my phone. That you so much.