Phones · Repair guide

How to unfreeze an iPhone

7 fixes, easiest first3 min readUpdated November 2026

Quick fix

On iPhone 8 or later: press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This force restart doesn't delete your data.

What it means

A frozen iPhone has stopped responding to taps, swipes or buttons. Usually only one app is stuck, or iOS has hung for a moment. A force restart, which uses a button sequence for your model, fixes most frozen iPhones and doesn't erase anything.

Common causes

  • One app has stopped responding
  • iOS has hung after running a long time
  • An outdated version of iOS or an app with a bug
  • Storage almost full
  • A battery so low the phone can't stay on
  • An update that didn't finish installing

How to fix it

Work down the list. Each fix is safe to try before moving on to the next.

01If only one app froze, close itEasy

  1. iPhone with Face ID: swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause in the middle to see your recent apps.
  2. iPhone with a Home button: press the Home button twice quickly.
  3. Swipe left or right to find the stuck app, then swipe up on it to close it.
  4. Open the app again. Apple advises closing an app only when it stops responding; closing apps that work fine doesn't make the iPhone faster.

Why it helps: If the rest of the phone works, closing the one stuck app is all you need.

02Force restart your iPhoneEasy

  1. iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) and all iPhones with Face ID: press and quickly release the volume up button, then press and quickly release the volume down button.
  2. Then press and hold the side button. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears, which can take longer than 10 seconds, then let go.
  3. iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: press and hold the side button and the volume down button together until the Apple logo appears.
  4. iPhone 6s or earlier, and iPhone SE (1st generation): press and hold the Home button and the side or top button together until the Apple logo appears.

Why it helps: A force restart clears a frozen iPhone without touching your photos, messages or apps.

03If it still won't respond, charge it and try againEasy

  1. Plug the iPhone into a wall charger with a working cable.
  2. Leave it charging for about an hour.
  3. Do the force restart for your model again while it's plugged in.
  4. If a low-battery image appears, keep it charging for about 30 minutes or until it starts.

Why it helps: A nearly empty battery can make an iPhone seem frozen or stuck on a black screen.

04Update iOS and your appsEasy

  1. Once the iPhone responds, open Settings > General > Software Update and install any update.
  2. Open the App Store and update the app that froze.
  3. Keep the iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi while updating.

Why it helps: Updates fix bugs that make iOS or apps hang.

05If it's frozen on the Apple logo, update it with a computerAdvanced

  1. First make sure the Apple logo or progress bar hasn't moved for at least one hour.
  2. Connect the iPhone to a computer. On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app or iTunes. On an older Mac, open iTunes.
  3. Keep the iPhone connected and put it in recovery mode. iPhone 8 or later: press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the recovery mode screen appears.
  4. iPhone 7 or 7 Plus: press and hold the side (Sleep/Wake) and volume down buttons together, and keep holding volume down until the recovery mode screen appears. iPhone 6s or earlier: press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons together, and keep holding Home until the recovery mode screen appears.
  5. On the computer, choose Update, not Restore. Update installs the latest iOS; Restore erases the iPhone.
  6. Leave the iPhone connected until it finishes.

Why it helps: It reinstalls iOS when an update or startup got stuck, without choosing to erase the phone.

06If the same app keeps freezing, reinstall itMediumBack up first

  1. Check the app's own settings or website to see whether your data is saved to an account or iCloud. Data kept only inside the app may be lost.
  2. On the Home Screen, touch and hold the app, tap Remove App, tap Delete App, then tap Delete. Deleting an app doesn't cancel its subscriptions.
  3. Download it again from the App Store and sign back in.
  4. If it still freezes, contact the app's developer.

Why it helps: A fresh copy of the app replaces damaged files that make it freeze.

07Restore the iPhone as a last resortAdvancedBack up first

  1. Warning: Restore erases everything on the iPhone. You can only get your data back from an iCloud or computer backup.
  2. Use this only if Update didn't work and the iPhone still won't start.
  3. Follow the recovery mode steps above, then choose Restore on the computer.
  4. After it finishes, set up the iPhone and restore from your most recent backup.

Why it helps: A full restore replaces all software on the iPhone when nothing else works.

Check it's fixed

  • The screen responds to taps and swipes again.
  • The app that froze opens and works normally.
  • The iPhone restarts normally from Settings and doesn't freeze again over the next few days.

When to get help

If a force restart and Update through a computer don't work, or the screen stays black while the phone rings or vibrates, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Questions

Will a force restart delete anything on my iPhone?

No. A force restart only restarts the phone. Your photos, messages and apps stay as they were.

Why doesn't my force restart work?

Most often the buttons were pressed in the wrong order or released too soon. On newer iPhones, press volume up, then volume down quickly, then keep holding the side button until the Apple logo appears, which can take more than 10 seconds.

What if my iPhone froze and the screen is black?

Charge it for an hour and try the force restart again. If it still won't turn on, see the guide for an iPhone that won't turn on.

How do I unfreeze my iPhone without turning it off?

If only one app is stuck, close it from the app switcher. If the whole phone ignores touches, a force restart is the way to unfreeze it.

Related fixes

How to fix an iPhone that won't turn onCharge the iPhone for an hour, then force restart it: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then pressHow to fix iPhone storage fullGo to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see what's using space, then follow the recommendations there, such as turning on OpHow to fix a phone that's overheatingStop using the phone, unplug it, turn it off if it shows a temperature warning, and leave it somewhere cool and shaded until it feels normalWhat to do when something frozeWait a minute first, then close the stuck app (Ctrl+Shift+Esc on Windows, Option-Command-Esc on Mac). If the whole device is stuck, force a

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Sources