If your iPhone won't turn on or is frozen

If your iPhone has a frozen screen, doesn't respond when you touch it or becomes stuck when you turn it on, find out what to do.

If your screen is black or has frozen

Follow the steps for your device.

On your iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation)

  1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
  3. Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo (this will take around 10 seconds). 
    An animation of an iPhone with arrows pointing to the volume up button, then to the volume down button, then to the side button.
  4. If your iPhone doesn’t turn on, charge your iPhone for one hour and then try again. If your iPhone displays a low-charge battery , check your hardware and charge your iPhone again.
  5. If your iPhone still doesn’t turn on, contact Apple Support.

On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus

  1. Press and hold both the side button and the volume down button until you see the Apple logo (this will take around 10 seconds).
    An iPhone with arrows pointing to the side button and the volume down button.
  2. If your iPhone doesn’t turn on, charge your iPhone for one hour and then try again. If your iPhone displays a low-charge battery , check your hardware and charge your iPhone again.
  3. If your iPhone still doesn’t turn on, contact Apple Support.

On an iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation)

  1. Press and hold both the Home button and the side button or the top button until you see the Apple logo (this will take around 10 seconds).
  2. If your iPhone doesn’t turn on, charge your iPhone for one hour and then try again. If your iPhone displays a low-charge battery , check your hardware and charge your iPhone again.
  3. If your iPhone still doesn’t turn on, contact Apple Support.

If your iPhone turns on but gets stuck during start-up

If you see the Apple logo or a red or blue screen during start-up, try these steps:

  1. Connect your iPhone to a computer.
  2. Select your iPhone on your computer.
  3. While your iPhone is connected, follow these steps:
    • On your iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation): press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Then press and hold the side button.

      An animation of an iPhone with arrows pointing to the volume up button, then to the volume down button, then to the side button.
    • On an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the side button and volume down button at the same time.
      An iPhone with arrows pointing to the volume down button and the side button.
    • On an iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation): Press and hold both the Home button and the side button or the top button at the same time.
  4. Keep holding the buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
    An iPhone showing the recovery mode screen.
  5. When you get the option to restore or update, choose Update.
    A Finder window showing a prompt with the choice to update or restore your iPhone. Update has been selected.
  6. Your computer will download the software for your device. If it takes more than 15 minutes, your device will exit recovery mode. Repeat steps 2-4.

If you need more help

Contact Apple Support to set up service.

Published Date: