Powering off an iPhone 15 is quick and simple. Press and hold either volume button and the side button until the slide to power off option appears, then drag the slider to turn the phone off. You can also go to Settings, tap General, then Shut Down to power off without using buttons. These methods stop the phone, and you can restart it by holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.
How To Power Off iPhone 15 — Step by Step Tutorial
This set of steps will show you the easiest ways to turn off your iPhone 15, including the button method and the settings method, plus an option using AssistiveTouch.
Step 1, Press and hold a volume button and the side button together until the power off slider appears.
Hold one of the volume buttons and the side button at the same time, keep holding for a few seconds, and the screen will change to show the power off slider.
Make sure you do not release the buttons too soon, or you may trigger Emergency SOS or Apple Pay instead.
Step 2, Drag the Slide to Power Off slider from left to right.
Use your finger to swipe the slider all the way to the right, and the screen will go black as the phone begins the shutdown process.
A complete shutdown takes a few seconds, and do not try to force power or press buttons during that time.
Step 3, Wait for the iPhone to fully power down.
Once the display is black and unresponsive to taps, the phone is off and safe to store or restart later.
You can verify it is off by trying to wake the screen; a powered off iPhone will not respond until you turn it back on.
Step 4, Go to Settings, tap General, then tap Shut Down to power off without buttons.
Open Settings, scroll to General, and choose Shut Down to bring up the same slide to power off screen without pressing hardware buttons.
This method is handy if a button is sticky or you prefer a software approach, and it avoids triggering Emergency SOS.
Step 5, Use AssistiveTouch to open the device menu and choose Device then More then Restart or Lock Screen to mimic a power action.
Enable AssistiveTouch in Settings, then tap the floating menu, select Device and follow the prompts to lock or restart the device.
AssistiveTouch does not always perform a full power off, but it helps if your buttons are broken and you need to lock the screen or access restart options.
After you complete the power off, the iPhone will stop all processes and use no battery for active tasks.
To turn it back on, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, which signals the device is booting up again.
How To Power Off iPhone 15 — Tips
- If the buttons trigger Emergency SOS, release and try the Settings method instead.
- Charge the phone if you plan to power it back on, low battery can prevent restart.
- If the screen is frozen, try a force restart by quickly pressing volume up, volume down, then holding the side button.
- Use a case that gives good access to buttons so you can press both volume and side buttons comfortably.
- Turn off Find My only if you are selling or giving away the device, otherwise keep it enabled.
- If a button is broken, enable AssistiveTouch for on-screen controls to power off or lock the phone.
- Keep iOS updated, sometimes bugs can affect the shutdown process and updates fix those issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn off my iPhone 15 if the buttons are broken?
If your buttons are broken, go to Settings, tap General, and then Shut Down to bring up the slide to power off option.
You can also enable AssistiveTouch, tap the on-screen menu, and use the Device options to lock or restart.
What is the difference between powering off and force restarting?
Powering off shuts down the device normally and stops all running apps, while a force restart forces the system to reboot without a clean shutdown.
Force restart is used when the phone is frozen and not responding to normal input.
Will powering off my iPhone 15 disable Find My iPhone?
Powering off the iPhone temporarily stops its ability to report location because the device is off and not connected to the network.
However, Find My remains linked to the device in your account and will resume once the phone is turned back on.
Can I accidentally call Emergency SOS when trying to power off?
Yes, holding certain button combinations too long can trigger Emergency SOS or Apple Pay.
To avoid this, use Settings > General > Shut Down, or release the buttons as soon as the power off slider appears.
How long does it take to power off and back on?
Powering off is usually a matter of a few seconds for shutdown, and restarting can take 20 to 60 seconds depending on apps and system tasks.
If it takes much longer, a software update or background processes may be running during startup.
My iPhone 15 won’t turn off, what can I do?
Try force restarting by pressing volume up, volume down, then holding the side button until the Apple logo appears.
If that fails, connect the phone to power, let it charge for a bit, and try shutting down via Settings or contact Apple Support for hardware help.
Summary
- Hold volume and side buttons
- Slide to power off
- Wait for shutdown
- Settings, General, Shut Down
- Use AssistiveTouch if buttons fail
Conclusion
Knowing how to power off your iPhone 15 is one of those small skills that can save you a lot of time and stress. It keeps your device safe for a while, helps with troubleshooting, and is the first step before giving the phone for service or storage. The main method uses the volume button plus the side button, which brings up the familiar slide to power off. If the buttons are not working, the software path through Settings, General, Shut Down, gives you the same result without hardware input. There are also accessibility tools like AssistiveTouch that serve as a reliable backup when physical controls fail.
Shutdowns are different from restarts, and it is good to know when to use each. If the phone is unresponsive, a force restart may be needed. If you want to conserve battery during travel or keep the phone from receiving notifications, powering off is the better choice. Remember to avoid triggering Emergency SOS by holding the wrong button combination. Keep iOS updated and inspect your case so the buttons remain easy to press.
If you run into a situation where the phone will not power off at all, or it behaves oddly after shutting down, reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized repair center. And if you want to learn more about managing iPhone settings, battery care, or troubleshooting tips, check Apple’s official support articles or trusted tech guides. Try the steps above next time you need to turn off your phone, and you will see how quick and reliable the process can be when you know what to do. How To Power Off iPhone 15 is straightforward once you practice the methods, so give them a try and bookmark this page for future reference.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.