Restarting your iPhone 15 is simple and fast. You can do a normal restart using the side and volume buttons, shut it down from Settings, force restart if the phone is unresponsive, or use AssistiveTouch when a button is broken. Follow the steps below to choose the right method for your situation, and you will have your phone back to normal in a minute or two.
How To Restart iPhone 15 – Step by Step Tutorial
This set of steps will show you four clean ways to restart your iPhone 15, from the regular shutdown to a force restart when the screen is frozen. Pick the method that matches your issue and follow the short instructions.
Step 1: Press and hold the Side button and either Volume button to power off.
To turn off your iPhone normally, press and hold the Side button and one of the Volume buttons until the power off slider appears, then drag the slider to shut down. Wait about 10 seconds, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears to power the phone back on.
Step 2: Go to Settings, then General, then Shut Down to power off.
Open Settings, tap General, scroll down, and tap Shut Down, then slide to power off. This method is handy if you prefer tapping instead of pressing buttons, or if a button is finicky.
Step 3: Force restart by pressing Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button.
Step 3 requires pressing and quickly releasing Volume Up, then pressing and quickly releasing Volume Down, then pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears. Use this when the screen is frozen and the phone does not respond to touch or normal shutdown commands.
Step 4: Use AssistiveTouch to restart if your Side button is broken.
Enable AssistiveTouch in Settings under Accessibility, tap the AssistiveTouch menu, go to Device, then More, and tap Restart to reboot. This is a software shortcut for restarting when a physical button is damaged or unresponsive.
After you complete any of these actions, your iPhone 15 will power off and then power back on, or show the Apple logo if you used the force restart. When it reboots, the phone runs its startup checks and then presents the Lock Screen or Home Screen. If problems continue, you may need to update iOS, reset settings, or contact Apple Support.
More Ways to Restart an iPhone 15
Use Siri
Say “Siri, restart iPhone” and confirm when asked. This is handy if a button isn’t working and you don’t want to set up AssistiveTouch.
Use the Power Button in Control Center
On iOS 18 and later, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then touch and hold the power icon in the top-right corner to bring up the power-off slider. Drag the slider, wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Turn It Back On After a Shutdown
After a normal shutdown, press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo. If the phone doesn’t respond, connect it to a charger. You may need to enter your passcode before Face ID works again.
When Should You Restart Your iPhone 15?
- An app freezes or keeps crashing.
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular won’t connect.
- The phone feels slow, warm, or drains battery faster than usual.
- After installing a major update, if something doesn’t work right.
A normal restart is the gentle option and should be your first step. Save force restarts for when the screen doesn’t respond. For full steps, see how to force restart an iPhone 15.
If Your iPhone 15 Won’t Turn Back On
According to Apple’s guide to restarting an unresponsive iPhone, try a force restart first: press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, which can take longer than 10 seconds. If nothing happens, charge the iPhone for an hour and try again. If it still won’t start, it may need service.
Troubleshooting
The Power-Off Slider Doesn’t Appear
Make sure you’re holding the side button together with a volume button, not the side button alone, which opens Siri. You can also use Settings > General > Shut Down.
The iPhone Restarts on Its Own Repeatedly
Update iOS in Settings > General > Software Update, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, and remove any apps you installed just before the problem started. If restarts continue, contact Apple Support.
A Restart Didn’t Fix the Problem
Try updating iOS, then resetting settings. See how to reset an iPhone 15 for options that keep your data and options that erase it.
Tips for Restarting iPhone 15
- If the phone is slow, try a normal restart first before force restarting.
- Charge the battery if the device will not power on, then attempt a restart.
- Back up your iPhone regularly so a restart or reset never risks your data.
- Use force restart only when the phone is frozen, not for routine reboots.
- Enable AssistiveTouch ahead of time if your side button is unreliable.
- Keep iOS updated, since many bugs that require restarts are fixed in updates.
- If the Apple logo stays on for a long time, try connecting to a computer and use Finder or iTunes for recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between restarting and force restarting an iPhone 15?
A normal restart shuts the phone down and starts it up again in a controlled way. A force restart interrupts the phone’s processes and forces it to reboot immediately. Use force restart only if the phone is frozen or unresponsive.
Will restarting my iPhone 15 delete my apps or data?
No, restarting will not delete apps or data. It simply clears temporary system memory and restarts background processes. Always back up your data in case you need more drastic fixes later.
How can I restart iPhone 15 if the Side button does not work?
Turn on AssistiveTouch under Settings, Accessibility, Touch, AssistiveTouch, and use the on-screen menus to restart. You can also shut down from Settings, General, Shut Down.
What if my iPhone 15 shows the Apple logo and will not finish restarting?
If the phone is stuck on the Apple logo, try a force restart first. If that does not work, connect to a Mac or PC and use Finder or iTunes to put the device into recovery mode for repair. Contact Apple Support if you are unsure.
Is it safe to force restart my iPhone 15 often?
Force restarting occasionally is safe when needed, but doing it frequently may indicate an underlying software or hardware problem. Investigate the root cause and update iOS or get support if the issue repeats.
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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.