How to Force Restart iPhone XR

If your iPhone XR is frozen, unresponsive, or stuck on a black screen, a force restart is the quickest way to bring it back to life without losing any data. Unlike a normal restart, this method bypasses the software completely and is safe to use even when the touchscreen isn’t working. You don’t need any tools or a computer—just your phone and a few seconds.

What You’ll Need

Your iPhone XR
Nothing else—no tools, cables, or computers required

Step-by-Step

Locate the buttons. On the iPhone XR, you have three physical buttons: the Volume Up button on the left side, the Volume Down button below it, and the Side button (also called the Power button) on the right edge.
Press and quickly release the Volume Up button. Do not hold it—just press it once and let go. You should feel a slight click.
Press and quickly release the Volume Down button. Again, a single press and release. Don’t hold it.
Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding it even after the Apple logo appears. Do not release it yet.
Wait for the Apple logo to appear. You’ll see the white Apple logo on a black screen. Continue holding the Side button until this appears.
Release the Side button. Once the Apple logo shows up, let go of the Side button. Your iPhone will then boot up normally. This may take up to a minute.

Common Mistakes

Holding the volume buttons. The volume buttons must be pressed and released quickly—holding them can trigger a different action (like taking a screenshot) or prevent the restart sequence from starting.
Releasing the Side button too early. If you let go of the Side button before the Apple logo appears, the phone won’t restart. You’ll need to start the sequence again.
Using the wrong button order. The order matters: Volume Up, then Volume Down, then Side. Switching the order may not work.
Confusing force restart with a normal restart. A force restart is not the same as sliding to power off. If the screen is responsive, you can do a normal restart instead (press and hold Side + either Volume button, then slide to power off).

Tips

Use this when the screen is unresponsive. Force restart is the go-to fix for a frozen screen, a black screen, or when the phone doesn’t respond to touch. It’s also the first step before trying recovery mode.
It’s safe and data-preserving. A force restart does not erase any of your data, settings, or apps. It’s equivalent to pulling the plug and plugging it back in on a desktop computer.
Don’t use it too often. If you find yourself force restarting frequently, there may be a deeper software issue. Check for iOS updates or consider restoring via a computer.
Charge if the battery is dead. If your iPhone doesn’t respond at all, it might be completely out of battery. Plug it into a charger and wait a few minutes before trying the force restart.

Troubleshooting

If the force restart doesn’t work:

Check the battery. Connect your iPhone to a charger and wait at least 10 minutes. If the battery is completely drained, the phone may not respond to the button sequence until it has some charge.
Try again with precise timing. Make sure you press the volume buttons quickly and don’t hold them. Then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears—this can take up to 20 seconds.
Try a different charging cable and adapter. A faulty cable might not be delivering power. Use the original Apple cable or a certified third-party one.
Connect to a computer. If the phone still won’t restart, plug it into a computer with iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later). If the computer recognizes your iPhone, you may be able to update or restore it.
Check for physical damage. If your iPhone was dropped or exposed to water, the buttons might be damaged. In that case, contact Apple Support or an authorized repair center.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a force restart erase my data?

No. A force restart is completely safe and does not delete any of your personal data, apps, or settings. It only interrupts the current software process and reboots the system.

How is a force restart different from a normal restart?

A normal restart (swipe to power off) gracefully shuts down the operating system and then boots it back up. A force restart bypasses the normal shutdown process and directly reboots the hardware, which is useful when the software is frozen.

Why doesn’t the iPhone XR have a Home button?

The iPhone XR, like other models from 2018 onward, uses Face ID and gesture-based navigation instead of a physical Home button. The force restart sequence was updated to use the volume buttons and the Side button instead.

Can I use this method on other iPhone models?

Yes, but the button sequence varies. On iPhone 8 or later (including SE 2nd gen and later), it’s the same as the XR: Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side. For iPhone 7, it’s Volume Down + Side. For iPhone 6s and earlier, it’s Home + Side (or Top).

What should I do if my iPhone still won’t turn on after a force restart?

First, confirm it’s not a battery issue by charging for at least 30 minutes. If it still doesn’t respond, try connecting to a computer and putting it in recovery mode (press Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side while connected). If that fails, it may be a hardware problem—contact Apple Support.

How often can I force restart my iPhone?

There’s no limit, but it’s not meant for regular use. If you need to force restart more than once a week, there may be an underlying software issue. Try updating iOS or backing up and restoring your device.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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