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How to Force Restart a Frozen iPhone or Android Phone

Applies toiOSAndroid
4 min fix Updated 10 Jul 2026

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

For iPhone: Quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears. For Android: Hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.

Checked against Microsoft Learn - Windows release health between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

This article guides you through performing a force restart on a frozen or unresponsive iPhone or Android device. This process forcibly reboots the hardware without deleting your apps or data.

Symptoms ​

  • The screen is frozen and does not respond to touch.
  • The phone will not turn off using the normal power menu.
  • The screen is black, but the phone still vibrates or makes sounds.

Before You Start ​

None required.

Instructions ​

1. Force restart an iPhone (iPhone 8 or newer) ​

A force restart cuts power to the phone without touching anything you have stored on it.

  1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  3. Press and hold the Side button (Power button) until the Apple logo appears (this can take up to 15 seconds).

If you are holding an Android phone rather than an iPhone, this sequence does nothing — the buttons are held together instead. Go to Step 2.

2. Force restart an Android phone (Samsung, Google Pixel) ​

Android uses one button combination, held long enough to cut power.

  1. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
  2. Continue holding both buttons for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes black and the manufacturer's logo appears.

Troubleshooting ​

WARNING

If your phone frequently freezes, it may be running out of storage space or have a failing battery. Check your storage capacity in the settings menu.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Phone stays black and won't restartDead batteryPlug the phone into a wall charger and wait 30 minutes before trying again.
Buttons are stuck or physically brokenHardware damageSubmit an IT support ticket for a repair or device replacement.

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Frequently asked questions

Will a force restart delete my photos or apps?
No. A force restart (sometimes called a hard reset) cuts power to the battery and reboots the software. It does not erase any personal data.
What if the screen stays black even after I hold the buttons?
The battery might be completely dead. Plug the phone into a wall charger for at least 30 minutes, then attempt the force restart again while it is still plugged in.