How to hard reset your iPhone

Apple's iPhones are known for their reliability, often lasting years with minimal maintenance when treated properly. However, there may come a time when your iPhone needs a hard reset. Whether it's freezing screen or chasing apps, knowing how to hard reset your iPhone is invaluable.

In this guide, I'll walk you through the process step-by-step so you're equipped with the knowledge to handle any iPhone reset situation with confidence.

What is a hard reset?

First of all, let's find out what a hard reset is.

If your iPhone freezes, it may not even be able to show you the power slider. In this case, you will have to force restart your device. But don't worry! This process won't harm your iPhone at all. Just be aware that if you were working on something, the hard reset will likely erase any unsaved data.

When to perform a hard reset on your iPhone

If you're experiencing a strange glitch on your iPhone – maybe the sound isn't working, apps keep crashing, or you can't make calls – your first step should be to perform a quick restart. This will refresh your iPhone's software and likely fix whatever went wrong.

And if your iPhone is so screwed up that you can't even restart it, a hard reset should work just as well. In simple words, this method "forces" your phone to turn off even if it's frozen.

Is there a difference between hard reset and force reset?

Many use these terms interchangeably, but in fact, they have different meanings. Let's take a look.

The term "hard reset" typically refers to a force restart, where you restart the phone using the hardware buttons when the device is unresponsive.

When it comes to "force reset," you should know that this is another term for a hard reset. It emphasizes the use of physical buttons to force the device to restart.

In general, both terms describe the same process and have the same effect on the device. It's also important to understand that neither hard reset nor force restart erase your data. At the same time, they can fix many minor iPhone issues.

Now that you know the difference and understand all the consequences of the iPhone hard reboot let's get down to business. 

How to hard reset your iPhone

Note that the instructions on how to hard reset an iPhone vary depending on the model of your device. 

Hard reset iPhone 8 and later (iPhone X, XS, XR, 11, 12, 13, 14)

1. Press and release the Volume Up button quickly.
2. Press and release the Volume Down button quickly.
3. Press and hold the Side/Power button until the Apple logo appears.

Force restart for iPhone 7/7 Plus

1. Press and hold the Volume Down button.
2. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button.
3. Press and hold both buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears on the screen. This will  take about 10 seconds.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

Hard reset iPhone 6s and earlier

1. Press and hold the Home button on the front of the iPhone.
2. While still holding down the Home button, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button (top button) on the top or side of your iPhone.
3. Continue to hold both buttons until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release both the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons at the same time.

Troubleshooting common iPhone issues

Now that you know how to reset an iPhone with buttons, we're throwing out the conventional approach of addressing problems before solutions, and diving straight into the toolkit of iPhone troubleshooting methods. Why? Because sometimes, it's just easier to know what fixes are available before diving into the nitty-gritty of the problem.

Here's the drill:

If your iPhone is acting weird but still listening to you, just restart it.

If a regular restart doesn't work, a hard reset might do the trick.

By mastering these reboot tricks, you can quickly fix most iPhone issues. But why stop there? Let's also learn how to stop these problems before they even start. Here's how to deal with common iPhone issues:

• Issue 1: iPhone stuck in Recovery Mode

The iPhone gets stuck in Recovery Mode and can't complete the reset.  Use iTunes/Finder on a computer to restore the iPhone to factory settings. Connect the iPhone to the computer using a USB cable, open iTunes/Finder, and select the option to restore the device. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

• Issue 2: iPhone fades to black (a so-called black screen of death)

This is most likely a software issue that can occur on older iPhone models due to outdated software and hardware. All you have to do is force restart your iPhone as described above. If this doesn't work, try doing the same thing after charging your phone for a while, as your phone may not have enough power to turn on.

• Issue 3: Battery drains faster

The health of your iPhone's battery diminishes over time, which means you probably won't see the battery life you had when you first opened it. However, if you are experiencing severe battery drain, this could be a problem.

Go to Settings > Battery and look for the apps that are draining your battery the most. If you don't use some of these apps, uninstall them, restart your phone, and see if your battery life improves. You can also take other steps, such as turning off push notifications for some apps and enabling battery-saving mode. 

• Issue 4: iPhone is overheating

Avoid using your iPhone while it's charging, which often leads to overheating.

Check for background apps that are draining resources and disable them to reduce the strain on your phone. Avoid intense activities such as gaming in hot and humid environments, as this can exacerbate overheating. If your iPhone continues to overheat despite these steps, it may be time to take it to a service center.

Bonus: Run regular iPhone backups to prevent data loss

Another solid piece of advice you'll be glad you followed if your iPhone one day stops responding: have a backup of your iPhone to restore from. 

One of the most common backup methods is via iCloud:

1. To back up your iPhone to iCloud, go to Settings > tap your name.
2. Then tap iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.

However, you can also back up your phone by connecting it to a Mac.

My favorite backup method is AnyTrans because it doesn't limit me in terms of storage space. It also supports automatic regular backups, so you can set it up once and never worry about it again. 

Here's how you can securely backup your iPhone with AnyTrans: 

1. Connect your device to a computer with a cable. 
2. Open AnyTrans and click the Backup Manager tab. 
3. Click Full Backup and wait for your iPhone backup. That's it. 

1. Install Disk Drill on your Mac. You can use it for seven days free with your Setapp subscription.
2. Connect your iPhone to your Mac and open Disk Drill.
3. Select your device, click Search for lost data, and wait a few minutes while Disk Drill scans your iPhone for recoverable files.
4. Review the files, select the ones you want to recover, and click Recover to confirm.

How to factory reset iPhone with buttons: Final thoughts

A hard reset is useful for fixing a frozen screen or unresponsive apps. To perform a hard reset, follow specific button sequences depending on your iPhone model. 

Although a hard reset doesn't erase all data on your iPhone, remember that backing up regularly is a good practice because it ensures that you can restore your data if something goes wrong. One of my favorite tools for this is AnyTrans. Just a few clicks and your iPhone is back up to your Mac. The app is available on Setapp, a platform with 240+ handy Mac, iOS, and web apps for almost any task. If you lost data, try Disk Drill. Also available on Setapp. 

Another must-have you can find on this platform is called CleanMy®Phone. It spots duplicates, blurry photos, screenshots, and other junk that takes up space. This is important to avoid iPhone glitches, freezes, and hard resets. The best part? All apps are free to try for seven days! 

By taking these steps, you can keep your iPhone running smoothly and enjoy peace of mind knowing your data is safe.

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