Powering off an iPhone fully shuts it down, which can clear up glitches, save battery, or prepare the phone for storage. The button combination changed on newer models, so the method depends on whether your phone has Face ID or a Home button.
Step by step
- Identify your modelPhones with Face ID have no Home button and use a side button plus a volume button. Older phones with a round Home button turn off using the side or top button alone.
- Hold the buttons on a Face ID modelPress and hold the side button and either volume button together until the slider appears on screen, then let go.
- Hold the button on a Home button modelPress and hold the side button, or the top button on some older models, until the power-off slider appears.
- Slide to power offDrag the slide to power off control from left to right. The screen goes dark and the phone shuts down after a few seconds.
- Turn it back onTo restart, press and hold the side or top button until the Apple logo appears, then release.
Handy tips
- You can also shut down from Settings, General, then Shut Down, which shows the same slider without holding any buttons.
- A full power off and restart often fixes small problems like a frozen app or no network.
- If the phone will be stored for a while, turning it off at around half battery helps preserve the battery.
FAQ
Why won't the power-off slider appear?
On Face ID models you must hold the side button and a volume button at the same time. Holding the side button alone brings up Siri instead.
How do I turn off a frozen iPhone?
If the screen is unresponsive, force restart it: quickly press volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
Is it bad to leave my iPhone on all the time?
No, iPhones are designed to run continuously. An occasional restart can help performance, but there is no need to shut it down every day.