How to Restart an iPhone 11

And how to force it to restart when it otherwise won't

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Published on September 26, 2022

What to Know

  • Restart: Press and hold Side and Volume Down buttons > release when slider appears > move slider left to right.
  • Force restart: Press Volume Up, press Volume Down and hold Side button until the Apple logo appears.

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to restart an iPhone 11 and how to force restart an iPhone 11. Whether you need a restart to fix a temporary glitch or a hard restart to unlock a frozen iPhone 11, this is what you need to know.

How to Restart an iPhone 11

While restarting an iPhone 11 isn't likely part of any regular routine, sometimes it's the only fix for a small, temporary glitch. In those cases, a restart (also called a reboot) will usually clear the glitch and get things working normally again. Follow these steps to restart an iPhone 11:

  1. Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons at the same time.

  2. When the slide to power off slider appears on the screen, release the buttons.

  3. Move the slider from left to right.

    Lifewire / Grace Kim

  4. Wait 15-30 seconds for the iPhone 11 to shut down and for the screen to turn off.

  5. To turn the iPhone back on, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. When it does, release the Side button and let the iPhone boot up.

Want to know how to restart another iPhone model? We've got instructions for how to restart every iPhone model.

How to Force Restart an iPhone 11

A force restart is different than a standard restart. A force restart, or force reboot, should be used when your iPhone is frozen and won't respond to button presses or screen taps. In that situation, it won't respond to the standard restart steps, either. But don't worry—it's not broken! It just needs the more-powerful force restart process. Follow these steps to force restart an iPhone 11:

  1. Press and release the Volume Up button.

  2. Press and release the Volume Down button.

  3. Press and hold the Side button.

  4. Keep holding while the screen turns off. When the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the Side button and let the phone turn on.

But what if your iPhone won't restart or force reset? Don't worry. We've got tips for fixing an iPhone that won't turn off.

FAQ
  • How do I reset my iPhone 11 to factory settings?

    To reset your iPhone 11 to factory settings, go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Always back up your data before performing a factory reset.

  • How do I fix it when my iPhone won't turn on?

    If your iPhone won't turn on, charge your battery, try a hard reset, and put your phone in DFU mode. If you still have trouble, try resetting the iPhone proximity sensor.

  • How do I take a screenshot on my iPhone 11?

    To take a screenshot on iPhone 11, press the Side button+Volume Up at the same time. To take a screenshot by tapping the back of the phone, enable the feature in Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap > Screenshot.

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