Self HelpBoise Computer Care

Phones

Phone frozen or won't turn on: force restart

Phone frozen or won't turn on? Exact force-restart buttons for iPhone, Samsung and Android, plus what to try next without losing data.

Difficulty
Easy
Time
5-30 min
Steps
6
Updated

Sounds like this?

  • Black screen
  • Touchscreen unresponsive
  • Stuck on the logo
  • Phone won't respond to the side button

Step by step

  1. Charge it for 30 minutes with a known-good cable and adapter.
  2. iPhone 8 or newer: press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears (about 10-20 seconds).
  3. Most Android phones: hold Power + Volume Down for 10-20 seconds. On Samsung, hold Side key + Volume Down until it restarts.
  4. If it boots, update the system: iPhone, Settings › General › Software Update. Android, Settings › System (or Software update).
  5. If an app causes freezes, update or uninstall it.
  6. If it stays stuck on the logo, iPhone users can try recovery mode with a computer (Finder or Apple Devices app) and choose Update (not Restore) to keep data.

Related error codes & messages

Quick answers

When should I stop and get professional help with "Phone frozen or won't turn on: force restart"?

Stop and get help if: The phone is swollen, hot, or smells. No sign of life after charging and a force restart. It was dropped in water. Update in recovery mode fails and you don't have a backup. Boise Computer Care can diagnose it for a $60 fee; call 208-996-3508.

How long does this fix take and how hard is it?

Plan on 5-30 min. Difficulty: Easy.

Is it safe to try this myself?

Mostly, if you follow these precautions: If the phone is hot, swollen, or the screen is lifting, stop charging it and don't press on it. A force restart doesn't erase data. A factory reset does.

Which error messages or codes does this guide cover?

Apple logo loop, Support.apple.com/iphone/restore, Android recovery.

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