How to restart your phone

Restarting your phone is a quick and effective way to fix common smartphone issues such as app crashes, slow performance, or connection issues.

Whether you’re using the best iPhone or the best Android phone, the process is simple and can often restore your phone’s functionality without the need for further intervention.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to restart different types of smartphones.

How to restart an iPhone

The process for restarting an iPhone varies slightly depending on the model you have.

iPhone X and later

1. Press and hold the side button and either volume button (up or down) until the “Power off” slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to the right to turn off your iPhone.
3. Wait for about 30 seconds until your phone turns off completely.
4. To turn it back on, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), iPhone 8 and older

1. Press and hold the top or side button (depending on your model) until the ‘Power off’ slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn off the phone.
3. Wait until the phone is completely turned off and then press and hold the top or side button again until the Apple logo appears.

How to restart an Android phone

The steps to restart an Android phone are similar across brands, but there may be slight differences depending on the manufacturer (Samsung, Google, OnePlus, etc.).

Effective method for most Android phones

1. Press and hold the power button (often on the right or top of the phone).
2. A menu will appear with options such as ‘Power off’, ‘Restart’ or ‘Emergency mode’.
3. Tap ‘Restart’. If your phone doesn’t have a restart option, tap “Power Off” instead.
4. Once the phone turns off, press and hold the power button again to turn it back on.

Samsung Galaxy phones

1. Press and hold both the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time until the Power menu appears.
2. Select ‘Restart’ from the menu.
3. If you prefer to restart manually, select ‘Power off’, wait for the phone to turn off completely and press the power button again to turn it back on.

How to force restart your phone

If your phone freezes or becomes unresponsive, a regular restart may not work. In such cases a forced restart may be necessary. This method varies depending on the phone model:

How to force restart an iPhone

• iPhone 8 and later: Short press the volume up button, then short press the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold both the Home button and the Side/Top button until the Apple logo appears.

How to force restart an Android phone

• Samsung Galaxy: Press and hold the power button and the volume down button at the same time for about 10 seconds until the phone restarts.
• Other Android phones: On most devices, pressing and holding the power button for 10-20 seconds should restart the phone. If this doesn’t work, try pressing and holding the power button along with the volume down button.

When should you restart your phone?

Restarting your phone is not just a solution to a glitch. Rebooting your device regularly will keep it running smoothly. Here are some examples when restarting your phone is a good idea:

• Slow performance: If your phone is lagging, a restart can refresh the system and fix temporary glitches.
• App crashes: When apps become unresponsive or crash frequently, a restart can often solve the problem.
• Connectivity Issues: If your phone is having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi or mobile networks, a quick restart may fix the problem.
• Battery drained: Rebooting can sometimes help reset background processes that are draining your battery unnecessarily.
• After installing updates: Restarting your phone after system updates ensures that new features and fixes are applied correctly.

Restarting your phone is a simple yet effective way to fix various issues and maintain optimal performance. However, if problems persist, consider seeking additional technical support.