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How to Force Restart a Samsung Galaxy or iPhone

A force restart uses physical buttons when your phone is unresponsive. The correct sequence varies between Galaxy phones and iPhone models.
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If your phone is unresponsive, a force restart can reboot it without using the touchscreen. The button sequence depends on the device: many Samsung Galaxy phones use Volume Down and the Side or Power button, while iPhones use different steps depending on the model.

Force restart a Samsung Galaxy

On many Galaxy phones, press and hold the Volume Down button and the Side button (called the Power button on some models) at the same time. Keep holding through any power menu until the screen turns black and the Samsung logo appears.

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Samsung’s US instructions specify holding the buttons for more than seven seconds. Timing and button names can vary by model and software version, so if that does not work, keep holding until the phone restarts. See Samsung’s Galaxy startup troubleshooting.

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If Android Recovery appears

If the phone opens Android Recovery instead of restarting, use the volume buttons to highlight Reboot system now, then press the Side key to select it. Samsung UK documents this recovery option in its Galaxy power-on guidance.

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Force restart an iPhone

Choose the sequence for your iPhone model. For Face ID models, Apple’s procedure uses two quick volume presses followed by a hold of the Side button; iPhone 7 models and older Home-button iPhones have different combinations.

iPhone with Face ID

  1. Quickly press and release Volume Up.
  2. Quickly press and release Volume Down.
  3. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release it.

The logo may take longer than 10 seconds to appear. Follow Apple’s instructions for restarting an unresponsive iPhone.

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iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus

Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down together until the Apple logo appears.

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iPhone 6s and earlier

Press and hold the Home button together with the Side button or Top button until the Apple logo appears.

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Force restart or normal restart?

Use a force restart when the phone is not responding and you cannot use its usual on-screen controls. If the screen works, use the phone’s normal power controls to restart it instead. The force-restart steps above rely on physical buttons, not touch input.

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What to do if the phone stays off

  • Check the charge. A phone that will not turn on may need power. Apple advises charging for one hour as part of its no-power troubleshooting; Samsung recommends ensuring the Galaxy has sufficient charge.
  • Try the model-specific sequence again. Galaxy button names and timing vary, and iPhone combinations are not interchangeable across generations.
  • Seek manufacturer support if it remains off. A restart cannot resolve every cause of a no-power condition; persistent failure may require service. Apple and Samsung provide further steps through their support pages linked above.

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