How to Turn Off iPhone: Buttons, Settings or Frozen

Knowing how to turn off iPhone sounds basic, but it trips up a lot of people. On every iPhone with Face ID, and on iPhone Duo, holding the side button on its own wakes Siri instead of showing the power-off slider. This guide covers every current model, the software methods, what to do when the screen is frozen, and a few things worth knowing before you power down.

Quick answer: on iPhone 18 Pro, 17, 16, 15 and every other iPhone with Face ID, plus iPhone Duo, press and hold the side button and either volume button together until the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider. On iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation) and iPhone 8 or older, hold the side button alone (the top button on iPhone SE 1st generation and iPhone 5 or earlier). No buttons? Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, or open Control Center and touch and hold the top-right corner until the slider appears.

Every step here comes from Apple's official guides: Turn iPhone on or off, Restart your iPhone, Force restart iPhone, If your iPhone won't turn on or the screen is black, Use SOS to contact emergency services, Use and customize Control Center, Use AssistiveTouch, Add your iPhone to Find My, Find My and location sharing, iPhone battery and performance, Use the volume buttons, side button, and other controls and Identify your iPhone model. I checked them on November 8, 2026, when Apple's security releases page listed iOS 27.2 as current. The power-off steps are the same on current iOS; Apple does not document an iOS 27-only way to shut down an iPhone.

Which method should you use?

Pick the row that matches your situation, then jump to that section.

Not sure which iPhone you have? Look in Settings > General > About > Model Name, or match the model number on Apple's identify your iPhone model page. If it has a Home button, use those steps. If it doesn't, use side plus volume, including iPhone Duo, which has Touch ID in the side button rather than Face ID.

How to turn off iPhone by model

Apple's identify page (October 22, 2026) lists iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air and 17e among current models. There is no separate standard iPhone 18 in that list, only the two Pro models. All of them use side plus volume, except iPhone SE, which still uses the side button alone.

How to turn off a Face ID iPhone or iPhone Duo

These steps cover iPhone X and later with Face ID, including iPhone 18 Pro, 17, 16, 15, iPhone Air and 17e, and they also cover iPhone Duo.

1. Press and hold the side button (right edge) and either volume button at the same time.
2. Release as soon as the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider.
3. Wait about 30 seconds for the iPhone to switch off completely. That wait comes from Apple's restart guide.

On iPhone Duo the side button also has Touch ID, but the combination is the same. Duo's volume buttons can swap roles as you rotate the phone (Apple calls this dynamic volume buttons); either volume button still works for shut down.

The extra Camera Control on iPhone 18 Pro, 17, 16, iPhone Air and iPhone Duo opens the camera, changes camera settings and can start Visual Intelligence if you press and hold it. It is not part of the shutdown shortcut, so leave it alone. iPhone 17e and iPhone 16e do not have Camera Control; they still use side plus volume.

Holding only the side button on these models brings up Siri, which is why so many people think the power button "doesn't work."

Don't keep holding the buttons: Emergency SOS

The same side-plus-volume hold that shows the power-off slider is also how Emergency SOS starts in most countries. Apple's wording: to call emergency services (every country or region except India), you keep holding the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear and the Emergency SOS countdown ends, then release. To turn the phone off instead, let go as soon as the sliders appear and drag Power Off.

You can review this under Settings > Emergency SOS. Apple lists Call with Hold and Release (hold and release the side and volume buttons to start a countdown) and Call with 5 Presses (rapidly press the side button five times). The five-press option is off unless you turn it on.

In India, the default is different. Apple says you quickly press the side button three times until the sliders appear and the Emergency SOS countdown ends. If Accessibility Shortcut is turned on, India uses the same hold of side plus either volume button until the countdown finishes. Pressing the side button repeatedly while you hunt for the Power Off slider is a bad idea in India for that reason.

If a call does connect by mistake, Apple's advice is not to hang up. Stay on the line and tell the responder you don't need help.

How to turn off iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and older (Home button models)

Apple's restart page, updated June 2, 2026, still splits these phones into two groups.

iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), 8, 7, 6s and 6

1. Press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider, then wait about 30 seconds. You do not need a volume button.

iPhone SE (1st generation), 5 and earlier

1. Press and hold the top button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider, then wait about 30 seconds. Hold the same top button to turn it back on.

How to turn off iPhone without the power button

If a button is broken, a thick case makes the buttons hard to press, or you'd rather not use them, there are software options. Apple documents Settings and Control Center. AssistiveTouch can restart from the screen, and Siri can help if it is turned on.

1. Use Settings

This is the quiet, reliable option.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General, scroll to the bottom and tap Shut Down.
3. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.

You need to be able to unlock the phone and open Settings, so this method does not help if the screen is frozen.

2. Use Control Center

Apple still documents a shut-down control in Control Center on current iOS. It lives in the top-right corner, not as a separate tile you add from the controls gallery.

1. Open Control Center. On a Face ID iPhone or iPhone Duo, swipe down from the top-right corner. On iPhone SE, swipe up from the bottom edge.
2. Touch and hold the top-right corner of the screen until you feel a vibration.
3. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.

If nothing happens, make sure you opened Control Center first. Swiping too close to the top center opens Notification Center instead.

3. Ask Siri

Siri can be the fastest option when your hands are full, as long as it is turned on and can complete the request.

1. Activate Siri by saying "Siri" or "Hey Siri", or by pressing and holding the side button (the Home button on iPhone SE).
2. Say "Turn off my iPhone" or "Restart iPhone."
3. If Siri shows a confirmation, approve it before the phone powers down or restarts.

Apple's current settings path is Settings > Siri. On some earlier software versions the same menu appears as Apple Intelligence & Siri. You need an internet connection to use Siri. If Siri says it can't turn the phone off, use Settings or Control Center instead. Apple's official turn-off page lists buttons, Settings and Control Center, but not Siri, so treat Siri as a convenience when it works rather than the only backup.

4. Use AssistiveTouch (best for a broken side button)

AssistiveTouch adds a floating on-screen button that can do what some hardware buttons do, including restarting iPhone.

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. You can also ask Siri to turn AssistiveTouch on.
2. Tap the floating button and look for Restart. It is often under Device > More, or you can put it on the first screen.
3. To make it one tap, open the AssistiveTouch settings, tap Customize Top Level Menu and add Restart. Apple says that menu can hold up to eight icons.
4. To shut down completely instead of restarting, use Settings > General > Shut Down. AssistiveTouch's documented power action is Restart, not a full shut down.

How to turn your iPhone back on

Press and hold the side button (the top button on iPhone SE 1st generation and iPhone 5 or earlier) until the Apple logo appears, then let go. After the phone starts, enter your passcode. Face ID and Touch ID are unavailable until you unlock once after a restart.

If your side button is broken, connect iPhone to a charger instead. Apple's first step when a phone will not turn on is to charge it, and a phone that was fully off usually comes back once it has power.

If nothing happens, the battery may be flat. Apple says to charge for one hour, then try again. If you see a low-charge battery image, check the hardware and charge for about 30 minutes or until it starts. On a phone that is extremely low on power, the display may stay blank for up to two minutes before a low-battery image appears, and it may need to charge for up to 10 minutes before you can use it. If the screen stays black after that, try a force restart. If it still won't turn on, Apple says the phone might need service.

Restart vs turn off vs force restart

These three get mixed up constantly:

• Turn off means the phone shuts down and stays off until you turn it back on or it receives power.
• Restart means you turn it off, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Apple recommends this when iPhone is not working as expected.
• Force restart is the button sequence for a frozen or unresponsive phone. You never drag the Power Off slider. Nothing is erased.

If you only needed a reboot, restarting is enough. If the screen will not respond, skip the slider and force restart. For frozen phones, black screens and a phone stuck on the Apple logo, see how to hard reset iPhone.

How to restart an iPhone

Restarting is the first thing to try when apps misbehave, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth won't connect, or the phone feels sluggish. (If you've forgotten the network password, here's how to find your WiFi password.)

1. Turn it off using any method above.
2. Wait about 30 seconds.
3. Press and hold the side button (or the top button on very old models) until the Apple logo appears.

Asking Siri to "Restart iPhone" does the same thing if Siri can complete the request. AssistiveTouch's Restart command also reboots without the power-off slider.

How to force restart a frozen iPhone

If the screen doesn't respond and you can't drag the slider, force a restart instead. It reboots the phone without erasing apps, photos or settings.

iPhone 8, SE (2nd generation) and later, including all Face ID models and iPhone Duo

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button. On iPhone Duo, that is the volume button nearest the side button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button. On iPhone Duo, that is the other volume button.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button. Apple says this might take longer than 10 seconds, so keep holding even after the power-off slider appears. Ignore the slider during a force restart.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

Press and hold the side button and the volume down button together until the Apple logo appears. Apple says this might take longer than 10 seconds.

iPhone 6s and earlier

Press and hold the Home button and the side or top button together until the Apple logo appears. Apple says this takes around 10 seconds.

If it still will not turn on, charge it for an hour and try again. If the buttons are broken, you cannot force restart, because the sequence needs those buttons.

iPhone won't turn off? Try these fixes

Unexpected shutdowns are usually a battery issue, not a power-button issue. Apple says they are more likely when the battery has a low charge, a higher chemical age, or when the phone is very cold.

Check Settings > Battery > Battery Health. That is the wording on Apple's current battery page. If it says your battery's health is significantly degraded, Apple says an Apple Authorized Service Provider can replace the battery to restore full performance and capacity. You can keep using the phone, but you may notice shorter battery life and more shutdowns until the battery is replaced.

If your iPhone still will not power off or on after these steps, contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service provider.

Common mistakes when you turn off an iPhone

These are the mix-ups that cause the most trouble:

• Holding only the side button on a Face ID iPhone or iPhone Duo. That opens Siri. Add a volume button.
• Keeping your fingers on side plus volume after the sliders appear. That starts Emergency SOS in most countries. Let go, then drag Power Off.
• Pressing the side button over and over in India. The default Emergency SOS trigger there is three quick presses.
• Using Camera Control by mistake. On iPhone 16, 17, 18 Pro, iPhone Air and iPhone Duo it only talks to the camera.
• Confusing the Action button with power off. On models that have one, the default is Silent mode, not shut down.
• Trying to drag a slider on a frozen screen. Skip it and force restart.
• Turning the phone off overnight when you need an alarm. Leave it on and use Silent mode or Focus.
• Assuming a shut-down phone disappears from Find My. On a supported iPhone with the Find My network on, it can stay findable.
• Powering off a phone you are about to sell. That does not remove Activation Lock. Turn off Find My and erase it first.

Does a turned-off iPhone still show up in Find My?

Often, yes. Apple says that on a supported iPhone, turning on Find My network lets you locate the iPhone for up to 24 hours after it's turned off, or up to 5 hours when it's in power reserve mode. Apple's personal safety guide uses the same 24-hour window after a device has been powered off or disconnected from the internet.

That is why the power-off screen can show "iPhone Findable After Power Off" under the slider. Tapping it lets you temporarily turn off the Find My network for that one shutdown, which Apple describes as a way to get somewhere safe without the powered-off phone keeping a location. Most people should leave it on.

You can also manage this later in Settings > [your name] > Find My > Find My iPhone > Find My network. Turning Find My and the Find My network off means you will not be able to locate, lock or erase the device if it is lost or stolen after it is powered down.

If you're switching off a phone because you're selling or giving it away, turning it off does not remove it from your account. Follow our guide to turn off Find My iPhone first, then factory reset your iPhone.

Should you turn off your iPhone regularly?

You don't have to. iPhone is designed to stay on, and iOS manages memory and background apps by itself. A restart now and then is a good free fix when apps crash, the keyboard lags, Wi-Fi drops or an update leaves things slow. Two practical tips:

• Alarms need the phone to stay on. Apple says Clock alarms still sound in Silent mode, including with the Ring/Silent switch, the Action button or Do Not Disturb. Don't shut down overnight if you rely on it to wake you; use Focus or Silent mode instead.
• Need silence for a flight, exam or meeting? Airplane Mode or the Silent switch / Action button is enough for most situations. Airplane Mode turns off the wireless radios while the phone stays on, so alarms and downloaded content still work. Shut down fully only if you're asked to power off.

Typical scenarios

• Before a flight, exam or meeting: Settings > General > Shut Down is quiet and reliable.
• Phone slow after an update: a restart often helps. Clearing storage helps too; see how to clear cache on iPhone or how to delete apps on iPhone.
• Spam calls after a restart: block the number on iPhone, or unblock a number if you blocked someone by mistake.
• You got a lost phone back: check your Apple Account security and, if needed, change your Apple ID password.
• Selling or giving it away: turn off Find My and factory reset it. Switching it off isn't enough.

Verdict for each type of user

• Most people: use the side button plus volume button shortcut.
• Hands full: ask Siri, "Turn off my iPhone," and confirm if it asks. If Siri can't help, use Settings > General > Shut Down.
• Broken or stiff buttons: use Settings > General > Shut Down, and set up AssistiveTouch with Restart.
• Frozen screen: use the force restart sequence for your model.
• Home button iPhone: hold the side (or top) button alone.
• iPhone Duo: the same side-plus-volume shortcut, even though Duo uses Touch ID in the side button.

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