Unresponsive smartphones can be a considerable annoyance and hindrance. Unfortunately, these issues aren’t limited to low-quality devices and affect the iPhone. So, what causes a frozen iPhone, and how do you resolve it?
Force restart your iPhone if it’s unresponsive or frozen, typically by holding the volume and power buttons. Ensuring your device has adequate storage and is up-to-date can prevent future issues. And when in doubt, contact Apple Support for additional assistance.
Don’t panic if your iPhone screen is frozen or unresponsive. These issues can typically be resolved with a force restart and software update. We cover everything you need to know in the article below. Read on for more information.
What Causes an iPhone to Freeze Up?
Unfortunately, there isn’t always a straightforward explanation as to why an iPhone freezes, and there are several possibilities for why your device becomes unresponsive. There are four main culprits behind an unresponsive iPhone, including:
- Low amounts of storage space.
- Your iPhone needs to be restarted.
- Software and update issues.
- Problematic and buggy applications.
Low storage space can cause your iPhone to freeze temporarily or become unresponsive. If you have less than 20% storage space left on your iPhone, you should free up more space and reduce data usage.
Additionally, leaving your iPhone on all the time may cause it to freeze temporarily or become unresponsive. Therefore, it’s essential to frequently turn off and reboot your iPhone to avoid these errors.
Likewise, ensure your device uses the latest iOS update to avoid software issues and bugs. (Since we’re talking about updating, there are several reasons why you should keep your device updated. Lastly, avoid downloading sketchy applications and software onto your device. Problematic applications can cause minor bugs like temporary freezes or damage to your device through harmful malware.
How to Restart Your iPhone When Frozen
Don’t panic if your iPhone is frozen or doesn’t respond when you tap the screen. You can take several steps if your iPhone isn’t responding, and we cover them below.
On the iPhone 8 or Newer and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Gen)
- Quickly click and let go of the Volume Up button.
- Quickly click and let go of the Volume Down button.
- Click and hold the side switch until the Apple logo appears.
If your device doesn’t turn on after following the steps above, check the physical components and charge your device for at least an hour. You may need to consult Apple Support for additional assistance in the worst-case scenario.
On the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
- Click and hold the Side and the Volume Down buttons until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
If your device doesn’t turn on after following the steps above, check the physical components and charge your device for at least an hour. You may need to consult Apple Support for additional assistance in the worst-case scenario.
On the iPhone 6S or Earlier and iPhone SE (1st Gen)
- Click and hold the Home button and the Side button (or the Top button) simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
If your device doesn’t turn on after following the steps above, check the physical components and charge your device for at least an hour. You may need to consult Apple Support for additional assistance in the worst-case scenario.
What if Your iPhone Boots up but Freezes?
If your iPhone starts but gets stuck during the startup process and you see the Apple logo, a red screen, or a blue screen, follow these instructions:
- Connect your device using a computer.
- Open the Finder if you have a Max with macOS Catalina.
- Open iTunes if you have macOS Mojave or earlier or a regular PC.
- Choose your iPhone on the PC after connecting it.
- After selecting your iPhone, follow the steps below depending on your device:
On the iPhone 8 or Newer and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Gen): Click the Volume Up button and quickly let go of it. Next, click the Volume Down button and quickly let go of it. Now, click and hold the Side button.
On the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, click and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
On the iPhone 6S or Earlier and iPhone SE (1st Gen): Click and hold the Home button and the Side button (or top button) simultaneously.
- Keep holding the buttons until you notice the Recovery Mode screen appears.
- You’ll have the option to Restore or Update. Select Update.
- Your PC or Mac will start downloading the software update for your iPhone. If the process takes longer than 15 minutes, your iPhone will automatically exit Recovery Mode. If this happens, repeat steps 2-4 and try again.
You may need to consult Apple Support for additional assistance if these troubleshooting methods don’t work or resolve your issue.