Help! Your iPhone freezes, now what? While you may get a little nervous, you can probably fix the problem quite easily. Here are four tips to get a stuck iPhone working again.
iPhone freezes: 4 solutions
It happens to every iPhone user from time to time: your iPhone freezes. The device no longer responds to anything, the screen ‘hangs’ or you can’t get rid of the well-known Apple logo.
This is of course annoying, but usually there is not much to worry about. After all, an iPhone is a computer and those devices sometimes crash. It is therefore part of the problem that your iPhone occasionally does not respond.
However, it is important to know what to do best. That is why we have listed some solutions for you below. Tap one of the links below to go directly to the tip for your situation.
1. Crashing iPhone app? You must do this
When a particular app crashes, the solution is simple: close it. You do that on iPhones without a home button, from the iPhone X that came out in 2017, by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. You will now see all your recently opened applications. Swipe up the stuck road.
On an iPhone with a Home button, such as the 2020 iPhone SE and 2017 iPhone 8, press this button twice to open the list of recent apps. Then wipe the affected app away.
Does the annoying app cause your device to crash continuously? Then you’d better remove it. You do this by pressing and holding the app icon until all applications start to wobble. Then tap the cross to delete the denied app from your iPhone.
2. Restart: Fresh start for your iPhone
Is the screen of your iPhone completely black or frozen? Then it is best to restart the device. You will not lose any personal apps or data, but you will give your smartphone the chance to recover. How to reboot your iPhone depends on the model:
iPhone X (2017) and newer models:
- Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time;
- Wait until you see the sliders on the screen;
- Then drag the top slider from left to right;
- Wait for the iPhone to turn off and turn it back on by pressing and holding the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
The above instructions therefore apply to the iPhone 12 (including mini, Pro and Pro Max), iPhone 11 (including Pro and Pro Max), iPhone XR, iPhone XS (including Max) and iPhone X.
Reset iPhone 8 (Plus) and older
- Keep the lock button pressed until you see the option to switch off the device;
- You slide the icon from left to right;
- If the iPhone is off, turn it on again by pressing the same button for a few seconds until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
These instructions apply to the iPhone 8, 7, 6 and second generation iPhone SE (from 2020).
3. iPhone freezes completely: this is how a hard reset works
Unable to reboot your phone? Then a hard reset may offer a solution. Don’t worry, no personal data will be lost. A hard reset ensures that your device shuts down and starts up again. You arrange a hard reset by pressing certain buttons.
iPhone 8 (2017) and newer models:
- Press and release the volume up button;
- Soon after, press and release the volume down button;
- Then press and hold the side button and don’t release it until the Apple logo appears.
Do you see the Apple logo on the screen? Then release the buttons and wait for the reset to complete. It may take a while for your device to restart completely. Can’t quite figure it out? Then watch the instruction video below:
You use these steps when you have an iPhone 12 (including mini, Pro and Pro Max), iPhone 11 (including Pro and Pro Max), iPhone XR, iPhone XS (including Max), iPhone X, iPhone 8 (Plus) or iPhone SE have (from 2020).
Reset iPhone 7:
Do you have an iPhone 7 (Plus)? Then press and hold the volume down button and the power button at the same time. The iPhone will shut down and restart on its own. This takes about twenty seconds.
Would you like to see how it works first? Then watch the video below. Here we explain in detail how to ‘normal’ and ‘hard’ reset an iPhone.
Last resort: to Apple
Is your device not responding to anything at all? Then it is best to call in professional help. Take your iPhone to the Apple Store, or the store where you bought the device. Hopefully they can help you with the device. Maybe there is more to it than you can solve yourself.
More Helpful iPhone Tips:
-
4 tips to get a stuck iPhone working again
-
Bluetooth problems on your Mac: 4 practical solutions in a row