How to Hard Reset an iPhone – Have you ever encountered a situation where your iPhone is frozen, unresponsive, or stuck in a loop? If so, you might need to perform a hard reset, also known as a force restart, to fix the problem.
A hard reset is a simple and quick way to reboot your iPhone when it is not working properly. It does not erase any data or settings, unlike a factory reset, which restores your iPhone to its original state.
In this article, we will show you how to hard reset an iPhone, depending on the model you have. We will also explain the difference between a hard reset and a factory reset, and when you should use each one. By the end of this article, you will know how to troubleshoot your iPhone issues with ease and confidence.
What is a Hard Reset and When Should You Use It?
A hard reset is a way of restarting your iPhone by pressing a combination of buttons. It is similar to turning off and on your computer or unplugging and plugging in your router. A hard reset can help you fix common iPhone problems, such as:
- A frozen or unresponsive screen
- A black or blank screen
- An app that is not working or crashing
- A slow or lagging performance
- An update that is stuck or failed
- A battery that is draining fast or not charging
A hard reset does not delete any data or settings from your iPhone, so you don’t need to worry about losing anything important. However, you should always back up your iPhone regularly, just in case something goes wrong. You can use iCloud or iTunes to back up your iPhone easily and securely.
A hard reset is different from a factory reset, which is also known as a restore or erase. A factory reset wipes out all the data and settings from your iPhone and returns it to its original state.
A factory reset is usually the last resort when you have a serious problem with your iPhone, such as a virus, a software glitch, or a hardware damage. A factory reset can also help you sell or give away your iPhone, as it removes all your personal information and accounts.
You should only use a factory reset when you have tried all other solutions and nothing works, or when you want to start fresh with your iPhone. A factory reset will erase everything from your iPhone, including your photos, videos, messages, contacts, apps, and more.
Therefore, you should always back up your iPhone before doing a factory reset, and make sure you have your Apple ID and password ready to set up your iPhone again.
How to Hard Reset an iPhone 8 and Later
If you have an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max, you can follow these steps to hard reset your iPhone:
- Press and quickly release the volume up button on the left side of your iPhone.
- Press and quickly release the volume down button on the left side of your iPhone.
- Press and hold the side button on the right side of your iPhone until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- Release the side button and wait for your iPhone to restart.
This method works for all iPhone models that have Face ID and no Home button. You should see the Apple logo on the screen after about 10 seconds of holding the side button. If you see the slide to power off option, you have pressed the side button too soon or too late. Try again and make sure you press and release the volume buttons quickly, and then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
How to Hard Reset an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus
If you have an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, you can follow these steps to hard reset your iPhone:
- Press and hold the volume down button and the power button on the right side of your iPhone at the same time.
- Keep holding both buttons until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- Release the buttons and wait for your iPhone to restart.
This method works for all iPhone models that have a solid-state Home button, which is not a physical button but a touch-sensitive area. You should see the Apple logo on the screen after about 10 seconds of holding the buttons. If you see the slide to power off option, you have pressed the buttons too soon or too late. Try again and make sure you press and hold the volume down button and the power button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
How to Hard Reset an iPhone 6, 6s, 6s Plus, or SE (1st Generation)
If you have an iPhone 6, 6s, 6s Plus, or SE (1st Generation), you can follow these steps to hard reset your iPhone:
- Press and hold the Home button and the power button on the right side of your iPhone at the same time.
- Keep holding both buttons until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
- Release the buttons and wait for your iPhone to restart.
This method works for all iPhone models that have a physical Home button, which is a round button below the screen. You should see the Apple logo on the screen after about 10 seconds of holding the buttons. If you see the slide to power off option, you have pressed the buttons too soon or too late. Try again and make sure you press and hold the Home button and the power button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
How to Factory Reset an iPhone
If you want to factory reset your iPhone, you can follow these steps:
- Back up your iPhone using iCloud or iTunes, or transfer your data to another device.
- Go to Settings > General > Reset on your iPhone.
- Tap on Erase All Content and Settings.
- Enter your passcode, Apple ID, and password if prompted.
- Confirm your choice and wait for your iPhone to erase everything.
- Set up your iPhone as new or restore from a backup.
This method works for all iPhone models, but it will erase everything from your iPhone, including your photos, videos, messages, contacts, apps, and more. You should only use this method when you have a serious problem with your iPhone, or when you want to sell or give away your iPhone. Make sure you have a backup of your data before doing a factory reset, and have your Apple ID and password ready to set up your iPhone again.
How to Factory Reset an iPhone, A Comprehensive Guide for All Models
Conclusion
Hard resetting an iPhone is a simple and quick way to fix common iPhone problems, such as a frozen or unresponsive screen, an app that is not working or crashing, a slow or lagging performance, an update that is stuck or failed, or a battery that is draining fast or not charging.
It does not erase any data or settings from your iPhone, so you don’t need to worry about losing anything important. However, you should always back up your iPhone regularly, just in case something goes wrong.
Factory resetting an iPhone is a more drastic way to fix serious iPhone problems, such as a virus, a software glitch, or a hardware damage.
It wipes out all the data and settings from your iPhone and returns it to its original state. It can also help you sell or give away your iPhone, as it removes all your personal information and accounts.
You should only use this method when you have tried all other solutions and nothing works, or when you want to start fresh with your iPhone. Make sure you have a backup of your data before doing a factory reset, and have your Apple ID and password ready to set up your iPhone again.
In this article, we have shown you how to hard reset and factory reset an iPhone, depending on the model you have. We have also explained the difference between a hard reset and a factory reset, and when you should use each one.
We hope you have found this article helpful and informative, and that you have learned how to troubleshoot your iPhone issues with ease and confidence.
If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you and help you out. Thank you for reading and have a great day!