If your iPhone XS won’t turn on, you may be wondering how to force restart it. This is an easy fix that should not delete any data.
First, plug your iPhone XS into a computer with its original Lightning cable to USB port. Then, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on your screen.
Press and hold the Side button
The new iPhone X and later models have a few different ways to turn on and shut down your phone. While some people prefer to use gestures (like swiping down on the home screen or using a finger to wake Siri), others are more comfortable with long-familiar methods, like pressing and holding the volume buttons or side button.
With the X, Apple replaced the standard home button with a side button that’s similar in shape and size to the old home button. The button is designed to make unlocking the iPhone more convenient by letting you scan your fingerprint instead of looking at the lock screen. It also lets you quickly access the Camera, Flashlight, and Calculator apps.
It’s also a handy way to force-restart your iPhone if it becomes stuck or frozen. You can try the official shutdown options, but if you can’t shut down your device or get it to restart, then there’s probably something wrong with your phone.
If your iPhone X is stuck or frozen and won’t respond to any button presses, then the culprit is probably a broken Side button or some other problem. If you’re not sure, you can try a tool called iOS System Recovery, which will reset your iPhone and restore its software.
Alternatively, you can press and hold the Side button and either one of the Volume Up or Down buttons together. You can do this to take a screenshot or enter recovery mode in iTunes.
There are many other things you can do with the Side button on an iPhone xs, too. For example, you can close an app, force-kill it, or open an Apple Pay / Wallet app by double-clicking the Side button.
You can also triple-press the Side button to activate Magnifier, Guided Access, AssistiveTouch, and/or another Accessibility shortcut. You can set these up in Settings – General – Accessibility.
You can also triple-press the Side button on an iPhone xs to start a countdown for Emergency SOS, if you have this feature enabled. For more details, see our guide to Emergency SOS.
Press and hold the Volume Up button
If your iPhone xs won’t turn on, you can try pressing and holding the Volume Up button to force it to restart. This works on all iPhone models and will fix the problem quickly.
If you’re experiencing this issue on your device, it can be caused by a number of factors, including dirt and debris around the buttons. You can clean your phone by swabbing the button area with cotton swabs. If cleaning doesn’t work, it could be a hardware or software issue that needs to be repaired.
Alternatively, you can reset your phone to factory settings. This will erase all content on your device and reset it to the way it was when you first purchased it. However, it will also remove any identifying information, so make sure to backup all your data before you begin this process.
One of the most common causes of iPhone volume buttons not working is a recent firmware update. Performing an iOS update can fix many bugs and optimize some functions. To update your device, go to Settings > General > Software Update and click Install Now.
Another reason why iPhone volume buttons may not work is if you’re trying to capture a photo or video. There are several options you can use to do this on your device, including long-pressing the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons.
You can also use the Side button to take burst photos and quick-take videos on your iPhone Xs. This is a great option for those who want to take quick snapshots or videos without having to open the camera app.
The iPhone Xs has three physical hardware buttons: the Side button, the Volume Up button, and the Volume Down button. These buttons are used for a variety of functions and are a key part of the iPhone’s design.
If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo, or doesn’t respond after a power cycle or restart, you can force it to reboot by pressing and holding the Volume Up, Side, and Home buttons together. You can also press and hold the Sleep/wake button and the Volume Up and Side buttons until you see the Apple logo appear.
Press and hold the Volume Down button
If you have an iPhone xs or a newer device with no Home button, the volume buttons can be used to control a lot of different functions. You can use them to adjust the volume of your media, ringers, alerts, Siri, and other sounds and voices. You can also set shortcuts to perform specific actions based on what you press.
There are two types of shortcuts: One that works when you press a single button and another that uses multiple buttons. The first type is easy to set up and works on most devices. It gets your iPhone’s current volume, converts it to a number, and then shows you a notification that tells you what pressing a button will do.
The second type is more complicated and requires technical skills to set up. It uses a series of buttons to get your iPhone’s current volume and then compares it with the previous number that was recorded by the shortcut. If your iPhone’s volume is below that number, it executes Action A, and if it’s above that number, it executes Action B.
You can use the same trick to adjust the ringer volume, though you’ll have to set it up through the Settings app. The switch that controls this is called “Change with Buttons.”
If you have this setting turned on, you can press a single button to increase the volume of your media, ringers, and alerts or a two-button press to decrease the volume of those same things. You can also use this feature to turn on or off the mute toggle switch on your iPhone.
In addition, you can change the default gesture to take a burst of photos or videos by long-pressing one of the volume buttons on your iPhone. That’s a nice alternative to using the screen to take photos, especially when you’re on the go.
If your iPhone xs’s volume buttons stop working, you may have a hardware problem that requires professional help to fix. It’s best to try the quick fixes listed above first, but if none of them work, it’s time to call Apple or visit an Apple Store for assistance.
Press and hold the Side button again
If your iPhone xs is having trouble responding to any of its buttons, it may be time for a hard restart. A restart doesn’t delete your data or settings; it simply reloads the operating system onto the device and resets everything.
You can easily do a soft restart, but there are cases when it’s better to try a force restart. A force restart won’t solve every issue, but it’s a lot quicker and easier than trying to fix the problem yourself.
To restart your iPhone xs using a physical button, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo (ignore the slide to power off slider that appears). After a few seconds, release the button.
Alternatively, you can also try to restart your phone by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button and Home button at the same time. This works on older iPhone models, too, so it’s a great option for those with old hardware.
Another way to restart an iPhone XS is to use Assistive Touch, which lets you access the power button via a virtual shortcut on your screen. To turn it on, open the Settings app and tap Accessibility -> Touch -> AssistiveTouch.
When Assistive Touch is on, you can use the side button to turn off your iPhone and use Siri or Emergency SOS without a physical button. Then, to turn it back on, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo appear.
If your side button isn’t working, it could be due to a software glitch or physical damage. If the button is physically damaged, you’ll need to take your device to an Apple store for repair.
In any case, a basic restart usually resolves most issues. If your iPhone xs is unresponsive and can’t be turned on at all, you may need to do a hard restart.
If you have an iPhone Xs or XS Max with a screen that’s black and nothing displays on it, it’s possible that the display is defective. If that’s the case, you can replace it for a cheap price.