To fix an iPhone power button that isn’t working, remove any obstructing case or protective film, clean around the button with a soft cloth, and test it again with clean, dry fingers. If the button still fails, use AssistiveTouch to restart or lock a responsive iPhone, then arrange repair if the physical button remains unresponsive. The software paths below use iOS 27 menus unless another version is specified.
The short version
- Check for obstruction: Remove the case or film and clean around the button with a soft cloth.
- Keep using your phone: Enable AssistiveTouch to lock the screen and perform a normal restart without pressing the physical button.
- Handle a black screen: Charge an iPhone that will not turn on for one hour before retrying.
- Know when to get repair: Software controls replace button functions but do not repair a broken switch.
| Fix or workaround | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Remove the case or film | Something could be obstructing the button |
| Clean around the button | You see dirt or debris |
| Clean and dry your fingers | Moisture, lotion, sweat, or oils could interfere |
| Check the power button combination | The button responds but shutdown does not appear |
| Charge the iPhone | A black screen could mean a depleted battery |
| Enable AssistiveTouch | You need onscreen replacements while iOS responds |
| Restart through AssistiveTouch | You need a normal restart without the side button |
| Lock through AssistiveTouch | You need to lock the screen manually |
| Assign an AssistiveTouch gesture | You want direct access to a replacement action |
| Take screenshots through AssistiveTouch | You need another function involving the side button |
| Shut down through Settings | Your side button still responds, so you can turn it back on |
| Force restart | The phone is frozen and the physical buttons still register |
| Enable Raise to Wake | You want to wake the sleeping display by lifting it |
| Use Tap to Wake | You have a supported Face ID iPhone |
| Press Home to wake | You have an iPhone SE with a working Home button |
| Configure Auto-Lock | You want the phone to lock after inactivity |
| Turn off Always On Display | A dimmed Lock Screen looks like a failure to lock |
| Adjust Click Speed | Single presses work but repeated clicks are difficult |
| Adjust the Siri button setting | The working button does not activate Siri |
| Change the Guided Access restriction | A session deliberately disables the button |
| Update iOS | The phone works and a compatible update is available |
| Reset settings | Incorrect or damaged system settings are suspected |
| Restore with a computer | Other software troubleshooting fails and you can back up first |
| Arrange professional repair | The physical button remains unresponsive |
Remove the case and clean around the button
Take off the case and remove any protective film that could obstruct the power button. Test the uncovered button before moving on, since an obstruction can prevent it from operating properly.
Inspect the area around the button for dirt or debris, then clean it with a soft cloth and test again. Clean and dry your fingers too, because Apple identifies moisture, lotion, sweat, and oils as possible interference with buttons and switches.
Check the power controls and battery
On an iOS 27 iPhone with Face ID, hold Side and either Volume Up or Volume Down together until the sliders appear. Drag the Power Off slider to shut down.
On an iOS 27 iPhone with a Home button, hold Side until the slider appears, then drag it. To turn either type back on, hold Side until the Apple logo appears; these steps require the button to register.
Check the battery before treating a black screen as button failure. Charge an iPhone that will not turn on for one hour, then retry. If it shows a low-charge battery, check the charging hardware and charge for 30 minutes or until it starts.
Use AssistiveTouch to restart and lock your iPhone
Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch, then turn on AssistiveTouch. Tap the floating button to open its menu and access software replacements for physical button functions.
To add a restart control, open Customize Top Level Menu in the AssistiveTouch settings, tap an icon, and assign Restart. Open the floating menu, tap Restart, then tap Restart again to confirm.
For everyday locking, tap the floating button and choose Device > Lock Screen. You can also open the AssistiveTouch settings and, under Custom Actions, select Single-Tap, Double-Tap, or Long Press to assign an action such as Lock Screen or Restart.
The same menu can replace other button functions while you wait for repair. To take screenshots without the buttons, return to Customize Top Level Menu, assign Screenshot to an icon, then tap that icon in the floating menu.
Shut down only if your side button still responds, because Apple's way to turn iPhone back on is to press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. To shut down instead of restart, open Settings > General > Shut Down and drag the slider. Choose the AssistiveTouch restart option when your goal is simply to restart, because it performs a normal restart while iOS responds.
Force restart only if the phone is frozen
AssistiveTouch needs responsive software, so it cannot perform a restart while your iPhone is frozen. A force restart still requires the physical side button to register.
On an iOS 27-compatible iPhone, press and quickly release Volume Up, then press and quickly release Volume Down. Hold Side and release it when the Apple logo appears; this sequence also applies to iPhone SE models from the second and third generations.
For more detail on the sequence, follow the steps to force restart your iPhone. If the side button cannot register a press, repeating the combination will not bypass that physical failure, so move to service.
Set up waking and automatic locking
Open Settings > Display & Brightness and turn on Raise to Wake. Lifting your iPhone will wake its sleeping display, but it will not start a powered-off phone.
On supported Face ID iPhones running iOS 27, tap the sleeping screen to wake it. If tapping does not work, check Settings > Accessibility > Touch for Tap to Wake; some configurations use the label Tap or Swipe to Wake.
On an iPhone SE from the second or third generation, press Home with a finger registered with Touch ID to wake and unlock it. Alternatively, press Home and enter your device passcode, provided the Home button works.
To lock without a button press, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and choose a length of time. Stop interacting with the phone and let it lock, although attention-aware behavior can delay locking while it detects that you are looking at the screen.
A dimmed Lock Screen can remain visible after locking on models that support Always-On display. If that is what looks like a failed power button, open Settings > Display & Brightness and turn off Always On Display.
Adjust settings when only one button function fails
When single presses work but double-clicks or triple-clicks are difficult, adjust recognition speed. On a Face ID iPhone running iOS 27, open Settings > Accessibility > Side Button, then under Click Speed, select Slow or Slowest.
On a Face ID iPhone, if holding the button no longer activates Siri, open Settings > Accessibility > Side Button > Press and Hold to Speak and select Siri. This applies when the button works physically but its Siri action is not configured as expected.
A button restriction can also be deliberate during Guided Access. During an iOS 27 session, triple-click Side or Home and authenticate with the configured passcode or biometric method. Open Session Settings, enable Side Button, and tap Done; this requires the accessibility clicks to register.
Update iOS before deeper software troubleshooting
Apple includes updating iOS in its button troubleshooting. Back up your operational iPhone and connect it to power and Wi-Fi. Open Settings > General > Software Update; when a compatible update is offered, tap Download and Install and follow the installation instructions.
Resetting settings is an optional later step when incorrect or damaged system settings are suspected, and Apple describes it as rarely necessary. Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Personal content remains, but accessibility settings, pairings, payment cards, and other preferences reset.
After other software troubleshooting fails, you can restore your iPhone using a computer if the phone is accessible to that computer. This erases information and settings and reinstalls iOS, so back up first. Open Settings, select your name, open Find My, then turn off Find My iPhone.
Connect the iPhone to your computer, open Finder or Apple Devices, and select the iPhone. Click Trust if requested, then tap Trust on your iPhone and enter its passcode.
Click Restore iPhone and, if offered, click Back Up. Click Restore, review the terms, then click Agree.
Arrange repair for a button that still fails
If removing obstructions, cleaning, and applicable software checks leave the physical button unresponsive, arrange professional service. AssistiveTouch can replace useful functions while the phone responds, but it does not repair the switch.
Open Apple’s iPhone repair page, select Get started, and describe the button problem. Apple offers in-person service at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider and mail-in service, with available options determined by your location, parts, coverage, and inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Siri turn on AssistiveTouch without the side button?
Yes, on iOS 27, activate Siri by voice and say Turn on AssistiveTouch. Siri must already be enabled and available in your device’s language and region, and Apple says internet access is required.
Can Back Tap replace some power button functions?
Yes, on a compatible iPhone, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, select Double Tap or Triple Tap, and assign an action such as Screenshot or AssistiveTouch. Double-tap or triple-tap the back of your iPhone to perform the assigned action. Apple specifies iPhone 8 or later with iOS 14 or later for Back Tap.
Can AssistiveTouch replace the double-click for purchases?
On Face ID iPhones running iOS 27, open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and enable Confirm with AssistiveTouch. Initial setup can require physical-button authorization, so successful enrollment is not guaranteed after complete button failure.
Can you shut down through Control Center?
Yes, on iOS 18, iOS 26, and iOS 27, but only do it if your side button still responds, because Apple's way to turn iPhone back on is to press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner on Face ID models or up from the bottom on Home-button models, then touch and hold the power icon at the top right until you feel a vibration. Drag the power-off slider.
Can Voice Control lock the screen without pressing anything?
Yes, on iOS 13 or later, subject to language and regional availability. Open Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control > Set up Voice Control and complete the initial download. Then say Lock screen.