To restart an iPhone 17, hold Side and either Volume Up or Volume Down together until the power-off slider appears, drag it, wait 30 seconds, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears. This button sequence also applies to iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 17e. The onscreen menu paths below use iOS 27.
The short version
- Regular restart: Hold Side and either Volume Up or Volume Down, drag the power-off slider, wait 30 seconds, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears.
- Frozen phone: Quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then hold Side and release it when the Apple logo appears.
- Onscreen shutdown: Use Settings > General > Shut Down or the power icon in Control Center, then turn the phone back on with Side.
- AssistiveTouch: Its floating menu offers an onscreen restart action.
| Method | When to use it | Main action |
|---|---|---|
| Physical buttons | Routine restart | Hold Side and either Volume Up or Volume Down, shut down, then turn on |
| Force restart | Phone does not respond | Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears |
| Settings | Shutdown through menus | Tap Shut Down under General, then turn on |
| Control Center | Shutdown from a quick control | Touch and hold the power icon, shut down, then turn on |
| AssistiveTouch | Onscreen restart | Select the restart action in its floating menu |
| Alternative AssistiveTouch access | Another way to open the floating menu | Activate AssistiveTouch through Siri or Accessibility Shortcut |
| Apple Configurator | Supervised iPhone connected to a Mac | Choose Actions > Advanced > Restart Device |
| Apple Configurator download | Preparing the Mac for device administration | Get Apple Configurator from the Mac App Store |
| Device management | Supervised iPhone enrolled in management | An administrator sends the restart command |
| Automatic Restart | Background security after prolonged locking | The device restarts automatically, without an immediate restart command |
Restart with the side and volume buttons
Press and hold Side and either Volume Up or Volume Down at the same time until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider, then wait 30 seconds for the iPhone to shut down. Press and hold Side until you see the Apple logo to turn it back on.
Use this sequence for a normal restart when your iPhone responds to your actions. If the phone does not respond and you cannot turn it off and on normally, use the force restart sequence below.
Force restart a frozen iPhone 17
Apple recommends a force restart when your iPhone does not respond and you cannot turn it off and on normally. Press and quickly release Volume Up, then press and quickly release Volume Down. Next, press and hold Side, releasing it when the Apple logo appears.
Keep these actions in order, with each volume press released before the next action. Unlike the normal shutdown sequence, you press the volume buttons separately and then hold Side.
Shut down through Settings
Open Settings > General, scroll down, and tap Shut Down. Drag the power-off slider and let the iPhone turn off. Once it has shut down, hold Side until the Apple logo appears.
This route starts the shutdown through a menu, but you still use Side to turn the phone back on. For an onscreen restart, use the AssistiveTouch restart action described below.
Use the power control in Control Center
Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center. Touch and hold the power icon in the top-right corner, then drag the power-off slider. After the iPhone shuts down, press and hold Side until the Apple logo appears.
The power icon starts a shutdown, so turning the phone back on is a separate step. If the screen does not respond and you cannot complete the shutdown normally, use the force restart sequence.
Set up AssistiveTouch for an onscreen restart
Open Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch, then turn on AssistiveTouch. Open its floating menu and select the restart action.
If your phone responds but its volume buttons are not working, you can use this onscreen restart route and troubleshoot iPhone volume controls. When the phone itself is unresponsive and cannot be turned off and on normally, use the physical force restart sequence.
Restart a supervised iPhone from a Mac
If you administer a supervised iPhone 17, you can restart it with Apple Configurator on a Mac. Get Apple Configurator from the Mac App Store, then connect the supervised iPhone to the Mac and select it in Apple Configurator.
Choose Actions > Advanced > Restart Device. Alternatively, hold Control while clicking the selected device, then choose Advanced > Restart Device. This method applies to supervised devices.
Request a restart through device management
If your iPhone is supervised and enrolled in your organization's device-management service, an administrator can send the Restart a device command through that service. The console labels and confirmations depend on the service your organization uses.
This administrative command is separate from ordinary personal Apple Account or iCloud controls. If you need this route on an organization-managed phone, ask its administrator to send the command.
Understand a restart after prolonged locking
Your iPhone can also restart through Automatic Restart, a security mechanism that acts after the device has remained locked for a prolonged period. Apple's platform security guide describes this only as a prolonged period and gives no exact interval.
Automatic Restart runs in the background, so it is not a way to request an immediate restart. When you need to restart now, use the normal button sequence or an onscreen method, or force restart if the phone is unresponsive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I say to Siri to turn on AssistiveTouch?
Invoke Siri and say Turn on AssistiveTouch. Then open the floating menu and select its restart action. The spoken command turns on AssistiveTouch; you start the restart from its menu.
How do I set up the button shortcut for AssistiveTouch?
Open Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and select AssistiveTouch. Triple-click Side to activate it; if a menu of shortcut features appears, tap AssistiveTouch. Then use the AssistiveTouch restart action.
Can I customize the AssistiveTouch controls?
You can customize its controls with Customize Top Level Menu. AssistiveTouch also supports custom actions for Single-Tap, Double-Tap, and Long Press.
Can an Apple Configurator Blueprint include a restart?
You can add the Restart Device command to a Blueprint in Apple Configurator on your Mac. The command runs when you apply that Blueprint to a supervised device.
Is Automatic Restart enabled by default on supervised devices?
Automatic Restart is off by default on supervised devices. If you administer one, you can enable the behavior with IdleRebootAllowed; this administrative control applies to iOS 18.4 and later.