How do I hard reset (force restart) an iPhone 6s or earlier? My iPhone 6s (or an older model like the 6, SE, 5s, etc.) is completely unresponsive — the screen is frozen, touch doesn’t work, apps keep crashing, or it’s stuck on a black screen or boot loop — and I want clear, model-specific, step‑by‑step instructions for performing a hard reset (which buttons to press and for how long) on 6s and earlier devices that have a physical Home button. Will a hard reset erase any of my data or settings, and how is it different from a factory reset, Recovery Mode, or a DFU restore? Are there any precautions I should take before attempting it (battery level, removing the case, using certain cables), any differences if the phone won’t turn on at all versus being frozen, and what signs indicate the reset was successful or that I need to proceed to Recovery/DFU or seek service?What “hard reset” means
– For iPhone 6s and earlier, a “hard reset” (also called a force restart) forces the device to restart if it’s frozen, unresponsive, or stuck on a screen. It does NOT erase your data. This is different from a factory reset (which erases everything) or DFU/Recovery restores (which can erase).
Force‑restart (hard reset) — iPhone 6s and earlier (including iPhone SE 1st gen)
1. Press and hold both the Home button (front circular button) and the Sleep/Wake (Power) button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both buttons. Ignore any “slide to power off” screen if it appears.
3. Continue holding until the Apple logo appears (usually ~10 seconds). When the logo appears, release both buttons.
4. Wait for the phone to boot up.
If the phone boots normally, the force restart worked.
If a force restart doesn’t fix the problem
– Charge the iPhone for at least 15–30 minutes and try the force restart again.
– Try connecting to a computer with iTunes (or Finder on macOS 10.15+) to see if the computer recognizes the device. If iTunes/Finder recognizes it, you can attempt updates or restores from there.
Recovery Mode (if you need to update or restore and device won’t boot)
1. Make sure you have the latest iTunes or use Finder on macOS Catalina+.
2. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a Lightning cable.
3. With the device connected, force-restart it: hold Home + Sleep/Wake. Keep holding even after the Apple logo.
4. Release both buttons when you see the recovery mode screen (image of cable and computer or iTunes icon).
5. On the computer, you’ll be prompted to Update or Restore. Try Update first (it reinstalls iOS without erasing data). If Update fails, you can choose Restore (this erases the device).
DFU Mode (Device Firmware Update) — advanced, used if Recovery Mode won’t work
Warning: DFU restore typically erases the device. Back up first if possible.
1. Connect the iPhone to a computer and open iTunes/Finder.
2. Turn the iPhone off.
3. Hold the Sleep/Wake (Power) button for 3 seconds.
4. While still holding Power, press and hold the Home button. Hold both for 10 seconds.
– If the Apple logo appears, you held too long; start over.
5. Release the Power button but keep holding the Home button for about 5 more seconds.
6. If the screen stays black and iTunes/Finder says it has detected an iPhone in recovery mode, the device is in DFU mode. You can now restore iOS from the computer.
Important notes and tips
– Force restart does not delete content. Restores/DFU will erase the device unless you restore from a backup.
– If buttons are physically damaged (unresponsive Home or Power), force restart won’t work; seek service.
– If the iPhone repeatedly becomes unresponsive, update iOS, free up storage, check for problematic apps, or contact Apple Support/visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider.
– If the phone won’t enter Recovery/DFU mode or the computer doesn’t detect it, try a different cable, USB port, or another computer.
