The basic steps to shut down your iPhone
To turn off your iPhone, press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time. Keep holding both buttons until the power-off slider appears on your screen — this usually takes about three seconds. Then drag the slider labeled "slide to power off" from left to right. Your phone will shut down completely within a few seconds.
The exact button location depends on your model. On iPhone X and newer, use the side button plus either volume button. On iPhone 8 and earlier, hold the top (or side) button until the slider appears. The process is the same regardless of which volume button you use.
Once your iPhone is off, the screen goes black and no apps are running. Your phone will not receive calls, texts, or notifications until you turn it back on by pressing the side button and holding it until the Apple logo appears.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold the side button plus any volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to the right to shut down your phone completely.
- A powered-off iPhone stops all background activity, which is useful before traveling, during meetings, or when you want to prevent location tracking.
- If your buttons are broken or unresponsive, you can turn off your iPhone through Settings > General > Shut Down instead.
- Restarting your phone (turning it off and back on) fixes many common problems like frozen apps or slow performance.
When to power off your iPhone instead of just locking it
Locking your iPhone with Face ID or a passcode keeps people from using it, but the phone stays on and apps continue running in the background. Powering off completely stops everything — location services, cellular connections, and background app activity all stop when ready.
Power off your iPhone when you want to prevent location tracking, before flying (as required by airlines), during long periods without charging, or if you suspect someone is trying to access your phone remotely. Turning it off is also the first troubleshooting step for problems like apps crashing repeatedly or your phone running very slowly.
If you are concerned about data security, powering off is stronger than locking. A locked phone can still be forced to unlock with enough time and technical skill. A powered-off phone with a strong passcode is much harder to access without your cooperation.
Turning off your iPhone when buttons do not work
If your side button or volume buttons are broken or stuck, go to Settings > General > Shut Down. Scroll down and tap "Shut Down," then confirm by dragging the slider. This method works exactly like the button method — your phone powers off completely.
If Settings is not responding either, try force restarting instead. On iPhone X and newer, quickly press and release the volume up button, quickly press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This forces a restart rather than a clean shutdown, but it clears the problem and gets your phone working again.
The difference between powering off, restarting, and force restarting
Powering off means your iPhone shuts down completely and stays off until you press the side button again. Restarting means your phone shuts down and when ready turns back on automatically. Force restarting means your phone restarts without waiting for you to confirm — it is used when your phone is frozen and not responding to normal commands.
To restart normally, power off using the slider, wait a few seconds, then press the side button to turn it back on. To force restart, follow the button sequence for your model without releasing the button when the power-off slider appears — keep holding until the Apple logo shows up.
Use a normal restart when your phone is slow or an app is misbehaving. Use a force restart only when your phone is completely frozen and will not respond to touches or button presses. Powering off is the right choice when you want your phone to stay off for a period of time.
What happens to your data when you power off
Powering off your iPhone does not delete anything. All your photos, messages, contacts, and apps remain on your phone exactly as they were. When you turn it back on, everything is still there and your phone works normally.
Powering off is safe to do anytime. It does not interrupt downloads, corrupt files, or cause data loss. The only thing that stops is active processes — if you were in the middle of uploading a photo to iCloud, that upload pauses and resumes when you turn the phone back on.
Powering off before traveling or in airplane mode situations
Airlines require phones to be in airplane mode or powered off during flights. Powering off completely is the safest choice if you will not need your phone during the flight. If you might want to use it for reading or music (which does not require cellular service), airplane mode is faster — swipe down from the top right corner and tap the airplane icon.
Airplane mode stops all wireless connections but keeps your phone on and usable. Powering off stops everything. Both are acceptable for flights; choose based on whether you want to use your phone during the flight.
Before international travel, powering off your phone also prevents unexpected roaming charges if your carrier tries to connect to foreign networks. When you land and turn it back on, you can control when and how you connect to local networks.
Troubleshooting if your iPhone will not power off
If the power-off slider does not appear when you hold the buttons, your phone may be frozen. Try force restarting instead using the button sequence for your model. If that does not work, plug your phone into power and try again — sometimes a very low battery prevents normal shutdown.
If your phone is completely unresponsive and will not restart, connect it to a computer with iTunes or Finder and restore it. This erases your phone and reinstalls the operating system, which fixes most software problems. You can restore from a backup afterward to get your data back.
If your phone still will not respond after a force restart and restore, the hardware may be damaged. Contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store to have it checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does powering off my iPhone delete my photos or messages?
No. Powering off does not delete anything on your phone. All your data stays exactly where it is. When you turn your phone back on, everything is still there.
Can I power off my iPhone if it is updating?
You should not power off during a software update. If an update is in progress, let it finish. If your phone is frozen during an update, force restart it instead — this is safe and will not delete your data.
How long can I leave my iPhone powered off?
You can leave it off indefinitely. There is no time limit. Your data will not be affected whether your phone is off for an hour or a month. When you turn it back on, it works normally.
Will powering off my iPhone stop location tracking?
Yes. A powered-off iPhone cannot be tracked by location services, Find My, or cellular networks. This is one reason to power off if you are concerned about your location being monitored.
What is the difference between powering off and putting my iPhone in airplane mode?
Airplane mode keeps your phone on but stops all wireless connections. Powering off turns your phone completely off. Airplane mode is faster if you might want to use your phone; powering off is more find and uses no battery.