Press and hold the side button and volume button together
To turn off your iPhone manually, press and hold the side button (also called the power button) and one of the volume buttons at the same time. Hold both buttons until the power-off slider appears on your screen — this usually takes about three seconds. You will see a slider that says "slide to power off" at the top of the screen.
Once the slider appears, release the buttons and drag the slider from left to right. Your iPhone will shut down completely. The screen will go black, and your device will turn off.
The side button location depends on your iPhone model. On iPhone X and newer models, it is on the right side of the device. On older iPhones with a home button, the power button is on the right side near the top. The volume button can be either the up or down button — either one works.
Key Takeaways
- Press and hold the side button and any volume button together until the power-off slider appears on your screen.
- Drag the slider from left to right to complete the shutdown — do not just release the buttons.
- Your iPhone will take a few seconds to power down completely after you slide the control.
- If you need to turn your iPhone back on, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
- Manually powering off your device can help clear temporary data and reset connections without losing your saved information.
What happens when you turn off your iPhone
When you manually turn off your iPhone, all running apps close and your device stops communicating with networks. Your phone will not receive calls, texts, or notifications while it is off. Location services stop working, and any apps that track your activity in the background will pause.
Turning off your iPhone does not delete any of your photos, contacts, messages, or other stored data. Everything you saved remains on your device. The shutdown straightforward stops all active processes and network connections until you turn the phone back on.
If you have an iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID, you will need to enter your passcode when you turn the device back on — biometric unlocking will not work until after the first unlock following a restart.
When to manually turn off your iPhone instead of using sleep mode
Sleep mode (pressing the side button once) dims your screen and pauses notifications, but your iPhone stays connected to networks and keeps running background processes. Manually turning off your device is stronger — it stops everything. Use a full shutdown when you want to disconnect completely, such as before traveling through areas where you do not want to be tracked, or when you need to reset a stuck connection.
A full shutdown also uses less battery than sleep mode over long periods, since no processes are running at all. If your iPhone is running slowly or an app is frozen, turning it off and back on often fixes the problem better than sleep mode does.
For daily use, sleep mode is usually enough. Reserve full shutdowns for troubleshooting, security concerns, or when you will not need your phone for several hours.
How to turn your iPhone back on
Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen. Keep holding the button — do not release it when the logo first shows up. The phone will continue starting up, and you will eventually see the lock screen. This process usually takes 10 to 20 seconds from the moment you press the button.
Once the lock screen appears, you can release the side button. Your iPhone will finish loading, and you can unlock it using Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode depending on your device model and settings.
Troubleshooting if the power-off slider does not appear
If you hold the side button and volume button but the slider does not show up, your iPhone may be frozen or unresponsive. Try holding the buttons for a full 10 seconds instead of three. Some devices take longer to respond if they are processing a heavy task.
If the slider still does not appear after 10 seconds, try a force restart instead. For iPhone X and newer, quickly press the volume up button, then quickly press the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. For older iPhones with a home button, press and hold both the top button and the home button together until the Apple logo appears. A force restart will shut down your phone even if it is not responding to normal controls.
Difference between turning off and force restart
A normal shutdown (using the power-off slider) gives your iPhone time to close apps and save data properly before powering down. A force restart skips that process and shuts down when ready. Both result in your phone being off, but a force restart is more abrupt.
Use the normal shutdown method whenever possible, since it is gentler on your device. Use force restart only when your iPhone is frozen or not responding to the normal power-off controls. Force restart does not delete your data — it straightforward forces the device to shut down without the usual closing sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off my iPhone delete my data?
No. Turning off your iPhone does not delete photos, messages, contacts, apps, or any other data stored on your device. Everything remains exactly as it was. The shutdown only stops active processes and network connections.
How long does it take to turn off an iPhone?
The power-off slider appears after about three seconds of holding the buttons. Once you drag the slider, the actual shutdown takes another 5 to 10 seconds. Your screen will go black when the device is fully off.
Can I turn off my iPhone if it is locked?
Yes. You can press and hold the side button and volume button to bring up the power-off slider even if your iPhone is locked. You do not need to unlock it first.
What is the difference between turning off my iPhone and restarting it?
Turning off means powering down completely — your phone stays off until you manually turn it back on. Restarting (or rebooting) means turning off and then when ready turning back on. Both clear temporary data and reset connections, but restarting gets your phone running again automatically.
Does turning off my iPhone stop location tracking?
Yes. When your iPhone is off, it cannot be located by Find My, location services, or any other tracking method. Your device will not communicate with networks or transmit location data while powered down.