A frozen phone can be incredibly frustrating. Whether it stops responding to touch, gets stuck on a black screen, or refuses to turn off, a hard reset—also known as a force restart—can usually get things back to normal. Unlike a factory reset, which wipes your data, a hard reset simply forces the phone to power down and reboot.
The method for doing this depends on the phone brand and model. Over the years, manufacturers have changed the button combinations required for force restarts, so it’s important to know the correct method for your device. Here’s a guide to help you restart some of the most popular smartphones, including the latest iPhones, Samsungs, Google Pixels, and more.
iPhone Hard Reset Methods
Apple has changed how to force restart iPhones depending on the model, so the method varies based on the year your device was released.
iPhone 8 and Later (X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Series)
If you have an iPhone 8 or later, use this method:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side (Power) button until the Apple logo appears.
This applies to:
- iPhone 8, 8 Plus
- iPhone X, XR, XS, XS Max
- iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
The iPhone 7 models use a different button combination:
- Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time.
- Keep holding until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, SE (1st Gen) and Older Models
For older iPhones with a Home button, follow this method:
- Press and hold the Home and Power buttons together.
- Keep holding until the Apple logo appears.
Samsung Galaxy Hard Reset Methods
Samsung uses different button combinations depending on the model. The method has changed over time, especially as they moved away from physical home buttons.
Samsung Galaxy S8 and Newer (S9, S10, S20, S21, S22, S23, Z Series)
For most modern Samsung Galaxy devices, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Volume Down and Power buttons together.
- Keep holding until the phone vibrates and restarts.
This method works for:
- Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+
- Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+
- Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e, S10+
- Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Z Fold, Z Flip3, Z Fold3, Z Flip4, Z Fold4, Z Flip5, Z Fold5
Samsung Galaxy S7 and Older Models
For older Samsung models with a physical home button, use this method:
- Press and hold the Power and Home buttons together.
- Keep holding until the Samsung logo appears.
Google Pixel Hard Reset Methods
Google keeps the force restart method consistent across its Pixel lineup.
For Google Pixel 2 and later (Pixel 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Series):
- Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons together.
- Keep holding until you see the Google logo.
This works for all Pixel models, including the latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Other Android Brands (OnePlus, Motorola, LG, etc.)
Many other Android manufacturers use similar hard reset techniques. If you own a phone from a brand not listed above, one of these methods will likely work.
- OnePlus Phones: Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons together until the phone vibrates and reboots.
- Motorola Phones: Press and hold the Power button for 10-20 seconds until the phone restarts.
- LG Phones (older models): Press and hold Power and Volume Down together until the phone turns off and restarts.
If none of these methods work on your device, check the manufacturer’s support page for specific instructions.
When Should You Use a Hard Reset?
A hard reset is useful in many situations, especially when the phone is unresponsive. Some of the most common reasons to use this method include:
- The screen is frozen and does not respond to touch.
- The phone is stuck on a black screen and won’t turn on.
- Apps are crashing repeatedly, and the phone is slow to respond.
- The device is caught in a boot loop and keeps restarting.
- The phone will not turn off or restart using normal methods.
However, a force restart is not always the best solution. There are times when it may not be enough to fix the problem or could make things worse if the device is experiencing hardware issues.
When Not to Use a Hard Reset
There are certain situations where a hard reset won’t help or may even make things worse. If your phone is experiencing one of these issues, a different approach may be needed.
- Battery is critically low: If the phone is near 0% battery, plug it in and wait a few minutes before trying to restart it.
- Overheating: If the phone is extremely hot, let it cool down before performing a hard reset. Overheating can cause further damage if the phone is forced to restart.
- Physical damage: If the phone was dropped or exposed to water before becoming unresponsive, restarting may not help. Internal damage may require professional repair.
- Frequent freezing: If you need to force restart your phone regularly, there could be a deeper issue with the software or hardware. A factory reset or repair may be necessary.
What to Do If a Hard Reset Doesn't Work
If your phone remains unresponsive even after attempting a force restart, there are a few additional steps you can take.
- Charge the phone – A drained battery can sometimes make a device appear frozen. Try charging the phone for at least 15 minutes and attempt the restart again.
- Try a different button combination – Some phones have alternate methods for entering recovery mode, which can be useful if the standard hard reset does not work.
- Check for software updates – If the phone eventually turns on, check for available updates. Outdated software can sometimes cause freezing issues.
- Perform a factory reset – If the phone continues to freeze or crash, backing up your data and performing a factory reset may be necessary to restore the device to its original state.
- Seek professional help – If none of the above solutions work, it may be time to visit a repair center or contact the phone’s manufacturer for assistance.
A frozen phone can be a headache, but knowing how to force restart your device can save time and frustration. Every phone model has a slightly different method, so it’s always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the process before you actually need it.