iPhone 13's: Screen is Frozen, Unresponsive or Can't Restart? Easy Fix!, by WorldofTech on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 2 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Plug the phone into a charger and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. A flat battery can make the screen look frozen and unresponsive.
Press the volume up button on the left side of the phone and let go straight away. Do not hold it down.
Press the volume down button just below it and release it quickly. Again, a short press only.
Press and hold the side button on the right edge. Keep your finger there when the screen turns black.
Wait for the Apple logo, then release the side button. The whole sequence usually takes 10 to 20 seconds.
Let the phone finish starting up. Your photos, apps and settings stay as they were, because a force restart erases nothing.
If the screen is still frozen, run the three button presses again, a little more firmly and with a clear pause between each one.
Still stuck? Connect the phone to a computer with a cable and open Finder on a Mac or iTunes on Windows. Choose Update first, not Restore, so your data stays.
Tips and common mistakes
Take the case off before you start, since a thick case can stop the side button being pressed fully.
Use a cable you know works, and never plug in a phone that has been in water.
A force restart clears the freeze but not the cause, so update iOS and back up regularly if it keeps happening.
If the buttons feel stuck or the screen stays black after two tries, book a repair at an Apple Store or an authorised service centre.
Questions
Will a force restart delete my data?
No. It works like switching the phone off and on, so your apps, photos and settings stay in place.
How do I know the button sequence worked?
The screen goes black, then the Apple logo appears. If you see the slide to power off bar instead, you held the side button too long.
What is the difference between a force restart and a factory reset?
A force restart just reboots the phone. A factory reset wipes everything, so only use that after you have made a backup.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
