Turning off your iPhone 17 is a simple process once you know which buttons to press. You cannot just press a single button like on older phones. Instead you must press and hold the side button and either volume button at the same time. Keep holding them until a slider appears on the screen. Then you just drag that slider to the right to shut the device down completely.
Tutorial – Powering Down an iPhone 17
This guide will help you navigate the physical buttons on your device to safely turn it off. Following these specific steps ensures that you do not accidentally take a screenshot or activate Siri. It also helps you avoid forcing a restart which is a different process entirely.
Step 1: Locate the side button and the volume buttons.
Before you press anything you need to find the correct buttons on the outer edge of your device. The side button is located on the right side of the phone when you look at the screen.
The volume buttons are located on the opposite side on the left edge. You can use either the volume up or the volume down button for this process. It does not matter which one you choose.
Step 2: Press and hold the side button and one volume button simultaneously.
Squeeze the side button and your chosen volume button at the exact same time. Think of it like pinching the phone from both sides.
You must hold them down steadily. If you just click them quickly and let go you will take a screenshot instead.
Step 3: Wait for the power-off slider to appear.
Keep holding the buttons for a couple of seconds until the screen changes. The background will blur and a menu will pop up.
You will see a slider at the top of the screen that says slide to power off. Once you see this you can let go of the buttons.
Step 4: Drag the slider to the right.
Place your finger on the power icon located on the left side of the slider. Swipe your finger all the way to the right side of the screen.
This action sends the signal to the phone to cut the power. The screen will go black almost immediately.
Step 5: Wait for the device to fully turn off.
Even after the screen goes black the phone needs a moment to shut down its systems. It is similar to how a computer takes a moment to stop spinning after you click shut down.
Wait about thirty seconds before you try to turn it back on or put it in a case. This ensures all the software has closed correctly.
After you complete these steps your screen will remain black and unresponsive to touch. The phone is now completely off and will not ring or vibrate. You must turn it back on manually if you want to use it again.
Tips for how to power down iPhone 17
- If your physical buttons are stuck or broken you can shut down the phone using the Settings app under the General menu.
- Turning your phone off completely at least once a week can help the device run smoother by clearing out temporary memory.
- Make sure your phone has a little bit of battery left before you shut it down so it has enough power to restart later.
- If the standard slider does not appear your phone might be frozen and you may need to look up how to force restart it.
- Be careful not to hold the buttons for too long after the slider appears or the phone might start an emergency SOS countdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Siri to turn off my iPhone 17?
Yes you can use voice commands to shut down your device. Activate Siri and simply say turn off my iPhone. Siri will ask for confirmation and you just tap the button on the screen.
Why does my phone take a picture when I try to turn it off?
This happens because you are pressing and releasing the buttons too quickly. A short press is the shortcut for taking a screenshot. You must keep holding the buttons down for a few seconds until the menu appears.
How do I turn the iPhone 17 back on?
Turning the phone on is much easier than turning it off. You just press and hold the side button on the right edge of the phone. Keep holding it until you see the Apple logo light up on the screen.
Does turning off my phone save my battery life?
Yes powering down the phone stops the battery from draining. This is very useful if you are away from a charger and need to save your last bit of power. It stops all background apps and connections from using energy.
What happens if I do not slide the slider?
If you bring up the power menu but do not touch the slider the phone will stay on. If you press the cancel button at the bottom it will ask for your passcode. This is a security feature to disable Face ID temporarily.
Summary
- Locate side and volume buttons.
- Hold side and volume buttons.
- Wait for slider.
- Drag slider right.
- Wait for shutdown.
Conclusion
Learning the proper way to manage your device is essential for keeping it healthy. Many people never turn their phones off. They just let the battery run out or keep it charged forever. However giving your phone a break is actually very good for it. It allows the software to reset and clear out glitches.
Think of it like a human taking a short nap. When the phone wakes up it runs faster and with fewer errors. We often forget that these devices are small computers that work hard all day. They process data and track location constantly.
Knowing the button combinations also helps in emergencies. If your screen freezes you need to know how to react. The physical buttons are your best tool when the touchscreen stops working. It gives you control over the hardware.
Also relying on the buttons prevents accidental shutdowns in your pocket. The two-button requirement is a safety design. It stops the phone from turning off when bumped. This is why the old method of just pressing one button changed.
If you are ever unsure about the steps just remember to squeeze the sides. It is a simple pinch motion. Just hold it until you see the slider. Then you know you are in control.
Make sure you practice this a few times so you remember it. It becomes muscle memory after a while. You won’t even have to look at the buttons.
We hope this guide on how to power down iPhone 17 has been helpful to you. Taking care of your tech ensures it lasts longer. A simple shutdown is the easiest maintenance you can do. It costs nothing and takes less than a minute.
So go ahead and give your phone a rest today. It will likely perform better tomorrow. You might even notice the battery lasts a little longer. That is always a win for any user.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.