If your iPhone is acting up, running low on battery, or you just want to shut it down before a flight or meeting, knowing how to switch it off is useful. The good news is that turning off an iPhone takes only a few seconds once you know which buttons to press, though the process varies slightly depending on your model.
In this guide, you will learn the fastest way to power down an iPhone, plus a few alternative methods if your screen is frozen or your buttons are unresponsive. I will also cover common questions, useful tips, and quick troubleshooting steps. Whether you have a newer Face ID iPhone or an older Home button model, this walkthrough will get you there without guesswork.
Summary
- Press and hold the correct button combination for your iPhone model.
- Slide the power off control when it appears on the screen.
- If your iPhone is frozen, use a force restart instead of a normal shutdown.
Tutorial – How to Switch Off an iPhone Using Buttons
This is the standard method for turning off most iPhones. The steps below will show you how to bring up the power menu, then shut the device down safely.
Step 1: Press and hold the correct buttons for your iPhone model
On an iPhone with Face ID, press and hold the Side button and either Volume button simultaneously. On an iPhone with a Home button, press and hold the Side button or Top button.
After a moment, you should see the slide to power off screen appear. If you see the emergency SOS screen too, just keep holding until the power slider appears, then release.
Step 2: Drag the power slider to the right
When the slide to power off slider appears, place your finger on it and swipe it from left to right.
Your iPhone will begin shutting down immediately. The screen will go black, and the device will stop responding to taps once the shutdown is complete.
Step 3: Wait for the iPhone to fully power down
Give it a few seconds to turn off completely. If the screen is black and nothing is visible, the iPhone is off.
If you want to turn it back on later, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
Alternative Methods and Edge Cases
Not every shutdown situation is normal. Here are a few other ways to power off an iPhone, depending on the model or problem.
Use the Settings app
If your buttons are hard to press or not working properly, you can shut down the iPhone from software.
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Scroll down and tap Shut Down
- Drag the slide to power off slider
This is a handy backup method that works well if you want to avoid using the physical buttons.
Force restart a frozen iPhone
If your iPhone is frozen and unresponsive, a normal shutdown may not work. In that case, do a force restart instead.
- For iPhone 8 and later, quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears
- For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button together
- For iPhone 6s and earlier, press and hold the Home button and Top/Side button together
This does not fully power off the phone as usual. It is mainly used to recover from a freeze.
Turn on AssistiveTouch for easier shutdown
If pressing buttons is difficult, you can use AssistiveTouch.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Accessibility
- Tap Touch
- Turn on AssistiveTouch
- Tap the floating button on screen
- Go to Device
- Press and hold Lock Screen or use available shutdown options, depending on your iOS version
This is especially helpful for users with limited mobility or worn hardware buttons.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my iPhone is fully off?
The screen will be completely black, and the phone will not respond to taps, button presses, or notifications.
Will turning off my iPhone stop alarms?
Yes. If the iPhone is fully powered off, alarms will not sound.
Can I switch off my iPhone without using the buttons?
Yes. You can use Settings > General > Shut Down to turn it off from the screen.
What is the difference between turning off and force restarting?
Turning off is a normal shutdown. Force restarting is a troubleshooting step used when the iPhone is frozen or unresponsive.
Do I need to power off my iPhone every day?
No. Most people do not need to switch off their iPhone daily. A restart only helps sometimes when the phone feels slow or buggy.
Why does my iPhone show Emergency SOS when I try to power it off?
That can happen if you keep holding the buttons too long. Just keep holding until the slide to power off slider appears, then release.
Tips
- If you use a newer iPhone with Face ID, remember that the shutdown button combo uses the Side button plus a Volume button.
- If your phone is in a case, remove it if the buttons feel stiff or hard to press.
- A normal restart can help fix minor glitches without requiring a full shutdown for extended periods.
- If the power slider does not appear, try holding the buttons a little longer, but do not press too hard.
- If your battery is extremely low, the iPhone may turn off on its own, which is normal.
Troubleshooting
- If the iPhone will not turn off, try the Settings app method instead of the buttons.
- If the screen is frozen and nothing happens, use a force restart rather than waiting for a normal shutdown.
- If the buttons seem stuck, check whether your case is blocking the Side button or Volume buttons.
- If the iPhone turns back on right away, make sure you are holding the correct buttons for your model, then fully slide the power control.
- If the phone shuts down unexpectedly, check Battery Health in Settings to see whether the battery may be aging.
- If nothing works, connect the iPhone to power for a few minutes, then try again.
Conclusion
Switching off an iPhone is simple once you know the right method for your model. In most cases, it is just a matter of pressing the right buttons, dragging the power slider, and waiting a few seconds for the device to shut down.
If buttons are not cooperating, the Settings app gives you a reliable backup. And if the phone is frozen, a force restart can get things back on track. Either way, you now have the fastest paths to power down your iPhone with confidence.
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.