Contents

How to Turn Off or Restart iPhone

April 10, 2025 37 views

Ever since Apple removed the home button from newer iPhone models, it’s been a topic of debate; was it a necessary change or an inconvenience? But regardless of opinions, the change is here to stay. If you’ve recently switched from an older iPhone or another brand, you might find yourself confused by something as simple as turning your device off. Many users run into issues like unresponsive screens, accidentally triggering Emergency SOS, or not knowing the difference between a regular shutdown and a force restart. In this article, I'll walk you through the steps on how to turn off the iPhone making it simple and hassle-free.

How to Turn Off iPhone

How to Turn Off iPhone

Why You Need to Turn Off or Restart Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can be a practical way to maintain its performance over time. Although Apple doesn’t require turning off your device on a set schedule, many users have found that rebooting; whether you choose to restart or switch off iPhone briefly, offers several benefits:

1. Fix Freezing or Slow Performance

Temporary files and background processes can accumulate, potentially causing slower response times or occasional freezing. Restarting clears these processes, giving your device a fresh start.

2. Install Updates or Troubleshoot

Some software updates and system adjustments only take full effect after a reboot. A quick power cycle refreshes system resources, helps resolve minor glitches, and ensures that updates are properly applied.

As a general recommendation, it can be beneficial to turn off your iPhone for about 5 minutes once a week. This brief period off can help clear residual data and support optimal performance.

In my own experience, I’ve seen improvements in overall responsiveness and stability when I follow this routine. If you're wondering how to power down iPhone, in the next section I'll walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to shut off iPhone, including instructions for devices running previous iOS versions and those with the latest iOS 18.

100% secure

How to Turn Off Any iPhone

While exploring this topic, I found that iPhone models X and above follow a different process compared to earlier models. So, I decided to discuss the steps to restart iPhones in detail, aiming to clear any doubts for readers struggling with the "How do I turn off my iPhone?" dilemma.

Turn Off Any iPhone Model

If you're using an older iPhone model, you may have noticed that your device freezes more frequently and no longer receives iOS updates. Without continued software support, performance issues like slowdowns and unresponsiveness become common. In such cases, knowing how to turn off an iPhone properly can help maintain your device’s functionality. Whether you're restarting your phone or powering it off completely, follow these steps to do it the right way.

Step 1: To switch off your iPhone, head over to your Home Screen and tap on the "Settings" icon to open your device settings.

 iPhone Settings app icon

iPhone Settings app icon

Step 2: Scroll down through the settings menu and find the "General" option. Tap on it to access system-related settings.

General settings

General settings

Step 3: In the General settings screen, scroll to the bottom and locate the "Shut Down" option. Tap on it to proceed.

Shut Down option in settings

Shut Down option in settings

Step 4: You will now see the "Power Off" slider on your screen. To turn off your iPhone, swipe the slider to the right and wait for the screen to go completely black, confirming that your device has powered down.

iPhone power-off slider

iPhone power-off slider

How to Turn Off an iPhone Running iOS 18

Turning off your iPhone running iOS 18 is a simple process, but if you're new to the latest update, you might need a quick refresher. Whether you're troubleshooting an issue or just conserving battery, here’s how you can properly shut down your device.

Step 1: Open the “Settings app on your iPhone. This is the app with a gear icon, typically found on your home screen.

iPhone settings

iPhone settings

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on “General”. This section contains various system-related settings, including options for software updates, device management, and more.

 iPhone General Settings

iPhone General Settings

Step 3: Keep scrolling until you reach the bottom of the page, where you’ll see the “Shut Down option”. Tap on it to proceed.

Shut down option in iPhone General Settings

Shut down option in iPhone General Settings

Step 4: A “Power-off” slider will now appear on the screen. To turn off your iPhone, simply drag the slider all the way to the right.

Swipe Slider to right in iOS 18

Swipe Slider to right in iOS 18

How to Turn Off an iPhone With Face ID

If you have an iPhone X or later, turning off your device works a little differently since the Side button is also used to activate Siri. Instead of just holding one button, you’ll need to use a combination of buttons to access the Power Off screen. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Locate the Side button on the right side of your iPhone and the Volume buttons on the left.

Step 2: Press and hold the “Side” button and either the “Volume Up” or “Volume Down” button at the same time. Keep holding for a few seconds.

Pressing Side and Volume button together

Pressing Side and Volume button together

Step 3: Once the Power Off slider appears on the screen, release the buttons.

Step 4: Swipe the “Power-off” slider to the right. Your iPhone will begin shutting down immediately.

Swiping the power-off slider

Swiping the power-off slider

Step 5: Wait a few seconds for the device to turn off completely.

Best Free Office Suite on iPhone - WPS Office

When it comes to productivity on an iPhone, having a reliable and feature-packed office suite is essential. WPS Office stands out for its versatility, working seamlessly across different devices, including iPhone, iPad, or even a PC. It’s a free and powerful productivity tool that makes tasks like editing documents, creating presentations, and managing files easier, all while offering AI-powered features to enhance your workflow.

WPS Office

WPS Office

100% secure

WPS Office is fully compatible with both iOS and Android, allowing users to switch between devices without losing progress. I use an iPhone running iOS 18, a Lenovo laptop, and a tablet, yet WPS Office works smoothly across all my devices. Having a reliable office suite that adapts to different platforms makes work so much easier, and WPS Office delivers exactly that.

WPS Office is a versatile, free office suite for iPhone users, offering tools like Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentations. Beyond these standard features, it provides robust PDF editing capabilities directly on your iPhone, allowing you to modify text, replace images, and add annotations without additional software. The integration of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) enables the conversion of images within PDFs into editable text, streamlining your workflow.

WPS PDF

WPS PDF

The recent incorporation of WPS AI further enhances productivity by offering AI-generated content, rewriting assistance, and AI-powered PDF tools. These features assist in creating and refining documents more efficiently, reducing the time and effort required for content creation and editing. WPS Office's compatibility across iOS and Android platforms ensures seamless transitions between devices, making it a reliable choice for managing tasks on the go.

FAQs

1. Where is the power button on an iPhone?

The power button on an iPhone is called the Side button. On iPhone 16 models with Camera Control, as well as iPhone 16e, iPhone 15, and earlier models without a Home button, the Side button is used to turn the iPhone on or off and to lock the screen. It is typically located on the right side of the device.

2. How do I manually turn off my iPhone?

To manually turn off your iPhone, follow these steps:

  • For iPhones with Face ID: Press and hold the Side button and either volume button until the power sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider.

  • For iPhones with a Home button: Press and hold the Side button until the power sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider.

3. Why can’t I turn off my iPhone with the power button?

If your iPhone does not turn off using the power button, try this alternative method: Press and hold both the power button (located on the top or side) and the Home button simultaneously until the power-off slider appears. Once it does, swipe it to shut down your device.

WPS Office: Compatible with ALL

The iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones, known for its smooth performance and user-friendly design. However, since it runs on its own exclusive operating system, some features might take a little getting used to—like figuring out how to turn off iPhone if you're new to it. On the other hand, WPS Office stands out for its versatility, working seamlessly across different devices, including iPads. It’s a free and powerful productivity tool that makes tasks like editing documents, creating presentations, and managing files easier, all while offering AI-powered features to enhance your workflow.

100% secure

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.