If your iPhone 13 freezes, becomes unresponsive, shows a black screen, or won’t respond to touch, a force restart (also called a hard reset) can quickly bring it back to life. This method is especially useful when the screen isn’t working, apps are stuck, or the iPhone won’t power down normally.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to force restart the iPhone 13, when to use this technique, what it does and doesn’t do, and additional steps to try if your phone remains unresponsive.
🔄 What Is a Force Restart?
A force restart uses a combination of physical buttons to reboot your iPhone without using the touchscreen. It’s different from a regular restart or shutdown because it doesn’t rely on software responses. Instead, it forcibly cuts power to the device and reboots it—ideal when your screen is frozen or your phone isn’t working properly.
✅ A force restart is completely safe and does not erase any data from your iPhone.
📲 How to Force Restart iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 (like the iPhone 12, 14, and 15 series) uses a three-button combination for a force restart:
✅ Step-by-Step Instructions
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button
- Press and hold the Side button (on the right side of the device)
- Keep holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears
- Once the Apple logo shows, release the Side button and wait for the phone to reboot
⚠️ If done correctly, the screen will go black, then display the Apple logo during reboot. Be sure to press the buttons quickly and in sequence.
🛠 When Should You Force Restart iPhone 13?
Use this method if your iPhone 13:
- Is frozen or won’t respond to taps or swipes
- Is stuck on a black screen but the phone is powered on (vibrates or rings)
- Won’t turn on properly or is stuck on the Apple logo
- Is unresponsive during or after an iOS update
- Won’t restart through regular means
❌ What a Force Restart Does NOT Do
It’s important to know that force restarting:
- Does not erase your data, photos, or messages
- Does not reset your iPhone to factory settings
- Does not remove a passcode or iCloud lock
- Will not solve deep software corruption on its own
🔄 It’s a quick fix for temporary issues like app crashes, screen freezes, and system lag.
🧪 What If the Force Restart Doesn’t Work?
If your iPhone 13 still won’t respond after a force restart, try these steps:
Charge the iPhone
- Connect it to a certified charger for at least 30–60 minutes
- Then repeat the force restart steps
⚡ A fully drained battery may take time before showing signs of life.
Check for Button Damage
- Ensure the Volume and Side buttons are not stuck or damaged
- Clean the area around the buttons gently if needed
Try Connecting to a Computer
- Connect your iPhone 13 to a Mac or PC using a Lightning cable
- Open Finder (on macOS Catalina and later) or iTunes (on Windows/macOS Mojave and earlier)
- If recognized, choose Update to reinstall iOS without deleting data
🧯 Entering Recovery Mode (If Force Restart Fails)
If your iPhone is still unresponsive or stuck on the Apple logo:
How to Enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 13:
- Connect the iPhone to your computer via Lightning cable
- Perform the force restart sequence but keep holding the Side button even after the Apple logo appears
- Release the Side button when the Recovery Mode screen appears (a screen showing a computer icon or iTunes logo)
- On your computer, select Update (preserves data) or Restore (erases and reinstalls iOS)
⚠️ Only use “Restore” if “Update” fails or your iPhone is severely corrupted.
🆘 When to Contact Apple Support
If your iPhone 13:
- Doesn’t respond to any of the above steps
- Gets stuck in a boot loop (Apple logo appears and disappears repeatedly)
- Has a damaged screen or unresponsive touch even after reboot
- Shows hardware failure or signs of liquid damage
…it’s time to contact https://support.apple.comor visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider for diagnostics.
🧼 Tips to Prevent Freezing and Unresponsiveness
- Keep your iPhone updated: Settings > General > Software Update
- Regularly close unused apps
- Avoid running too many resource-heavy apps simultaneously
- Check your storage and keep at least 5–10 GB free: Settings > General > iPhone Storage
- Restart your iPhone once a week for system refresh
- Monitor battery health: Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging
✅ Summary: Force Restarting iPhone 13
A force restart is a safe and effective way to fix a frozen or unresponsive iPhone 13. It takes just a few seconds and can resolve most minor glitches, black screens, or stuck apps.
📋 Quick Force Restart Recap:
| Step | Action |
| 1. Volume Up | Press and release quickly |
| 2. Volume Down | Press and release quickly |
| 3. Side Button | Press and hold until Apple logo appears |
Repeat if needed, and always try charging the device if there’s no immediate response.
