Your iPhone is stuck on a black screen with a spinning wheel and you’re not sure why. Your iPhone isn’t turning back on no matter what you do! In this article, I’ll explain how to fix the problem when your iPhone is stuck on a spinning wheel.
Why Is My iPhone Stuck On A Spinning Wheel?
Most of the time, your iPhone gets stuck on a spinning wheel because something went wrong during the reboot process. This can happen after you turn on your iPhone, update its software, reset it from Settings, or restore it to factory defaults.
Although it’s less likely, a physical component of your iPhone may be damaged or broken. Our step-by-step guide below will start with software troubleshooting steps, then help you get support if your iPhone has a hardware problem.
Hard Reset Your iPhone
A hard reset forces your iPhone to quickly turn off and back on. When your iPhone crashes, freezes, or gets stuck on a spinning wheel, a hard reset can get it to turn back on.
The process of performing a hard reset varies depending on which model iPhone you have:
- iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st Generation), and older models: Simultaneously press and hold the Home button and power button until the screen goes completely black and the Apple logo appears.
- iPhone 7: Simultaneously press and hold the volume down button and the power button until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.
- iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd Generation), and newer models: Press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the display goes black and the Apple logo appears.
A hard reset will fix this problem most of the time. If it did, immediately back up your iPhone to iTunes (PCs and Macs running Mojave 10.14 or earlier), Finder (Macs running Catalina 10.15 and newer), or iCloud. If this problem persists, you’ll want a copy of all the data on your iPhone!
DFU Restore Your iPhone
While a hard reset can temporarily fix the problem when your iPhone is stuck on a spinning wheel, it won’t eliminate the deeper software issue that caused the problem in the first place. We recommend putting your iPhone in DFU mode if the problem continues to occur.
A DFU (device firmware update) restore is the deepest iPhone restore and the last step you can take to completely rule out a software or firmware problem. Every line of code is erased and reloaded onto your iPhone, and the latest version of iOS is installed.
Make sure to backup your iPhone before putting it in DFU mode. When you’re ready, check out our DFU restore guide to learn how to do this step!
Contact Apple
It’s time to contact Apple support if your iPhone is still stuck on a spinning wheel. Make sure to schedule an appointment if you plan on taking your iPhone into the Genius Bar. Apple also has phone and live chat support if you don’t live near a retail location.
Take Your iPhone For A Spin
You’ve fixed the problem with your iPhone and it’s turning on again. Make sure to share this article on social media to teach your family, friends, and followers what to do when their iPhone is stuck on a spinning wheel.
Have any other questions about your iPhone? Leave them in the comments section below!
does the hard reset erase photos and contacts on iphone 6s???
No, doing a hard reset will never erase your photos and contacts. If you are using an app that is trying to save data to your internal storage and do the hard reset before it finishes, that data might be corrupted. Unless you have to, don’t do a hard reset while in the process of saving something. I hope this helps!
I cant do this because my home button doesn’t work ?
I just bought an SE and have been having the spinning wheel problem. I did hard reset, turned Siri on and off, turned off Bluetooth, closed all apps…and nothing worked. But then I turned off cellular roaming and that seems to have done the trick!
Apple told me on March 10, 2021 that there is a software glitch on IPhone Se second generation …using dictation and\or Siri will caude that. Working on it, and will be included in next update. Not thrilked because i cannot use dictation now.
Glad to hear that. I bought an Iphone SE 2020 recently and this problem occurred. I tried every possible solution and they only worked temporarily. I am not sure if the problem drains the battery but certainly it is frustrating.
Update: Yesterday I received new update from Apple, still the problem exist. All the possible solutions work until I use dictation. I only haven’t used DFU Restore method yet. Is DFU restore method is dangerous to phone, or might it cancel the warranty?
A DFU restore won’t cancel your warranty, it’s a method used by Apple technicians at the store.
My phone is stuck in spinning loading screen. My home button and power button is broken. How can I turn it on?
I can’t thank you enough for the list of steps you have specified here. The first recommendation worked on my mom’s phone. Simple and quick. For a minute I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to salvage her phone. And since I myself have upgraded to many iPhone iterations, I’ve already forgotten some of the simple steps that each iPhone versions required. And this help page could not have been any simpler. You saved me a trip to the Apple store. Thank you once again!
Hey my phone is stuck with a spinning wheel n my home button do not work what other way can I do it
You can try to reset your iPhone using iTunes. This uses a wired connection to your computer and doesn’t require any input on your iPhone.
im trying that but iTunes isn’t finding my phone.
Have you tried using Finder to backup your iPhone instead?
omg thank you my phone turned back on!!!
but my home button isnt working. so how am i gonna do it?
You can use Assistive Touch to simulate your home button with your iPhone’s touch screen! ?
I have a 6s and my home button does not currently function. Is there another way I can do a hard reset?
You can use Assistive Touch to simulate a home button. ?
Thanks so much, you just saved me a trip to AT&T. That worked!! Thanks again for taking the time to post this information.
Thankx. It worked a treat.
You, great information
it worked for my iphone 6s+ !! thank you so much
I am glad and happy fo ryou
me too!
It worked perfect for my iPhone 7, this had never happened with my phone until i updated to ios 14. Is there a specific reason for this?
Thanks
The iPhone is getting pretty old as far as smartphones go. It doesn’t surprise me that there are some hiccups with older devices running on the latest software. Apple’s software support for older devices is really impressive compared to other manufacturers, but it isn’t without a few flaws I imagine.
I did not know what to do to fix my iPhone 6 plus until I came here for help. Thank you so much!
It worked, thank you!
No problem! I’m glad this was helpful!
worked, thank you
i have an iphone 11 pro so how do i fix mine?
This article about iPhone 11 Pro stuck on Apple logo is very similar to your issue and the steps should be relatively the same. I hope this helps!
Asking about an IPhone 8 — not sure about second generation — how would I know ?
when I hold the power button down with either the sound up, sound down or home button (Siri) the screen cannot go black as the “slide to power off” message appears. Screen never goes black and then the Apple logo appears. Again, this is an IPhone 8
Hi, Greg. This article I’m linking you to about how to hard reset your iPhone 8 should be able to help ?
Okay, it worked. I had to do the first two steps (for iphone 8) more quickly. Thanks.
Hard re-set did nothing. I’m assuming if my phone lioves, this was on purpose by Apple to force mt to update to their crappy latest ios? What dod i do if reset didn’t work, other than letting battery run out?
It might be time for a new phone. If you’re not looking to stick around with Apple anymore, my best suggestions are the Google Pixel 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. You can also check out our cell phone comparison tool on UpPhone to find a phone that meets your needs! You can filter for things like price, storage capacity, manufacturer, and more.
Thank You for your step by step instructions. You really helped me when I needed it the most. A million thanks 🙂
Glad we were able to help! ?
I cant seem to fix it
Hi my name is Evan and my phone still has the spinning wheel going on even after I did everything that you said to do I held the power down and the upward volume button and released after five seconds and then repeated the same thing with the down button for five seconds and then the home button for five seconds and then both for five seconds. And nothing still happened I have an iPhone 8 plus and the spinning wheel is still there. it’s weird because my phone has been working all day and now it’s not and I… Read more »
This happened with my iphone 6s but I waited till my battery run out and then I charged it and all good to go .
Hope this help
i was so worried my phone was broken, then I read this and it worked!!! Honestly brilliant thank you so much
hi
i’m 6S plus Iphone is struck in loading screen. how to recover this since my home button is also not working?
Just talked with Apple technical support. They had me turn off enable dictation. Then turn my phone off completely. Turn it back on. Yeah navigate around and that seems to have fixed the problem then I was able to enable dictation again and so far so good.
tried this but came back on
Brilliant ! iPhone 6s Plus left me with a feint spinning wheel and a hole in my life.
Your hard reset advice worked a treat. Thank you.
finally something that works, ty!!
This is GENIUS. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! 🙂
how do I fix my iPhone 5s from spinning wheel please help me
If you have tried all the steps in this article, it might be time for an upgrade! The iPhone 5 series is no longer supported by Apple, so you won’t be able to get any software or hardware support from the company. UpPhone has a really awesome cell phone comparison tool that you can use to find a new phone that meet your needs. The best thing is, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get the phone that you want! ?
what about an iphone se?
Hi, Elizabeth! I asked about this question and here are some steps that might help for doing a hard reset on your iPhone SE:
iPhone SE (Gen 1): Home button + power button until Apple logo appears
iPhone SE (Gen 2): Press and release volume up, press and release volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears
This help article about fixing an iPhone 8 stuck on Apple logo might be able to help. The steps should be the same as your iPhone SE. I hope this helps!
Thank you SO much they have changed how hard resetting the phone works and that fixed it for me.
Thank you so much it worked!
my phone is stuck on the apple logo now
Wow, my grandaughter was about to lose it but pawpaw pulled through and fixed her iPhone 8 thanks to your fixit tip. Thank you!
I’m glad we were able to help! ?
Home button of my Iphone 6s plus doesn’t work and it’s stuck on spinning wheel. Is there any way out to solve this issue? Please, it’s urgent
Try taking your case off and try following these steps again. Some cases with a front cover that protects the home button can press down too hard on the home button, and in some cases this can even damage it. You can read more about home button damage in our help article. If your home button is definitely broken, you’re going to have to explore your repair options. Assistive Touch isn’t going to work in this situation because your iPhone is stuck on a spinning wheel. Best of luck!
thanks, it worked!!!
I was out and about this evening when my screen blacked out with the spinning wheel of death on the screen. I couldn’t get it to turn off and on, nothing. So glad I found this article when I got home.
The hard reset worked for me. Crisis averted!
Thank you Brill Worked for my I-hone 6plus
The hard reset worked. I went into panic mode when I couldn’t get my phone to turn back on.
It was showing a black screen and spinning wheel. You saved me from going crazy!!!
Thanks a bunch and Happy Holidays.
Please my iPhone Xsmas just went black with a spinning wheel has been happening for 2 hour’s now and I already tried switching it off but it just won’t please I need an advice on what to do
spinning wheel and flashlight is on
My iPhone 8 plus is stuck on a spinning wheel and it has been happening for over an hour now. What should I do?
I would like to ask my phone freeze and circle is spinning?
Thanks this saved me from impending doom
It worked… but now my phone is stuck on the Apple screen…. also i have an iphone xs max
This is not working on my 6s and i have no idea whats going on
Worked on my iPhone 6 S… thank you.
My phone is just spinning,what can I do ?
i pressed the volume buttons and the power button and its still not working what do i do?