My iPhone Keeps Shutting Off! Here’s The Real Fix.

Your iPhone is shutting down randomly and you’re not sure why. All of a sudden, your iPhone just turns off without giving you any warning. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone keeps shutting off and show you how to fix this problem for good!

Hard Reset Your iPhone

One of the most common reasons why your iPhone keeps shutting off is because it’s stuck in a restart loop, constantly shutting off, turning back on, shutting off again, and so on. By performing a hard reset, we may be able to break your iPhone out of that loop.

How Do I Hard Reset My iPhone?

The process of hard resetting an iPhone varies by model:

  • iPhone 6s, SE, and older models: Press and hold the power button and the Home button at the same time until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears. Release both buttons once the Apple logo appears on the display.
  • iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus: Simultaneously press and hold down the volume down button and power button. Let go of both buttons when the Apple logo appears on the screen.
  • iPhone 8, X, XS and newer models: First, press and release the volume up button. Second, press and release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears.

Does The Battery Need To Be Recalibrated?

Does your iPhone keep shutting off even when it says it has battery life remaining? It’s possible that your iPhone’s battery percentage indicator has become inaccurate and unreliable!

A lot of the time, this is the result of a software problem, not a faulty battery! You can read our other article with more specific details about why your iPhone turns off even when it still has battery life, or you can keep following the steps below. Both articles will help you address the deeper software issue that could be causing this problem!

Update Your iPhone To The Latest iOS

Apple frequently releases new versions of iOS, the iPhone operating system, to fix troublesome software issues and introduce new features. A new software update could solve a potential software problem that’s making your iPhone shut down unexpectedly.

Check for a iOS update by opening Settings and tapping General -> Software Update. Tap Download and Install if a new software update is available! Take a look at our other article if you run into any problems when updating your iPhone.

update iphone to ios 12

Put Your iPhone In DFU Mode

A DFU (device firmware update) restore is the deepest type of iPhone restore. If a software problem is causing your iPhone to keep shutting off, a DFU restore will fix the problem. Check out our DFU restore article to learn how to put your iPhone into DFU mode!

Exploring Your iPhone Repair Options

If your iPhone is still shutting down randomly after you’ve completed a DFU restore, it’s time to explore your repair options. My first recommendation is to head to your local Apple Store, especially if your iPhone is covered by an AppleCare+ protection plan.

Make sure to set up an appointment before you go into your local Apple Store! Without an appointment, you may have to spend a lot of time standing around and waiting for an Apple tech to become available.

I also recommend the services of Puls, an on-demand phone repair company. Puls can send a technician to you in as little as sixty minutes. Puls repairs are sometimes cheaper than the Apple Store and come with a lifetime warranty!

Shutting The Door On This iPhone Problem

You’ve fixed your iPhone and it’s no longer shutting down on it’s own. I hope you’ll share this article on social media to teach your friends and family what to do if their iPhone keeps shutting off! Feel free to leave any other comments or questions you have down below — I’ll answer them as quickly as I can!

Thanks for reading,
David L.

About Author

David Lynch is an expert on cell phones, cell phone plans, and other tech. After using a flip phone into his early 20s, he learned the ropes about iPhones and Androids from a former Apple employee. Today, his articles and videos are read and viewed by millions, and he has been cited by major publications including Reader's Digest, Wired, CMSWire, Consumers Advocate, and more.

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evelyn
2 years ago

my phone just doesn’t want to turn back on no matter what I try to do. it’ll turn on with the apple showing and then turn back off?

Admin
David Payette
2 years ago
Reply to  evelyn

Your best bet is to try to DFU restore your iPhone. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to get your phone repaired. Search YouTube for Payette Forward DFU Restore and you’ll find a video specifically about how to put your iPhone into DFU mode. Hope this helps! David P.

anjali jangid
2 years ago

i need help …i follow all steps but nothing is happening my iphone 7 is not starting since 7 days

Nica
3 years ago

I changed my iPhone xs max screen guard and come back home and plug it,when I went inside to get the phone I saw an apple logo,since march 12 my iPhone keep shutting on and off.. I haven’t been using it since then. I change the main screen and battery even upgraded it and flash the phone yet nothing change… Please help me out

Ibby
3 years ago

The hard reset isn’t working for my iPhone XS Max, what do I do ? I really need help with fixing the issue with my iPhone constantly switching on and off.

Nica
3 years ago
Reply to  Ibby

The same with my on

Otoo Benjamin
3 years ago

I’m using iPhone 6s plus now and the screen keeps going off while I’m typing or using the phone…tried put the auto lock on never but it still happens…please help me out

???
3 years ago

I left my iphone to update for at least an hour , and it was taking longer than expected so I fell sleep and woke up about 2 hours later and then from there it kept turning on and off. I tried your method for my iPhone 6s and it’s still doing the same thing. Please help!

?‍♀️
3 years ago

When u do the reset thing do u have to set up ur phone again or

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  ?‍♀️

Check out our guide about iPhone resets to learn more!

unique
3 years ago

good bc i really need your help

makenzie walker
3 years ago

I have a Iphone 8 plus and my phone keeps shutting off then ill come back on.. only to the apple screen when it first comes on then it’ll shut back off and do the same thing over and over while its on the charger.

ace
3 years ago

What did you do because I have the same thing now

Shayan
2 years ago
Reply to  ace

i had the same issue

N B
3 years ago

I have an Iphone XR btw.

N B
3 years ago

II was watching a movie on Netflix and went to the kitchen. I left my phone charging and when I returned, the apple logo was on the screen and it kept going in and out. I’ve never had this problem before. This has been the case for the past 45 minutes.

ace
3 years ago
Reply to  N B

What did you do because I have the same thing now

Alex Hargrove
3 years ago

My phone screen keeps going black with the little spinning loading icon on the screen, like it’s about to die. It has also been on 55% battery for the last three hours, even though I’ve been using it for that whole time.

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Alex Hargrove

It’s possible your iPhone’s battery is starting to go bad. If you are using an older iPhone, it might be time to get your iPhone replaced or upgraded.

joe
3 years ago

So i had a iphone 7 plus and i would always use the type c wall plug charger with it,now my phone wont even turn on or it sometimes showed the apple logo?what can i do to fix it

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  joe

Here is an article about what to do if your iPhone 7 Plus is stuck on the Apple Logo. Alternatively, here is an article about what to do when your iPhone 7 Plus won’t turn on. I hope this helps!

Areeba Khan
3 years ago

I have opened up my 6s and made sure all wires are connected properly, and its still having this issue where the phone has plenty of battery left but phone shuts off. I have noticed that it seems to get hot not from where the battery is located, ?
pleasw rply me as soon as possible my phone is not even working without charger ?!

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Areeba Khan

Hey, Areeba! Sounds like you have a bad battery. The iPhone 6s is pretty old now, having been released in 2015. That makes it about five years old! It’s time to upgrade. Getting a new iPhone will cost less in the long run because you won’t have to spend a ton on repairs. There is also better software and hardware support from Apple. UpPhone’s cell phone comparison tool is a great way to find a phone that aligns with your budget. You can filter phones by manufacturer, price, screen size, and more! My personal recommendation is to get either the… Read more »

Miriam
3 years ago

I can never thank you enough! The first time I had this problem I got a battery change. I wish I’d read this earlier. I had like 2 minutes window before my phone looped so got this fix in 3 restarts.
?

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Miriam

Awesome! I’m glad we were able to help you out! ?

Molly
3 years ago

how am I supposed to do all of this when my phone won’t turn on?

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Molly

If your phone won’t turn on at all, then it sounds like you’ll have to explore your repair options. Before that though, I recommend trying a different charging cable, power brick, and outlet just to make sure that your phone is able to be charged. If it still won’t work, look at reaching out to a nearby repair shop. If your phone is getting old, I always recommend upgrading over repair because it will cost you less in the long run. UpPhone’s cell phone comparison tool is a great way to find a phone that meets your needs without breaking… Read more »

chava
3 years ago

I made a back up on my iphone XR then I did not have the latest version so I restored the backup and now the iphone keeps turning on and off on a constent loop how do I fix it?

Anjum Srabony
3 years ago

My iphone is 6 plus and it only shuts down when I try to post something on Instagram!

Liam Shotwell
3 years ago
Reply to  Anjum Srabony

Try deleting and then reinstalling Instagram. If that doesn’t help, you might need to restore your iPhone or possibly try a DFU restore.

Colt
3 years ago

My phone got wet and it broke so we took it to a place and they fixed it but now it works fine then it goes slow then turns off it turned off like 1min ago and I’m redoing this comment anything to help?

Izaiah
3 years ago

My Iphone 8 plus died and it turned on so quick and then it died and it keeps doing it it shuts off when it says searching and then it says no service at the top and then it shuts off and repeats every time i tried to restart it so many times but it does not work.

Khyron
3 years ago
Reply to  Izaiah

did you find a solution?

Ngonidzashe
3 years ago
Reply to  Khyron

did you find a solution?

Shonteria
3 years ago

My iPhone 7 Plus keep on Resetting

Llalalala
3 years ago

When my phone is either 40-20% it randomly shuts down idk why

Jeannelle Gonzalez
3 years ago

My iPhone6s keep shutting off even when it’s at 100 percent I don’t know what to do and this recently started happening when I got the iOS 14 update or something like that but I just need help

david
3 years ago

yeah samee

heaven
3 years ago
Reply to  david

same with me

oats
3 years ago
Reply to  heaven

same here! I have opened up my 6s and made sure all wires are connected properly, and its still having this issue where the phone has plenty of battery left but phone shuts off. I have noticed that it seems to get hot not from where the battery is located, but from area where the logic board is located. Maybe its a software issue that causes cpu to overheat??

bvsmala
3 years ago

My iPhone 7 has been randomly shutting off lately ( while charging or not) , I put my phone in the charger and left it for around 3 hours (I was out of the house) then I came back and it was off, it wouldn’t start at all, I tried plugging it in the charge again but it didn’t show anything then I tried holding the power button and the volume down button and the apple logo appeared and the iPhone opened again. it kept shutting off by itself and I tried to hard reset it, I updated it to… Read more »

Irene
3 years ago
Reply to  bvsmala

i have iphone 7 aswell and im going through the same problem like urs. Has urs worked now?

zaniya parks
3 years ago

My iPhone keeps turning off and on can you tell me what is wrong. Do I need to take it to the apple store

conner
3 years ago

My Iphone XS keeps shutting down and turning back on every 5 minutes. And I don’t have enough time to download the newest IOS update. Nothing on my phone loads. I have tried these things and don’t work what do I do.

need help
3 years ago
Reply to  conner

same thing for me…

kent
3 years ago
Reply to  conner

same on my iphone xs max keeps shutting down and when its on its lag

ryan
3 years ago

my i phone x keeps shutting off and turning itself back on again , it wont stay on long enough to update it or reset it

Rugile
3 years ago
Reply to  ryan

Same, do you know the problem yet?

Cameelle
3 years ago
Reply to  ryan

Same problem please tell me if you know how to fix it

George G.
3 years ago
Reply to  Cameelle

same problem do you fix? what do you do?

mina
2 years ago
Reply to  George G.

Hi, did you fix your problem?

Luci
3 years ago

But my home button is not working anymore. What to do?

mykaela
3 years ago

my iphone is off and turns the apple logo on but doesnt unlock to my lock screen help!!!!!

Tarah
3 years ago
Reply to  mykaela

Same!

Lina
3 years ago

Greetings. Thank you for the valuable informations. I have iphone 5SE. How do i turn it on when it shuts off at it is own — or shall i wait until it is on again? Thanks again

Zanisty Ortiz
3 years ago

Hi um do you know why or how to fix my phone my screen is popping out and don’t wanna pop back in

Local IPhone User
3 years ago
Reply to  Zanisty Ortiz

Hey! I had an iPhone 6 Plus and this happened to me once. In my experience what had occurred was that the battery inflated and it caused the screen to pop up, the solution to it was getting a new battery

Palesa
3 years ago

my iPhone s6 keeps turning on and off since this morning and i have tried the DFU method but still no change, anyone with help please it will be highly appreciated

René
3 years ago

My Iphone 8 freezes and then shuts downs even though I have still have battery life. it shuts down and then shows the apple logo, then goes off, it does this for about two min before it comes back on.
please help

Kamila
3 years ago
Reply to  René

MINE TOO! i had to shut it off cuz it was already glitching then i turned it on but now it just swtiches off while showing the apple logo then black screen and then back!

Elysha
3 years ago
Reply to  René

Mine does the exact same thing too, and I’ve already updated it to the latest model of iOS. I don’t know what to do anymore

Kate
3 years ago
Reply to  René

This also keeps happening to mine but my phone just continues on this loop for hours and I haven’t been able to open my phone up at all, even though mine is fully charged and fine. I tried the hard reset and it is doing nothing!!!!

Unknown
3 years ago
Reply to  Kate

Did you ever get it fixed if so how.

ace
3 years ago
Reply to  Unknown

i also want to know how

tristan
3 years ago

my iPhone does this while I am charging it. when I stop charging it, it turns black completely. then I charge it and it does the same thing again. When I hard reset it, it brings me to the recovery mode screen. PLS HELP

Unknown
3 years ago

My phones trippin, i was on tiktok and out of nowhere is shut down, And then started turning on and off and is still doing so as i type this what should i do?

Rhonda Baumann
3 years ago

I am on my 3rd iPhone 11. It will shit down randomly only when connected to WIFI?
Any help would be great!

raine
3 years ago
Reply to  Rhonda Baumann

Hi. Did you fix it? Mine was restarting too when connected to wifi, specially when 60% below battery. Don’t know what to do

Tyler
3 years ago

Ive done the DFU and everything suggested on my iPhone 7plus and my phone continues to shut on and off with the battery level going up and down every time. Could there be another problem or just time for a new phone? Thank you

Victor
3 years ago

My iphone 6 keeps switching off automatically . When it goes on it changes the battery percentage like 3times eg from 2% to 43%and then to the real percentage it was before shutdown . What could be the problem ?

Bongo
3 years ago
Reply to  Victor

Did you replace the battery by any chance with a cheaper Chinese alternative by any chance?

Last edited 3 years ago by Bongo
hannah farr
3 years ago
Reply to  Victor

mine too do u know the problem and how to fix it

ehhh
3 years ago

my iphone is stuck on the apple logo and it keeps going off and on. i find myself constantly doing a hard reset

bro
3 years ago
Reply to  ehhh

THIS HAS BEEN ME ALL DAY!!!!!!!!!!

Amz
3 years ago
Reply to  bro

SAMEEE!! Happened to me the same day you posted your comment

714
3 years ago
Reply to  Amz

is there anyway to fix this? mine has been doing that too

Tera
3 years ago

It is literally stuck on the apple logo now!!!!!!!

poorna chandra
3 years ago

My iPhone is problem model iPhone 6s Plus automatically set down automatically on why did this type of problem

jordy
3 years ago

Your name is DAVID LYNCH!

sodiq
3 years ago

Hi, my iphone is stuck on the apple display and it keeps going on and off from there

lucy
3 years ago
Reply to  sodiq

what did you do so that it could work again? pls help

kakii!
3 years ago
Reply to  sodiq

same!

ali
2 years ago
Reply to  kakii!

did you get a soloution?

Delesha
3 years ago

I tried no work iphone 8

dos
3 years ago

my iphone 8 keeps shutting down and restarting after that my iphone will be dead, the hard reset and all the buttons does not work

Henrietta Codyre
4 years ago

my iphone 11 keeps shutting down and the apple logo flashes on and off like every 5 sec, i’ve done all the reboot, it will work for a while then it shuts down and starts flashing again.

caylee
3 years ago

that’s what my iPhone xr does
 

aya
3 years ago
Reply to  caylee

prob faulty Face ID

JAne
4 years ago

my phone glitches them shuts off and it happens quite a lot and my whatsapp is freaking out

Christy Jackson
4 years ago

When doing a hard reset on the phone does it erase anything

Admin
David Payette
4 years ago

Nope!

tameron
4 years ago

yes

james
4 years ago

Please Help!! i have tried ALL of your videos and my phone keeps shutting down while using it and says its dead when its not!!

Blah Blah
4 years ago

I don’t have a mac book