Why Does My iPhone Keep Restarting? Here’s The Fix!

Why does my iPhone keep restarting, and what do I do about it? We trust our iPhones and they need to work all the time. It would be great if there was a single reason why iPhones restart over and over again, but there isn’t a magic bullet for this problem. In this article, I’ll explain what causes iPhones to keep restarting and I’ll show you how to fix the restarting iPhone problem.

Attention iPhone X owners: If you have an iPhone X or iPhone XS that keeps restarting, please read my new article to find out how to stop your iPhone X from restarting over and over again. If those fixes don’t work, come back and follow this guide.

Why Does My iPhone Keep Restarting?

iPhones that keep restarting generally fall into two categories:

  1. iPhones that restart intermittently: You can use your iPhone for a while with no problem at all, and then your iPhone suddenly restarts.
  2. iPhone restart loop: Your iPhone continuously restarts and it’s totally unusable. The Apple logo appears and disappears on the screen, over and over again.

If your iPhone falls into the second category, skip ahead to step 5. It’s impossible to do the first few steps if you’re unable to use the software on your iPhone. Let’s dive in, so you can stop shouting “My iPhone keeps restarting!” at the cat.

1. Back Up Your iPhone

Before we do any troubleshooting at all, make sure your iPhone is backed up. If your iPhone has a hardware problem, this could be your last chance to back up your data. If we need to, we’ll restore your iPhone in a later step, and you need a backup before you restore.

Check out our other article if you need help backing up your iPhone. Once you’re backed up, you’ll be ready to get started fixing the problem if your iPhone keeps restarting or if your iPhone keeps turning on and off.

2. Update Your iPhone’s Software (iOS)

Like Windows on a PC or macOS on a Mac, iOS is your iPhone’s operating system. iOS updates always contain lots of fixes for software bugs and other problems. Sometimes, a software update fixes the problem that’s causing your iPhone to keep restarting or enter a restart loop.

To check if any software updates are available, go to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If an update is available, install it.

install ios 15 on your iphone

You can also connect your iPhone to your computer and use iTunes (PCs and Macs running macOS 10.14 or older) or Finder (Macs running macOS 10.15 or newer) to update your iPhone’s software. If your iPhone is continually restarting, iTunes or Finder might be your best bet.

3. Determine If An App Is Causing Your iPhone To Restart

It’s very rare for an app to cause an iPhone to restart or turn on and off repeatedly. For the most part, the software on your iPhone is shielded from problem apps. That being said, there are over 1.5 million apps in the App Store and they’re not all perfect.

If you installed an app just before your iPhone entered a restart loop, uninstall that app and see if the problem resolves itself.

Settings -> Privacy -> Analytics & Improvements -> Analytics Data is another place to check for problem apps. It’s normal to see several entries in this list. Quickly scroll through the list and look for any apps that are listed over and over again. If you find one, uninstalling that app may fix your iPhone.

analytics data on iphone

4. Reset All Settings

Reset All Settings isn’t a magic bullet, but it can resolve certain software issues. Go to Settings -> General -> Transfer Or Reset iPhone -> Reset -> Reset All Settings to restore your iPhone’s settings to factory defaults. You won’t lose any of your apps or data, but you will have to enter your Wi-Fi password again.

reset all settings ios 15

5. Remove Your SIM Card

iPhone restart loops can be caused by issues with your iPhone’s connection to your wireless carrier. Your SIM card connects your iPhone to your wireless carrier, so removing it is best way to troubleshoot issues where your iPhone keeps restarting.

Don’t worry: Nothing can go wrong when you remove your SIM card. Your iPhone will immediately reconnect to your carrier as soon as you put it back in.

Apple’s support article about how to remove the SIM card from your iPhone will show you exactly where the SIM card is located on your iPhone. You’ll use a paper clip to eject the SIM tray from your iPhone.

If removing your SIM card fixes the problem, put the SIM card back in your iPhone. If the problem comes back after you put your SIM card back in, you’ll need to restore your iPhone (step 7) or replace the SIM card with your carrier.

If removing the SIM card doesn’t fix the problem, don’t put your SIM card back in until you’ve completed the next step. If you’d like to learn more about your iPhone’s SIM card, check out my article called “Why Does My iPhone Say No SIM Card?”.

6. Hard Reset

You shouldn’t do a hard reset on your iPhone unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s kind of like turning off a desktop computer by unplugging it from the wall. That being said, an iPhone restart loop is one of those times where a hard reset is warranted.

To perform a hard reset, hold the power button and Home button (the circular button below the screen) at the same time until your iPhone screen goes blank and the Apple logo reappears.

On an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, the buttons you need to press to execute a hard reset are slightly different. Simultaneously press and hold the power button and the volume down button.

If you have an iPhone 8 or newer, the process of hard resetting is also different. Press and release the volume up button, then the volume down button, then press and hold the side button.

Regardless of what model iPhone you have, make sure you hold both buttons down together for at least 20 seconds. People were amazed when they’d come into the Apple Store and I’d quickly fix their dead iPhone with a hard reset. They thought they did a hard reset at home, but they didn’t hold both buttons down for a long enough time.

If you removed the SIM card from your iPhone in the previous step, now’s a good time put it back in your iPhone. We’ve eliminated the possibility that your SIM card is causing your iPhone to restart. Hopefully the hard reset will fix the problem where your iPhone kept restarting, but if it continues, you’ll have to reset your device by following the instructions below.

7. Restore Your iPhone

Restoring your iPhone completely erases and reloads the iPhone’s software (iOS), and it can eliminate a slew of software issues at the same time. When we restore your iPhone, we’ll eliminate the possibility that a software issue may be causing your iPhone to restart — that’s why Apple techs do it so often.

Your iPhone needs to be connected to a computer to restore. I recommend doing a special type of restore that Apple techs do called a DFU Restore, which goes deeper than a regular restore and can solve more problems. You won’t find it anywhere on Apple’s website — read my article to learn how to DFU restore your iPhone.

After the restore finishes, you’ll be able to reload all your personal information from your iPhone backup in iTunes, Finder, or iCloud. If you still have a problem, come back here and keep reading.

8. Check For A Hardware Problem

Hardware problems are a common reason why iPhones get stuck in a restart loop. If you’re using a case on your iPhone, remove it before you continue.

Look closely at the charging port on the bottom of your iPhone. Check to see if any debris is stuck inside and for signs of corrosion.

If something doesn’t look right, grab a toothbrush you’ve never used and gently brush out the charging port. A short circuit or other problem inside the charging port can cause all sorts of problems with your iPhone.

9. You May Need To Repair Your iPhone

We’ve eliminated the possibility a software issue is causing your iPhone to keep restarting and we’ve checked for hardware issues on the outside of your iPhone. If your iPhone is in a restart loop, your iPhone probably needs to be repaired.

If you choose to get help at your local Apple Store, make sure you have an appointment with the Genius Bar so you don’t have to wait around.

Wrapping It Up

By this point, I hope we’ve fixed the problem that caused your iPhone to keep restarting. I’d like to hear your experience in the comments section below, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask them in the Payette Forward Facebook Group.

About Author

I'm a former Apple employee and the founder of Payette Forward, and I'm here to help you with your iPhone.

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Anonymous
5 years ago

My iPhone 8 plus is less than a year old … it started rebooting on its own… it would do it about every 5 minutes plugged in not plugged in. It would show 1% on the battery after restart for a little while then go back to the correct charge state. Sometimes it would go all day and not reboot… I did the reset of settings, no change, back up and restore no change. Deleted apps, I finally replace the battery and that fixed the problem.

Anonymous
5 years ago

My Iphone 5 keeps on turning off minute by minute. What should i do?

Anonymous
5 years ago

i opened the ifunny app and it started a reset loop on my iphone 7, it responds to only being turned off and on again to only start the restart loop again.

Anonymous
5 years ago

My iphone 5s is like the 2 parts of restarting. It restart while im playing the if i open it again it will show the apple logo then dis appear then appear again like7 times

Anonymous
5 years ago

worked, Thank you

Anonymous
5 years ago

My issue was dirt in the power connector.

Anonymous
5 years ago

i have iphone 6 and its asking for itune but as i connect to itune and update aur reset after 99% updating its disconnect it self and asking itune again.please give me a solution

Anonymous
5 years ago

HEY can someone help me here… i have a Iphone 5 that won’t turn on pass the apple logo,what could be the issue? and yes i know its a 5 but its still a IPHONE.

Anonymous
5 years ago

my 6s has been getting stuck in the reboot loop for 5-10 mins every several hours, once a day if i am lucky… sometimes only way to get out of it is hard reset. tried all the other methods listed above, nothing really solved my problem UNTIL i tried removing my off-brand phone case yesterday and since then no reboot loops so far. no idea how tho

Anonymous
5 years ago

Great article thanks!

My phone has had this Exact issue and everyone Ive spoke to has been like its doin what? Ive never heard of that… maybe try holding it up to a full moon (or equivalent) but this is like yup it IS an issue and heres some things you can do! Ive tried a lot of them already but Ill defo give the rest a go. Thanks

Anonymous
5 years ago

Hi did all of that.. Still shutting itself down. I got a new battery, went fine for a few weeks now its back to restarting. The screen goes black, then It gets these red dotted grid lines on it – then shuts down. It spent 7.5 minutes continually trying to restart yesterday. It comes back up with a ! in my text box and says its only got 1% battery…. then about 10 seconds later it shows the exact amount of battery. It is getting frustarating. Its still under warranty but Spark where i brought it says its showing signs… Read more »

Anonymous
5 years ago

None of your suggestions worked as my phone keeps restarting every 3 mins so cant update anything

Anonymous
5 years ago

My phone (6s) restarting every 2 min,there is no problem while usable

Anonymous
5 years ago

thanks it helped me

Anonymous
5 years ago

My 18 year old son has been through an iPhone 6 an IPhone 6s an IPhone 5s and now another IPhone 5s within about a 6 month time period. He has taken it to a local Iphone repair store, talked to apple support and to no avail. Everyone of them have worked fine for the previous owner (me, other family members) and will work fine for him for about a week and then they restart. And then thats all they will do is restart. Help! Im losing all faith in apple products!!!!

Anonymous
5 years ago

If iPhone 7/7plus screen replaced and reboots, ribbon cable for front camera/speaker may not be seated properly or cable was damaged.

Anonymous
5 years ago

My Iphone 6 randomly started restarting and has for 24 hours. It’s stuck on the screen with the little apple, what can I do to fix it?

Anonymous
5 years ago

My iPhone(6s) continuously restarts and its totally unusable. The Apple logo appears and disappears on the screen, Please help

Anonymous
5 years ago

non of them worked i guess i have to go to the apple store 🙁

Anonymous
5 years ago

i dont know what happen to my iphone 6. its just surprise me that it keeps restarting again and again makes me hustle and gets me pissed please somebody help me there..

Anonymous
5 years ago

I did the full restore and it fixed the 2 major issues I was having. One was the constant rebooting but the major one was the inability to download any apps. All fixed! Yay! Thank you.

Anonymous
5 years ago

I just got my phone back from fixing it like in feb?!

Anonymous
5 years ago

did the steps and it didnt work for the iphone 7

Anonymous
5 years ago

i dropped mu iphone 6 on the floor and it started to shut down again an again , please help

Anonymous
6 years ago

ayuda mi cel no sirve sionorasa}

Anonymous
6 years ago

just replaced battery thinking that was the problem…worked a month and now back to the constant rebooting….trying the restore now

Anonymous
6 years ago

i cant do any of these things because it just keeps restarding. doesnt show an apple logo tho. if i try to solve the problem by connecting it to my laptop, doesnt work either because it just keeps restarding.

Anonymous
6 years ago

when you a do a hard reset does it completely wipe your phone? like it removes all the apps and everything?

Anonymous
6 years ago

My iPhone 5 is always rebooting itself,would you help me?

Anonymous
6 years ago

My Iphone 5s auto retstarting frequently, please advise

Anonymous
6 years ago

what if i dont have a sim card at all? my phone is doing this weird thing after dying.it says its charging and then once its enough to turn on it shows the apple logo but then the screen goes black like it died again.

Anonymous
6 years ago

Thank you for infromation.
Plase could you give theexamlpes of an Application may Cause Techno W2 iPhone To Restart itself?

Anonymous
6 years ago

Mine keeps restarting..restarting over and over and OVER again! I can’t even open to check it because it keeps on Restarting! Please Help!

Anonymous
6 years ago

maybe it is about time to throw my iphone and buy galaxy there isnt any issuse in galay i swer my mom had an galaxy and until she bought a new galaxy phone she had only one charger oh iphone sucks

Anonymous
6 years ago

my iphone 5s fell and its only lighting the screen and showing the apple logo but restarts again only when its charging, otherwise when I take the charger out it doesn’t go on.
Please help!

Anonymous
6 years ago

Thanks, it worked, I did all you suggested, even the charger port cleaning. Thanks!

Anonymous
6 years ago

Thank you soooo much…awesome site for iphone help!!!

Anonymous
6 years ago

My iPhone has recently been restarting for no reason. What could be the issue? I dont have the money for a new phone right now. Im trying to put myself through college. Please help me.

Anonymous
6 years ago

Restarting my phone settings fixed the problem. Thank you!

Anonymous
6 years ago

Thanks ! – sorted with IOS update…

Anonymous
6 years ago

My iPhone kept rebooting every 3 minutes. Then I researched and found your post. I followed it all up till removing my SIM card and its now fixed. Hasnt booted since yesterday. Thank you so much

Anonymous
6 years ago

Worked for me at number 7. Restore Your iPhone Using iTunes

Anonymous
6 years ago

I tried a few things on the list. The one that cracked it was Reset All Settings. I was a bit apprehensive, but, as written above, it didn’t delete apps or data. I did have to re-enter my Wifi password and will have to set a password on the Iphone. thanks very much!

Anonymous
6 years ago

Yippee it works 🙂 thank you 🙂

Anonymous
6 years ago

No solution at all. There is a specific reason why everyone’s iPhones are restarting on their own. This article offers some different fix-its for a variety of ailments, but none specific to this problem.

Anonymous
6 years ago

Updating iOS to 11.2 has stopped this constant problem which threw me back to the lock screen on my iPhone 7.

Anonymous
6 years ago

Thank you, number 4 worked after all!

Anonymous
6 years ago

More than one person I know has had this issue from Friday overnight for some reason. Apple support couldnt fix the problem. iPhone 6 Plus issue. Dont update iOS to 11.1.1.2 It has a lovely glitch that causes your phone to keep resetting. Not enough time in between resets to back up or investigate the issue. It behaves for about 5 seconds – then resets again. Finally found a fix – no thanks to Apple Support Hard reset does not work. DO NOT RESTORE Update straight to 11.2 via your computer using the USB port. After installing that update it… Read more »

Anonymous
6 years ago

As of today, 12/2/17, new update iOS 11.2 will resolve it.

Anonymous
6 years ago

From yesterday my iPhone6splus don’t know y restart over and over pls help me