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:
- iPhones that restart intermittently: You can use your iPhone for a while with no problem at all, and then your iPhone suddenly restarts.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
I literally just got a new replacement iPhone 11 from the apple store today and have never had this problem where it just keeps randomly restarting its restarting just that I’ve seen at least 10 times in the last 6-7 hours possibly more when not paying attention. So it’s not like this is an older phone or out of date or broken it is literally brand new. May not be the 12 but it’s still new enough, it’s within a year of release and this exact one is a day old. I’m going to try a few of these things… Read more »
Heyy I have an iphone 11 pro max and it only restarts sometimes but it only does it when I’m out and if I’m on TikTok and then the wifi tries to connect where I’m at . This is the third time it’s done this the same way too. Only when i go on TikTok and I’m out and about. Help??
Hi, mine’s kinda weird:
My iPhone 7 plus is working fine whenever i’m using it or when it’s plugged in my Mac, but the restart loop occurs few minutes when it’s unplugged and on standby mode.
I’ve done the resets and even erasing all the contents on my phone, but the problem is still there.
I’m also trying to update from iOs 14.3 to 14.4 but it won’t proceed.
Any ideas what can cause this?
Sounds to me like your battery might be going bad? It might be time to upgrade your phone. Check out our cell phone comparison tool to see your options. It is more worth it to you to upgrade than to do a ton of maintenance like a battery swap. The iPhone 12 is a great choice if you have some money to spend, but the iPhone SE is also a great choice if you are looking for a budget option.
I have the same problem, same phone. Installed a new battery from ifixit, however the problem was not solved!
If you are still having trouble, try a DFU restore to see if that helps. This will eliminate any software problems that are causing issues with your device. If not, there is a hardware problem. Since you’ve already ruled out that your battery isn’t causing the problem, Shawn, then if it is a hardware issue then there may be something wrong with another component. Fixing this kind of issue can be a bit expensive, and it might be time to consider your upgrade options. I hope this helps!
I have an iPhone X that I haven’t done an update on in like a yr.. it’s 64gb and was at 63.9 I plugged in computer to take out ‘new’ pics which was almost 12k.. there’s 85k total on phone and the 12k took 8hrs… well when done it didn’t say anything to delete off my phone while adding to computer.. I unplugged phone and went to photos for all of them to still be there then my phone went to black and the Apple logo will not go off even shutting offf and turning back on… I really do… Read more »
my iphone keeps restarting and i have done a reset on the settings. i have deleted many apps from using my data. i have turned it off and back on multiple times. i have a crack on the screen from where i dropped it. any clue on what too do? as i cant afford another phone
I have iphone6 and it randomly restart after some time of usage i tired everything but it doesn’t work my ios version is 12.5.1 and battery health is 100%
my phone is stuck in a restarting loop like number 2 ive took my sim out tried doing the hard reset i held both buttons down for a solid 45 seconds but it will not get out of this loop ive tried cleaning my charging port nothing is working what do i do?
Make sure you press and release the Volume up button, then press and release the volume down button. Finally, press and hold the power key until it begins to hard reset.
my phone keeps restarting repeatedly just like number 2.. but my phone has no sims card. What do i do?
Skip that step and move on to a hard reset ? My new ‘phone’ doesn’t have a SIM card inserted right now either.
my iphone stuck in reboot loop. i try all the software methode. did you think my motherboard are broken?
If you have tried a DFU restore and it didn’t solve the problem, then a hardware issue is most likely to be the cause
It was my SIM card. Thank you so much for the information!
did you inserted it again?
thanks for this wonderful article , i have really perfumed all the above expect hardware and the issues is not solved yet . please can failed in icloub payment lead to phone restoring ?
I was so scared please help me , my iphone 8 keep restarting . So tired and my phone is out of warranty ??
My phone is an 8 too and it would sometimes freeze and just today I turned it on and it was working good and I was hearing music and it restarted and it has been in that screen for 30 minutes already
Hi, my iphone XR is having restarting loop during restore. Hence, it is repeating in between the restore loading bar, apple logo and black screen. Any solution to advice? Much appreciated.
I have same problem with my iphone 8 please any one help
Thanks!
is there another way to do the hard reset without using the home button because my home button has long gone, help me pleaseee
the hard reset is with the volume down button & the power button, not the home button
the same thing happened to my iphone after updating to IOS 14. Despite doing the hard reset and doing the recovery mode the phone is still in a loop.
im having the same issue
very helpful,i got my phone fixed in a repair shop and it was on a restarting loop for hours after they handed it back. had to reset all settings. thank you.
how much did it cost?
Updated to IOS 14 on iphone Xr and its stuck restarting. Tried DFU mode, got it to restore and update, but it still happens. Anyone have a work around? Apple is booked solid for a week and they have 0 appts available.
I am having the same problem, did you find any solution that worked?
I have the same problem, did you find a solutiont that worked?
I have the same problem, did you find a solution that worked?
My iPhone showed (IPHONE DISABLED CONNECT TO ITUNES) please what should I do
Hey there! i have a iphone 7 and a couple of days ago i dropped it on the floor (with a case on) then i started to see that it kept restarting and it wouldnt die or charge ive tried doing the software update but i could never get it done in time because it would reset every 3 minutes and for 5 days straight it has always been on the charger and it always stayed on 1% if anyone knows how to fix this please let me know! (oh and ive already tried everything they listed none of them… Read more »
The same thing happened to me. I dropped it with a case on and it kept restarting after 3 mins. And it wouldn’t connect to my cellular network. It just kept say searching or no network and then shut off. Then when it would restart it would have the battery at 1% for a the 3 mins it was on. And before it would turn off the battery would display the correct amount in the battery and it would shut off. I even updated to the new iOS and its still doing that.
The same thing happened to me. I dropped it with a case on and it kept restarting after 3 mins. And it wouldn’t connect to my cellular network. It just kept say searching or no network and then shut off. Then when it would restart it would have the battery at 1% for a the 3 mins it was on. And before it would turn off the battery would display the correct amount in the battery and it would shut off. I even updated to the new iOS and its still doing that.
Did you find any solution coz that’s what I’m facing rn ?
My phone was restarting every 3-5 minutes so if your battery’s percentage wasn’t stable or dropping down even while the charger plugged in and also the battery’s health wasn’t appearing in battery settings. I would recommend to change your battery because that what I did and it worked well.
Well I have an xs Max and ive done everything mentioned on these websites from hard reset, buying Reiboot to try and update or restore my phonne just so i can have a phone to use and nothing worked.. This started happening after updating my phone to IOS 14.
It starting happening because of that update for me too!
Did you find a solution?
Mine too took it I forgot repair y said it would cost $350 to fix. Phone costs as much as the fix (smh)
Yeah, that’s pretty standard in the industry. You’re better off upgrading to a device that will last longer. Chances are, even if you paid up to get your phone fixed, it might just break again and require more repairs. I reccomend checking out UpPhone’s cell phone comparison tool to help you find a phone that fits your needs. You can search for phones based on their price, storage capacity, manufacturer, and even screen size!
Hi, My name is Hilary and my iPhone 7 Plus is stuck on the apple logo and it keeps repeating itself over and over again. I did everything like hard reset, taking my SIM card out, and charging my phone. But it still doesn’t work.
Thanks, DFU mode, update worked..didn’t lose any data. Yay!!
Hello! I am very young and very naïve when it comes to using technology. I did everything your steps said to do, I did the hard reset, removing the sims card, looking at the charger port, updating my Iphone, yet it still isn’t working. After this amount of time, I am very frustrated because I have no luck fixing it. At this point it can’t be a bug or a glitch, it has to be repaired doesn’t it?
There’s one last thing you can try to rule out problems with your software. Check out our guide about performing a DFU restore. If that doesn’t work, then it’s probably a hardware problem that will require you to get your phone repaired or replaced.
7. Restore Your iPhone Using iTunesTHAT’S what started my problem in the first place. I restored a backup I had just made (about 10 minutes earlier.)
I broke My Home button on my 7 it keeps rebootin
Same wth
Hi
I had just installed the new IOS 14 on my iPhone XS. When it got installed within 2 to 3 minutes it started to restart and after than it continued the same. I also tried some of the methods that showed on the web but it still did not work. Like shutdown and start, reset all, remove the sim card and all that is give up but still at the same position
Now what shall I do for the same.
Please do revert back as soon as possible.
I am having the same problem, did you find anything that worked?
Hi I need help for my iPhone does not recharge and have now black screen at the bottom appears written
Express cards and keys avilable
my iphone 5s keeps restart intermittently, and my battery its soo easy to drain, my battery precentage became chaos sometimes its 1% and then next minute blow up to 50% or more… and then im checking my phone crash list on 3utool app and suddenly there’s no data about my battery.. thats why it keeps restarting.. and yes i just change my battery and it just the same:( can someone help me with this problem please? i need it so much… thanks.
Mine iPad is doing exactly the same! It’s on and off like I don’t know what. Ever sinnce the 14 update.
Is that a new thingy? My iPad doing the same thing too. Was at recovery mode and it’s keep shutting down on its own. I’ve been trying everything for 2 days now and it’s very exhausted
Did you ever get this issue resolved? I just updated my iphone to IOS 14 and the same thing is happening. Ive tried everything. I even got it to update and restore from itunes, but it continues to do it the same. Apple doesnt have an appointment available for an entire week. Hope you have a solution! 🙁
My iphone 11 pro max is in a restart loop and Ive tried to hard reset my phone but its is unresponsive to it. It just keeps resetting and resetting and resetting. Ive tried to take the sims card out and it is totally unresponsive. What do i do next?
hi. I got the same problem but with an iphone7+ . Did you manage to fix it ?
Hi, I’m also using an Iphone 7+. It was ok for a while, but keeps on restarting again after I use it in hours. Please share if you manage to fix yours. Thank you
myiphone 4s has developed problem during updating of software.when i put it in software update mode after half an hour my wi-fi disconnected due to load shading.Thereafter it shows only itune icon with an arrow indicating the icon while myself tried to switch on the device.but it goes on off mode.pls solve my problem
The iPhone 4s is currently no longer supported by Apple, so I’m surprised you’re getting updates at all. If you want to stay up to date with the latest iOS software, I recommend you get a new iPhone. The iPhone 8 is the oldest iPhone available that supports iOS 13, but it will also be discontinued in a few years. The latest iPhone 11 or iPhone SE will keep you going longer with the most software updates.
are you mad or what? iphone 6s and 6s plus are the oldest model which will also receive the ios 14 update
Okay, you got me ? But honestly I wouldn’t buy a phone that won’t get software updates soon. iPhone 6 will probably be classified as obsolete by Apple soon.
My iphone 2020 kept rebooting. apple could not find what caused it. phone returned for refund. now my old phone 5 se 2016 does the same thing which it never did before!
My iphone Xs max keeps restarting automatically..
My iphone 11 shut down n restart every 3 minutes what’s the solution ? Can u help me plz .
Did you find a solution? My phone is now doing the samething
My 11 just started doing this as well. Ive tried everything up to the hard reset and nothing is working. Apple says my warranty is null in void due to the screen also registering saying it doesnt recognize the screen replacement. It is giving them the inclination that my phone has been repaired by a non apple approved repair store. I have not had the screen replaced nor has it broken. They say if it is a hardware issue i will have to pay for it myself. I am at a loss so if anyone has any idea what to… Read more »
None of that has helped, its even really hard to get it into DFU mode, with this phone, my other phones I had no issues with, this one is giving me such problems. So if I did those steps, and its still not working, is it worth it do mail it in? the only thing I haven’t tried is downloading the program or software from the other video about putting phone into DFU mode, maybe I’ll try that.. please what do you suggest???? thank you!
hello, im trying all of the things , hope restoring i can fix my iphone 6 .
maybe i have a problem with my chard chip u2
Restarting Issue Solved!! (Took some time and perhaps some luck) I had this issue. Was able get it to home screen after connecting to PC/iTunes. Performed successful back up. Performed Successful restore to factory. Then, I had problems restoring from back up (kept saying phone disconnected ((halfway during process)), ‘unable to complete back up’). Found some info via the net; Did this: On phone, in settings, changed Name ID of phone; changed USB port on PC; switched iPhone to lower power mode. Not sure what made it happen but I was able to successfully restore from back up. Now,… Read more »
Hi my iPhone XS keeps restarting over and over again after I dropped my phone in the water for only a second. I don’t think it’s water damage because when I picked it up it was only on the surface. But my phone is very slow and it keeps restarting after almost a minute. I checked if it was a software update I was missing but my phone was updated to the most recent update and I deleted lots of apps to see if that was the problem but it wasn’t. Please help!
after i update my iphone xs into latest ios version it goes restart intermittently. im searching for any solutions in web but it doesn’t work. i hope someone sees my comment to help how to fix this issue.
The update that you downloaded may not have installed correctly. You might want to try a DFU restore if you can, and then download your iCloud backup if you can to restore your iPhone back to the way it was.
my iphone 7+ keeps on restarting itself but this time when it restart by its logo it will shut down and come up again with the logo not the homescreen
Same
same, i dont know waht to do, please helpppp
omg.. same.. Did you manage to fix it ?
Hi
my iPhone 8 keeps restarting. Ive changed the battery did hard reset and all but still restart and sometimes wont come back on for 5 to 6 hours. Please help
hi my iphone 6s pluas after updating, it is stuck in restart loop. what to do? please help
Try a hard reset. If that doesn’t work, try a DFU restore.
my phone keeps resetting it self
Hi, my iphone 6 keep restarting then i restore it. Then, it keep restart again while the setup phone does not complete yet. How to handle it ? please help
i just jailbreak my iphone so it got restarting
apple logo is appearing and automatically its getting disappeared and again the logo comes back.
my iphone 5s is conyinuously restarting
in my case it was the camera
I dropped my iphone 7plus on the water and it started to ask for shut down again and again with nonstop.also some times power button home nutton and the vibration s not working… How can I solve this any Suggestions………??????????…………
i drop my ihpone6 but then it keep restarting itself what should i do please help me as soon as possibnle