iPhone Keeps Turning On and Off: 7 Fixes That Work

An iPhone that repeatedly shows the Apple logo, shuts off, and starts again may have a software, storage, battery, or hardware problem. Start with the non-erasing checks below and move to recovery mode only if the phone can’t finish starting.

#1. Force Restart Your iPhone

A force restart makes the iPhone restart without erasing its content. Apple publishes model-specific force-restart steps; use the sequence for your model.

iPhone 8, SE (2nd/3rd gen), and newer:

Press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears and release.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:

Hold Volume Down and Sleep/Wake simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, then release.

iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), and older:

Hold the Home button and Sleep/Wake simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

If the phone boots normally, use it long enough to confirm the restart does not repeat. Otherwise, move to Fix 2.

#2. Update iOS

If the phone remains usable, check for a pending update. According to Apple’s current iOS update guide, you can update through Settings or a computer.

If your phone is stable long enough to reach the home screen, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update. Keep the iPhone plugged into power during the download.

If the phone reboots before you reach Settings, connect it to iTunes or Finder on a computer and update from there.

#Why Does an iPhone Keep Turning On and Off?

Repeated restarts have several possible causes. Use the timing and symptoms as clues rather than treating any one cause as confirmed:

Cause	How to identify	Best fix
Interrupted update	Began during or after an update	Force restart, then update
Low storage	Storage is nearly full	Offload apps
App crash loop	Crash on specific app	Delete the app
Battery hardware	Random shutoffs	Battery replacement
Startup failure	Can’t reach the Home Screen	Apple recovery mode

According to Apple’s recovery-mode guide, a computer can offer Update or Restore when an iPhone can’t start or update normally.

#3. Offload Unused Apps

If the phone stays on, check Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Offloading an unused app removes the app while retaining its documents and data.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Tap any app you don’t use regularly and select Offload App. iOS 16 and later can also do this automatically: toggle Offload Unused Apps at the top of the same screen.

Remove or offload enough content for the storage graph to show clear free space, then restart and test again. Apple does not publish a universal free-space threshold for this symptom.

#4. Check Your Battery Health

A degraded battery can cause unexpected shutdowns that resemble a reboot loop. Check the health message as well as the capacity percentage.

Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging. According to Apple’s battery and performance guide, cycle design targets differ by model, and iOS can show when a battery needs service. If you also notice rapid battery drain, a service message, an unexpected-shutdown notice, or physical swelling, stop here and arrange service. Pricing depends on the model, coverage, and region.

#5. Reset All Settings

If the restarting began after a settings or profile change, Reset All Settings is a non-erasing check to try before recovery mode.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Your photos and apps stay intact. The phone restarts once; let it boot fully before testing.

This restores system preferences to defaults. It doesn’t prove that a particular setting caused the loop, so continue to recovery mode if the problem remains.

#Is This an iPhone Boot Loop?

In a startup loop, the phone repeatedly returns to the Apple logo without reaching the Home Screen. That differs from intermittent restarts after the phone has already started. Don’t use a short fixed timer as proof that the device is stuck; an update or restore can leave the progress bar moving slowly.

If the phone never finishes starting, our iPhone boot loop fix guide covers the recovery-mode path. Also see what to do when your iPhone won’t turn on at all when there is no Apple logo or other response.

#6. Use Apple Recovery Mode

If the iPhone can’t start or update normally, connect it to a current Mac or Windows PC and follow Apple’s recovery-mode instructions. When the computer offers Update or Restore, choose Update first. That attempts to reinstall iOS while retaining personal data.

Use Restore only after you understand that it erases the device and you have exhausted the non-erasing option. Keep the phone connected until the computer finishes or gives a specific error you can troubleshoot.

#7. Contact Apple Support

If the loop continues after Apple’s recovery steps, arrange an inspection through Apple’s service and repair page. Continued restarting does not by itself identify a specific failed component.

Book service through Apple Support. Tell the technician whether the phone reaches the Home Screen, whether recovery mode offered an error, and whether iOS reported a battery service warning. Coverage and cost depend on the diagnostic result and your plan.

#Bottom Line

Force restart first. If the phone stays on, update iOS, free storage, and check battery health.

If it can’t finish starting, use Apple recovery mode and choose Update before Restore. Arrange service when the supported recovery path doesn’t resolve the loop. If restarting also leaves you with no cellular service, report that separately instead of assuming both symptoms share a cause.

#Frequently Asked Questions