This guide explains how to force restart Apple’s iPhone 6s and earlier models, and how to activate Device Firmware Upgrade (DFU) mode to troubleshoot
your device if necessary.
Basically, a hard reset force-reboots your iPhone, which is useful if the device is frozen, unresponsive or for any number of other inconveniences. glitches aren’t permanent; you can basically troubleshoot strange behaviors by restarting your iPhone. It takes no more than 10 seconds to “reboot” your phone, though
DFU mode,
in contrast, restores an iPhone if a reset or
standard
doesn’t troubleshoot the problem you are experiencing.
DFU mode lets the device interface with iTunes, update the firmware and restore the OS without automatically installing the last downloaded version. It’s
useful for installing older versions of iOS if a beta malfunctions, or if a jailbreak goes bad.
How to Reset iPhone 6s and Earlier Models
The older iPhones with the physical Home button have a much more straightforward force restart process.
Here is how to force restart an iPhone 5s, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, or 6s Plus.
- Press and hold down the Sleep/Wake button of your iPhone.
- While holding the sleep/wake button, press and hold the Home button.
- Continue to hold both buttons for about 10 seconds, until you see the Apple logo appear.
How to Activate DFU Mode on iPhone 6s and Earlier
- 1Turn off your iPhone and connect it to a Mac or windows PC via a Lightning to USB cable
- Ensure iTunes is running.
- Press and hold down the on/off button along with home button at the same time.
- .Keep holding both buttons down for about 10 seconds. (In case the Apple logo appears, you’ve held them down too long and will need to start again.)
- Release the on/off button, but continue to hold the Home button for approximately 5 seconds.
- In case the Apple logo appears, the on/off button was held down for too long and you’ll need to start again.
- If you performed the above steps properly and your phone’s screen remained black, iTunes will alert you that a device was detected in recovery mode.
You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes.” - If your device shows a screen telling you to connect the device to iTunes, retry the previous steps.
To exit DFU mode, just press and hold down both the Home button and the on/off button until the Apple logo appears on your iPhone’s screen.
Restarting Other Devices
Don’t have an iPhone 6s or earlier model? Make sure to check out our guides on how to force restart other Apple devices, listed below:
How to Force Restart iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
How to Force Restart or Hard Reset iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
How to Force Restart iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
How to Shut Down or Force Restart 2018 iPad Pro
How to Force Restart, Enter DFU, Recovery Mode on iPhone 11, 11 Pro and Max
