To shut this phone off, press and hold the side button and either volume button on an iPhone with Face ID, or press and hold the side button on iPhone models with a Home button, then drag the Power Off slider. For a Samsung Galaxy phone, press and hold the Side and Volume down buttons together, then tap Power off twice.
How to shut this phone off: iPhone, Samsung & Pixel
Whether you need to power down for a flight, troubleshoot a glitch, or simply conserve battery, the instructions below match what Apple, Samsung, and Google officially document for their devices.
Shut off an iPhone
- Face ID models (iPhone X and later): Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the Power Off slider and Emergency SOS slider appear. Drag the Power Off slider.
- Home button models (iPhone SE, iPhone 8 and earlier): Press and hold the side button until the Power Off slider appears. Drag the Power Off slider.
- Settings path: Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, then drag the slider to power off.
Shut off a Samsung Galaxy phone
- Primary button method: Press and hold the Side button and Volume down button simultaneously until the Power menu appears. Tap Power off, then tap Power off again to confirm. On models with a dedicated Power button, press and hold Power instead. Exact button behavior can vary by model, including models with a dedicated Power button and models where Side button settings can be customized. To customize the long-press behavior, go to Settings > Advanced features > Side button, then choose Long press and select Power off menu.
- Quick settings method: Swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen to open the full Quick settings panel. Tap the Power icon in the upper right corner, then tap Power off twice.
- Bixby voice method: After setting up Bixby Voice, press and hold the Side button and say “Turn off the phone.” Bixby asks for confirmation before powering down.
Shut off a Google Pixel phone
- Pixel 5a and earlier: Press and hold the Power button until the Power menu appears. Tap Power off.
- Pixel 6 and later: Press and hold the Power button and Volume up button together until the Power menu appears. Tap Power off.
What to do if the phone won't shut off
Samsung documents a force reboot step specifically for when the Power menu doesn’t appear: keep holding Volume down and Side to force the device to reboot. For phones without a Power key, Samsung's Quick settings path also uses the same button path and the Quick settings > Power path. For an iPhone, press and release Volume up, press and release Volume down, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Google's instructions split support at Pixel 5a and earlier versus Pixel 6 and later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off my phone save battery?
Yes. When the phone is powered off, it uses no energy, so the battery retains its charge longer. This is useful if you won’t have access to a charger for an extended period.
Can I still receive calls if my phone is off?
No. A phone that is turned off disconnects from the cellular network, so incoming calls go directly to voicemail. Use Airplane Mode or Do Not Disturb if you need to avoid calls while keeping the phone on.
Is powering my phone on and off bad for it?
No. Powering your phone on and off is a normal operation and does not harm the device. In fact, a full shutdown can clear minor software glitches and improve performance.
What if my phone has a non-removable battery and won’t turn off?
For Samsung devices, use the documented force reboot (hold Volume down + Side). For iPhones and Pixels, perform the standard force restart described in the troubleshooting section above. If the screen remains unresponsive, contact the manufacturer’s support.
