To restart an iPhone without touchscreen, use the physical buttons to power the device off and on, or use AssistiveTouch if it is already enabled. These are the only documented methods for restarting and rebooting phones when the screen is frozen or unresponsive.
How to restart iPhone without touchscreen using physical buttons
The button sequence to shut down and restart your iPhone depends on your model. On iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, and later, press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears, drag the slider, wait 30 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. On iPhone 6, 7, 8, and SE (2nd or 3rd generation), press and hold the side button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it, wait 30 seconds, and press and hold the side button to turn it back on. On iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, and earlier, use the top button instead of the side button.
How to force restart an unresponsive iPhone
If your iPhone is completely frozen and the power-off slider does not appear, use the documented force-restart button sequence. On iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, and later, press and quickly release the volume up button, press and quickly release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. This reboots the device without requiring any touchscreen interaction.
Restart your iPhone with AssistiveTouch if the screen is broken
If the touchscreen is partially or fully unresponsive but you can still see the display, Apple documents AssistiveTouch as a restart method. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. A virtual button appears on screen. Tap it, tap Device, then tap and hold Lock Screen until the power-off slider appears, then drag the slider. After 30 seconds, press and hold the side button (or top button on older models) to turn the iPhone back on. Apple does not state a separate model restriction for this feature on the cited support pages.
What to avoid when your iPhone touchscreen is not working
Do not use Find My iPhone or iTunes as a restart method. Apple documents Find My for locating, marking as lost, and locking the device, not for restarting it. To use Find My, open the Find My app, select the device under Devices or Items, then choose Lost Mode or Mark as Lost. Similarly, an iTunes restore erases all data and is not a documented touchscreen-free restart method on the cited support page. A button restart does not delete any data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an iPhone be restarted without touching the screen?
Yes. Use the physical buttons to power it off and on, or use AssistiveTouch if it is already enabled. Both methods are documented by Apple.
Does Find My restart the iPhone?
No. It does not include a restart function.
Does Apple document a restart via iTunes for this case?
Not on the cited support page. iTunes is used for restoring or updating the device, which erases data, not for a simple restart.
Will restarting my iPhone fix touchscreen issues?
In many cases, yes. A restart clears temporary software glitches that can cause the touchscreen to become unresponsive. If the issue persists after a restart, it may indicate a hardware problem.
Does a button restart delete any data?
No. Restarting your iPhone using the physical buttons or AssistiveTouch does not erase any data. It only refreshes the device’s software.
What should I do if my iPhone's touchscreen is not responding?
Clean the screen with a soft, lint-free cloth first, then try a restart.
Is there any other way to restart my iPhone?
Yes. Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, slide the power-off slider, then press and hold the power button to turn it back on.
