6 Ways to Fix iPhone Frozen/Stuck on Lock Screen 2025

"Has anyone had any troubles with only their Lock Screen freezing? I am using my phone normally except for the Lock Screen which is stuck/frozen. I can’t clear notifications or read the clock clearly because the lock icon is stuck on top of the clock. The time is changing but I can’t use anything on the Lock Screen. I was able to get back into my phone using the utilities control screen."

- A Question from Apple Community.

Many iPhone users have faced the issue of their devices freezing or getting stuck on the lock screen. In such cases, swiping up to unlock or pressing the Side button often doesn’t work.

Don't worry! This guide will teach you several proven methods to fix the problem.

Why Is My iPhone Stuck on the Lock Screen?

There are several possible reasons why your iPhone might freeze on the lock screen. The most common ones include:

• Software bugs.
• iPhone storage full.
• App malfunctions.
• iOS issues.
• Touch screen problems.

How to Fix iPhone Frozen or Stuck on the Lock Screen (6 Solutions)

Now that you know the potential causes, let’s jump into 6 effective ways to fix an iPhone stuck on the lock screen.

1. Receive a Phone Call

If your iPhone is stuck on the lock screen, ask someone to call you. Sometimes, an incoming call can refresh the screen and get your iPhone back to normal.

2. Restart or Force Restart Your iPhone

If the phone call trick doesn’t work, try restarting your iPhone. Restarting can resolve many temporary issues.

If a regular restart doesn’t help, perform a force restart:

• For iPhone 8 or Later:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button＞press and quickly release the Volume Down button＞press and hold the Side button＞release it when you see the Apple Logo screen.

• For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus:

Press the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time＞release them until you see the Apple Logo screen appear.

• For iPhone 6 or Earlier:

Press the Home button and Power button at the same time＞release them when you see the Apple logo screen on your iPhone.

If you don’t want to restart immediately, try pressing and releasing the Side button repeatedly to see if it helps.

3. Use A Third-Party iPhone Repair Tool

The easiest and most convenient way to fix the iPhone frozen on the lock screen is to turn to a professional iPhone repair tool.

BuhoRepair is one of the most powerful iPhone repair tools. With it, you can easily fix iOS system issues, like iPhone stuck on the restore screen, iPhone stuck on the Apple Logo, iPhone stuck on the lock screen, etc.

Here is how to use BuhoRepair to fix the iPhone frozen on the lock screen:

1. Free download, install, and launch BuhoRepair.
2. Click Rrepair Now＞Select Standard Repair＞Repair Now.

   

3. Connect your iPhone with your computer via a USB cable.
4. Click Download. Once finished, click Repair Now.
5. Set your iPhone as a new one.

4. Restore Your iPhone Using iTunes/Finder

Restoring your iPhone through iTunes/Finder can also fix this issue. However, this method will erase all your data, so it’s recommended to back up your iPhone first.

• If you have previously synced and trusted your iPhone:

Connect your iPhone to your computer > open iTunes/Finder > click Restore.

• If you haven’t synced or trusted your iPhone before:

You need to enter recovery mode before restoring:

1. Open iTunes/Finder.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer via a USB cable.
3. Put your iPhone into recovery mode:

• For iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE ( 2nd generation):

  Quickly press and release the Volume Up button＞press and release the Volume Down button＞press and hold the Side button until the recovery mode screen appears.

• For iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus:

  Press and hold the Top (or Side) and Volume Down buttons simultaneously until the recovery mode screen appears.

• For iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation):

  Press and hold both the Home and the Top (or Side) buttons simultaneously until the recovery mode screen appears.

4. Click Restore.
5. Set up your iPhone once the process is complete.

5. Free Up iPhone Storage

If your iPhone frequently gets stuck on the lock screen, it may be due to low storage space. Insufficient storage can slow down your device and cause freezing issues.

Clear up some space by deleting unnecessary apps, photos, and files.

6. Contact Apple Support

The last try you could make is to ask Apple Support for help. Besides the software issues, there may be hardware issues with your iPhone.

How to Prevent Your iPhone from Freezing on the Lock Screen Again

To avoid this issue in the future, follow these tips:

• Keep enough storage space on your iPhone.
• Regularly update to the latest iOS version.
• Avoid unsafe third-party apps.
• Turn off unnecessary lock screen notifications.
• Limit the number of widgets and lock screen customizations.
• Avoid jailbreaking your iPhone unless necessary.

Conclusion

In this post, we’ve discussed the causes, solutions, and prevention tips for an iPhone stuck on the lock screen.

Follow the steps above to get your iPhone working normally again!