iPhone Won't Turn Off? Here's How to Fix It [2024]

Robert Hunt
Last updated: Jan 15, 2024

iPhone is frozen and won't let you tap anywhere to turn it off. Read on to find out what to do.

When you are using your iPhone and it suddenly freezes, preventing you from turning it off, you may be wondering why and what you should do. Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explain the reasons why an iPhone won't shut down and provide solutions to fix the issue.

Let's get started.

iPhone Won't Turn Off? Here's How to Fix It

Why Won't My iPhone Turn Off?

First, let's find out the reasons why your iPhone won't shut down. Here are the main causes:

  • Software problems: App issues, conflicts between apps, system errors, and more.
  • iPhone freezing: Apps freeze, preventing any interaction.
  • iPhone button problem: The button is malfunctioning or broken.
  • Hardware problem: There is an issue with your iPhone's hardware or an internal component.

What to Do When Your iPhone Won't Turn Off

Now that you know the reasons behind the iPhone not turning off, let's troubleshoot it.

Force Restart iPhone

The best and easiest way to troubleshoot is to force restart your iPhone. Here's what you should do:

  • 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, then 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, and release them until you see the Apple Logo screen appear.

  • iPhone 6 or Earlier:

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

Tip
Forcing an iPhone restart will close all running apps and programs on it, which may result in data loss.

Fix iPhone via BuhoRepair

Is your iPhone still not turning off even after you've tried a hard reset? This could be due to a software problem. To quickly fix this issue, you might want to give BuhoRepair a shot. It's a really helpful tool for fixing various problems on your iPhone, including the one where it won't shut down.

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Here's how it works.

  1. Download, install, and launch BuhoRepair on your computer.
  2. Click the Repair Now button under the System Repair option.
  3. Connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable.
  4. Choose the Standard Repair option and click Repair Now again.
  5. Follow the onscreen instructions to fix your iPhone.
Fix iPhone Won't Turn Off Using BuhoRepair
Tip
If using the Standard Repair doesn't work, you can try the Advanced Repair option. This goes even deeper to fix more complex issues with your iPhone.

Update/Restore iPhone

Not everyone prefers downloading and installing a third-party iOS repair tool. If that's the case for you, using Finder to fix your iPhone might be the better choice.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
  2. Open Finder on macOS Catalina or later, and iTunes on Windows and macOS Mojave and earlier.
  3. Click the iPhone icon in Finder or iTunes.
  4. If you see the image below, click Update or Restore iPhone to fix your iPhone won't turn off.
    iPhone in Normal Mode
  5. If not, you need to put your iPhone into recovery mode.
  6. Click Update or Restore iPhone according to your needs.
    iPhone in Recovery Mode
Note
Note that restoring your iPhone will erase all content and settings on your iPhone while updating will not. If you don't have an iPhone backup, select Update.

Get iPhone Repaired

If none of the above methods work for you, the problem may be caused by your hardware. To get your iPhone back on track, get help from Apple Support or a trusted Apple repair store.

Conclusion

Force restarting is the safest way to fix the issue of the iPhone not turning off. If it doesn't help, try updating or restoring your iPhone. However, note that restoring may result in data loss. It is recommended that you only do this after backing up your iPhone.

An iPhone that won't turn off due to a hardware problem can only be repaired by a professional. If you don't want to encounter further issues, refrain from attempting to fix it yourself.

Robert Hunt

I'm Robert Hunt, a tech-savvy fan with the love of all things Apple. As a hobbyist of gardening and meditation, I'm also a seasoned writer covering a wide array of Apple products, like iPhone, iPad, iOS and more.