Having trouble turning off your iPhone? Apple has quietly changed the button combinations over the years, making it difficult for older users to turn off their iPhones. I have also been in the same shoes once, and it can be pretty confusing. That is why I bring you a complete guide on how to switch off your iPhone across different models with step-by-step instructions.
How to Switch off Your iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide for All Models
Switching off any iPhone varies from model to model. Newer generations of devices with Face ID have a different button combination in comparison to older models that featured a Home button. Plus, there are also other ways to power down the device, which we will also cover in this read.
Switch off an iPhone with Face ID
This is the standard method to switch off iPhones with Face ID, like the iPhone X, XS, and newer models, like the iPhone 17. It also works for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone SE (2020).
- Long-press the Side + Volume Up buttons together till the power menu appears.
- Here, drag the "slide to power off" slider to the right to turn off your iPhone.
Turn off an iPhone with a Home Button
For iPhones with a Home button, which includes iPhone 7 and older, then follow these steps:
- Press and hold the Side + Home buttons simultaneously.
- When the power menu shows up, drag rightwards on the "slide to power off" slider to switch off the iPhone.
Use Control Center to Switch off Your iPhone
Apple has added another method to turn off your iPhone directly from the Control Center. But it is only available for iOS 18-supported devices. Here's how it works.
- Launch the Control Center on your iPhone by swiping down from the top right.
- Now, long-press the Power icon at the top right.
- This will bring up the power menu. Here, drag the "slide to power off" slider to the right to turn off your iPhone.
Shut down your iPhone from iOS settings
If your buttons don't work, you can shut down your iPhone using the Settings app.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and select General.
- Here, scroll down to the bottom and tap on Shut Down.
- Next, drag the "slide to power off" slider to the right to power off your iPhone.
This method works for all Apple iPhone models, except some very old ones.
Switch off Your iPhone Using Siri
If your touch screen is unresponsive, you can also ask Siri to turn off your iPhone.
- On your iPhone, say "Hey Siri, Turn off my iPhone". If 'Hey Siri' is deactivated, you can trigger it by long-pressing the Side button and then saying this prompt.
- It will ask for confirmation; simply select Power Off.
How to Force Restart an iPhone
If your iPhone has completely frozen and won't respond to your touch, then a simple switch-off process won't work. A force restart could help fix the issue.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up, then Volume Down button in this exact order.
- Then long-press the Side Button until the Apple logo appears.
This will force your iPhone to restart. If the above steps didn't help, then we have a dedicated guide on how to restart your iPhone that could be helpful.
That brings us to the end of this guide. Switching off your iPhone is the most basic of things that most of you should already know by now, and it can help you solve things like the purple line issue on iPhone and white dot on screen. But Apple has made it slightly more complicated over time. I hope this guide was able to help you understand the right button combination for your iPhone model.
