Restarting your iPhone 13 might seem like a basic task, but it’s one of the most effective ways to resolve minor issues, refresh the system, and improve performance without deleting any data. Whether your iPhone 13 is acting a little sluggish, apps aren’t responding properly, or you simply want to reboot it to give it a fresh start, knowing how to restart your device the right way can make a difference.
In this detailed guide, you’ll learn how to restart iPhone 13 using both the standard method and alternative options—like force restarting and restarting via settings. We’ll also go over when and why you should restart your device, how it differs from resetting, and some pro tips for troubleshooting.
📱 Why Restart Your iPhone 13?
Restarting your iPhone helps in more ways than you might think. It clears temporary system files, stops background processes that may be stuck, and helps your phone run more smoothly.
Here are some common reasons to restart your iPhone 13:
- Your phone is lagging or freezing
- Apps are crashing or unresponsive
- You’re experiencing Wi-Fi or Bluetooth issues
- Your screen or buttons stop responding
- After a software update to complete the process
- General performance boost and system refresh
While iPhones are known for their stability, occasional restarts help maintain overall performance and stability.
✅ Method 1: How to Restart iPhone 13 (Standard Way)
The iPhone 13 doesn’t have a physical Home button. Instead, it uses a combination of the Side button and Volume buttons to power off and restart the device.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Press and hold the Side button (on the right side of your iPhone) and either Volume Up or Volume Down (on the left side) at the same time.
- After holding them for about 2–3 seconds, the power-off slider will appear on the screen.
- Drag the slider that says “slide to power off” from left to right.
- Wait about 10 seconds for your iPhone to fully shut down.
- To turn it back on, press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
That’s it—you’ve successfully restarted your iPhone 13!
🔄 Method 2: How to Force Restart iPhone 13 (If It’s Unresponsive)
If your screen is frozen, your iPhone isn’t responding to taps or button presses, or apps are completely locked up, a force restart may be necessary.
This method doesn’t delete data and is completely safe—it simply forces your device to shut down and reboot.
How to Force Restart iPhone 13:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black and the Apple logo appears.
Let go of the Side button once you see the Apple logo. Your iPhone will boot back up like normal.
When to use this:
- Touchscreen isn’t responding
- iPhone is stuck on a black screen or Apple logo
- Apps have completely frozen
- Your phone is in a boot loop or software crash
⚙️ Method 3: Restart iPhone 13 Using Settings (No Buttons)
If your buttons are not functioning or you prefer a button-free method, you can also restart your iPhone using the Settings app.
Here’s how:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Shut Down.
- The “slide to power off” slider will appear.
- Slide to turn off the phone.
- After it powers off, press and hold the Side button to turn it back on.
This method is especially helpful if you’re dealing with a hardware issue affecting the physical buttons.
🚨 Restart vs. Reset vs. Restore: What’s the Difference?
It’s easy to confuse these terms, but they mean very different things:
✅ Restart:
- Turns the device off and back on
- Does not delete any data or settings
- Used for minor glitches or performance refresh
❎ Reset:
- Erases selected settings or all content (depending on the type of reset)
- Can be partial (like resetting only network settings) or complete (factory reset)
❌ Restore:
- Done via a computer or iCloud
- Erases all content and reinstalls iOS
- Used for serious problems or to prepare the phone for resale
For everyday issues, a restart is your safest and most effective starting point.
🧠 Common Reasons to Restart Your iPhone 13 Regularly
Although iPhones are designed for continuous use, occasional restarts can keep things running smoothly.
Restart your device when:
- You’ve installed a new iOS update
- Your phone feels slow or sluggish
- Apps take longer than usual to load
- You experience random shutdowns or screen glitches
- Battery percentage behaves erratically
- You’re switching networks or SIM cards
A simple restart is often enough to solve these common frustrations without needing tech support.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Tips for Restart Issues
Sometimes your iPhone might not restart as expected. Here are solutions for common restart-related problems:
🔸 iPhone 13 Won’t Turn On After Restart:
- Make sure the battery isn’t completely drained—plug it in and wait a few minutes.
- Try a force restart (Volume Up > Volume Down > hold Side button).
- Check the charging cable and port for dust or damage.
🔸 iPhone Gets Stuck on Apple Logo:
- Try a force restart to exit the boot loop.
- If that doesn’t work, you may need to enter recovery mode and restore the device using a computer.
🔸 Restart Keeps Failing or Looping:
- This could be due to a corrupt app or failed update.
- Connect to a Mac or PC and update or restore using Finder or iTunes.
If none of these solutions work, contacting Apple Support is your next best step.
🧾 Pro Tips to Improve iPhone 13 Performance After Restart
Once your iPhone restarts, it’s a great time to clean things up and optimize performance:
🧹 Clear Unused Apps and Files:
Go to Settings > iPhone Storage and offload or delete unused apps and large files.
🧼 Close Background Apps:
Double swipe up from the bottom of the screen to view open apps and swipe up to close any you don’t need running.
📲 Check for Updates:
Make sure your iOS is up to date by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
📶 Reset Network Settings:
If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth acts up, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
📌 Summary: Restarting iPhone 13 the Right Way
| Restart Method | When to Use | Data Loss Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Restart | For regular use, general slowdowns | None |
| Force Restart | If screen is frozen or unresponsive | None |
| Restart via Settings | If buttons aren’t working | None |
Restarting your iPhone 13 is a simple but powerful solution to many everyday issues. It takes just a few seconds, doesn’t delete your data, and can instantly improve performance and fix glitches.
🔚 Final Thoughts
Your iPhone 13 is a high-performance device, but even the best tech needs a refresh now and then. Whether you’re solving an issue or just doing routine maintenance, knowing how to restart your iPhone 13 properly ensures your device stays smooth, responsive, and reliable.
A quick restart can resolve app crashes, boost speed, and eliminate minor bugs—no tech skills required. Make it a habit to restart your phone once in a while, and you’ll notice the difference.
Remember: When in doubt, don’t reset—just restart!
Would you like a matching YouTube description or a custom thumbnail for this article?