How to Reset an iPhone

Guide Note Scenario: You're rocking on with your iPhone or iPod Touch when disaster strikes! Now you're stuck on a frozen screen, or unable to even turn the thing on. Don't fret, you haven't been iBricked. In many cases, the issue can be fixed by simply resetting your device. This guide will show you when to reset, and how to do it quickly.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• When To Reset?
• Step 1: Power Down
• Step 2: Reset
• Conclusion

Tips for Resetting an iPhone

1. You will only need to know two buttons on your device to perform a reset.
2. The Home button is on the front, on the bottom-center.
3. The Sleep/Wake button is on the top side, to the right.
4. Many, but not all, problems can be solved by resetting your device.
5. You can Force Quit unresponsive applications to avoid the resetting process.
6. Resetting will not delete any information or custom settings on your device.
7. Resetting is not the same as Restoring.

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Introduction

• No matter how many Gs your iPhone or iPod Touch is designated with, odds are that you're going to encounter a situation where the gadget freezes on you. But not all such mishaps require a visit to the Apple Store. In some cases, simply resetting the iPhone will completely solve your problems.¹

• If you've never done it before, don't worry. The process is almost exactly the same as resetting an iPod, and is just as quick and simple. The steps and information in this guide directly apply to the process of resetting an iPod Touch, as well.

When To Reset?

• 

  If your screen freezes, it's reset time. (Creative Commons photo by Torley)
  There are all sorts of arcane errors that can arise out of your iPhone or iPod, and not all of them call for a reset.² However, resetting is just the solution in the event that your device:
  1. Fails to appear or fails to sync properly in iTunes.³
  2. Can no longer access the email, the Internet, playback music or perform other basic functions.³
  3. No longer turns on, or the touchscreen becomes frozen and unresponsive.³

• TIP: If it's just an application which has become unresponsive, you don't necessarily have to reset the entire device. You can simply press and hold the Home button at the bottom-center of the device for about 6 seconds to Force Quit the specific application.⁴

Step 1: Power Down the Device

• Resetting your device is basically forcing the machine to reboot itself.¹ The first step is to shut it down completely:
  1. Locate the Sleep/Wake button on the top side of your device, to the very right.
  2. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until a red slider appears on the touchscreen.
  3. Move the slider all the way across.

Step 2: Reset the Device

• 

  Behold the mighty Home button, in all its glory. (Creative Commons photo by Declan Jewell)
  Now that your device has been shut down, you need to instruct it to reset itself.⁵
  1. Locate the Home button, on the front of the device, at the bottom-center.
  2. Simultaneously press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and the Home buttons.⁵
  3. Do not let go of them both until the Apple logo appears on your device's touchscreen.⁵
• Your device will now boot up normally. None of your personal data or customized settings have been altered in any way.¹ However, if the device is still malfunctioning you must reset the settings³:
  1. Navigate to the Home Screen.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Select General.
  4. Select Reset.
  5. Select Reset All Settings.
• Although the device has been restored to its original factory settings, all of your data will remain intact and unaltered.³

Conclusion

• Congratulations! You are qualified to deal with most kinds of common software misbehavior that your sleek, sexy Apple tech will throw your way. All you need to worry about now is not dropping it by accident.

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References for How to Reset an iPhone

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} The Unofficial Apple Weblog: iPhone Troubleshooting: How to Restart, quit frozen apps and Reset iPhone (July 18, 2007)
2. ↑ Macworld: Mac 911 - Bugs & Fixes: The elusive iPhone Error 1603 (September 21, 2007)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Apple Support: iPhone: Basic Troubleshooting
4. ↑ About.com: How to Quite iPhone Programs
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Apple Support: Turning on/off and resetting