iPhone keeps restarting? 10 solutions

Does your iPhone keep restarting by itself? Unless it’s in the middle of a system software update, this should never happen. But don’t be scared. While it could very well (so to speak) be a hardware problem, you have multiple solutions that you can try before taking it to a service center.

iPhone keeps restarting? 10 solutions

Some of the simpler solutions below should help you get your iPhone working again. But if the reboots are continuous that the device is barely usable, you should skip to the end of the article and attempt to fix the problem with recovery mode or DFU mode.

1. Update the system software

iOS is an incredibly stable mobile operating system, but rarely some versions may not fit well on specific iPhone models. Thankfully, Apple fixes issues quickly in later iterations, so it’s best to start by looking for and applying any system software updates.

If your iPhone restarts by itself, go up Settings > General > Software update and touch Download e install to update the device.

Alternatively, you can use a Mac or PC to update your iPhone. Start by establishing a connection via USB and open the Finder app (macOS Catalina and later) or iTunes. Then, select your iPhone and choose the option Check for updates.

If your iPhone is extremely unstable and turns off and on again every few minutes or on startup, you can still update it in recovery mode. More information below.

2. Update the apps on your iPhone

Non-optimized apps run slowly and end up draining your iPhone’s battery. But they also rarely induce system-wide crashes. This usually happens right after installing a major version of iOS, with most apps still running on code designed for the older version. So you need to continuously check and install any app updates as they are released.

To do this, long press the App Store icon and select Updates. Then, swipe down the screen to check for new updates and follow by tapping Update everything.

Alternatively, you can open the app Settings‘ to select App Store and turn on the switch next to App updates to keep apps on your device updated automatically.

You can also remove outdated apps that don’t receive developer support by going to Settings > General > IPhone storage. After selecting an app, choose Offload App to delete the app only while keeping the downloaded files and documents intact, or choose Delete app to uninstall it completely.

3. Disable background apps on your iPhone

the app Defects running in the background on the iPhone are another reason why your iPhone keeps restarting. Try disabling them. To do this, go up Settings > Privacy > Background app update and turn off the switches next to all apps.

If that helps, gradually reactivate the switches one by one until you stumble upon the app that causes the iPhone to restart. Once you’ve done that, check the App Store for any updates, contact the app developer for assistance, or delete it from your device.

4. Extract the SIM of your iPhone

A defective SIM card it could also cause the system software to crash. To check this, use a SIM eject tool to pull the SIM tray out of your iPhone. Then, use the device without reinserting the SIM to check if this causes further reboots. If this helps, you need to request a replacement SIM card from your wireless carrier.

5. Check the Lightning port, cable and charger

An iPhone that doesn’t charge properly may reboot by itself. You can try to fix the problem cleaning the Lightning port of the device from fluff or dirt with compressed air or a toothpick. It is also a good idea to start using a MFi certified cable different to rule out problems caused by a frayed USB cable.

6. If your iPhone keeps restarting, check the battery

If you’ve been using your iPhone for a while, the battery may not be able to hold enough charge. Go up Settings > Battery > State of the battery to check the battery status. Ideally, it should be above 80%. If not, take your iPhone to Apple and have the battery replaced.

Alternatively, you can use an application, for example coconutBattery The Imaging to determine battery health while having your iPhone connected to a Mac or PC.

7. Reset all settings to their default values

The iPhone comes with many settings to help you customize your experience with the operating system and the various apps that run on it. However, this can also cause conflicts and cause your iPhone to restart by itself.

So try to reset the settings on your iPhone and check if that helps. To do this, go up Settings > General > Transfer or Restore iPhone > Reset and touch Reset all settings.

8. Reset your iPhone to factory settings

If none of the above solutions helped, you might want to consider restore your iPhone to factory settings. If you have a backup of your data, you can choose to restore it after the restore procedure. If not, it is necessary back up your data to iCloud or a computer before attempting to restore.

To restore your iPhone to factory settings, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Restore iPhone > Reset and select Erase all content and settings. Or you can connect the device directly to a Mac or PC and choose Restore iPhone.

9. Enter and use recovery mode

If iPhone keeps restarting without turning on, you need to log in and use recovery mode. It is a feature that allows you to repair an iOS device that has serious problems. However, you can only interact with recovery mode via a Mac or PC.

After forcibly restarting your iPhone and entering recovery mode, you can choose to reinstall system software without losing your data. To do this, select Update.

If that doesn’t help, you have to use the option Restore iPhone to restore the iPhone to factory settings. However, if you don’t have a backup of your data, you will lose everything stored locally on the device.

10. Enter and use DFU mode

If recovery mode doesn’t work (or if you can’t access it), you should try resetting your device in Device Firmware Update (or DFU) mode. It works in a similar way to recovery mode, but it helps solve hardware problems by reinstalling both system software and device firmware.

After starting the phone in DFU mode, select the option Restore iPhone to restore your iPhone to factory settings.

Warning: if your iPhone has suffered external damage (if the iPhone has been dropped, for example), avoid going in and using DFU mode.

If your iPhone keeps restarting, it’s time to visit an Apple Store

You have done everything possible to fix your iPhone. But if it keeps restarting, it’s safe to assume that the problem is hardware specific. So your best course of action should be to take the device to an Apple Store or a Apple Authorized Repair Service.