If you’ve tried everything you can think of and still your iPhone power button isn’t working how to turn on, it’s possible that there is an issue with your phone’s software.
You might be able to fix the problem by updating your device’s software. This will refresh the operating system and fix any minor glitches.
Try a Hard Restart
When your iPhone doesn’t turn on, or is frozen on an app, a hard restart is a good way to get it working again. It’s similar to turning off a desktop computer and restarting it, but it’s less likely to cause you to lose data.
Depending on the model of your phone, it can be as simple as pressing a few buttons, or you can use a program that will force restart your device for you.
For example, for iPhones with a physical home button (including the iPhone SE and older models), you may force restart by pressing both the home button and power button at the same time until the Apple logo appears. Then, release both the home button and the power button, and wait for your device to reboot.
Enable Assistive Touch
The Assistive Touch feature isn’t something you would need to use often, but if your Top or Side button is broken or malfunctioning, it can be handy. You can also use Assistive Touch to lock your screen, restart your iPhone, and adjust volume.
First, enable Assistive Touch in Settings. This will turn on a floating button that looks like the Home button.
Tap it to see a menu with all your shortcuts.
Assistive Touch is a great way to trigger Siri, take screenshots, and more without having to press buttons.
However, you can tinker with the default icons in the Assistive Touch menu (also known as the Top Level Menu). Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Assistive Touch and tap Customize Top Level Menu.
Try a Hard Restart in Recovery Mode
One of the quickest ways to restart an iPhone when the power button isn’t working how to turn on is to try a Hard Restart in Recovery Mode. This works for a variety of problems, including if the phone is frozen, apps keep crashing, or it’s running slow.
This also saves you a trip to Apple support and lets you fix software glitches without losing your data.
The process to enter Recovery Mode varies depending on the operating system and device you’re using, but it’s fairly straightforward. If you’re running macOS Catalina or Big Sur, open a Finder window; if you’re running an earlier version of macOS or Windows PC, use iTunes.
Try a Hard Restart in Safe Mode
If your iPhone or iPad is stuck in Safe Mode and you’ve already tried everything else, the last resort may be to hard restart it. This will wipe the phone’s cache and take it back to factory default settings.
While this can be a tricky operation, it can help get your device out of Safe Mode and into normal operation. It also ensures that all the problematic tweaks or themes are removed before restarting the iPhone.
To do this, press and hold both the Power and Home buttons until your device turns off and restarts. Be sure to ignore the Slide to unlock that appears on the screen a few seconds after you begin this process.
Try a Hard Restart in Recovery Mode
If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo and won’t turn on, you might need to try a Hard Restart in Recovery Mode. This is a last resort troubleshooting tool, but it can sometimes fix a wide range of problems with your iPhone’s operating system.
It can also allow you to update the iOS or restore a backup. However, you should be aware that putting your iPhone in Recovery Mode may factory reset it and wipe all your data.
To enter Recovery Mode, connect your device to a computer and press the Home button and Side/Top button simultaneously. Then, wait until the “Connect to iTunes” screen appears.