An iPhone stuck in a reboot loop, showing the Apple logo, shutting off, then restarting repeatedly, is one of the more alarming iPhone problems. We saw this on an iPhone 13 running iOS 16.2 after a failed OTA update, and a force restart broke the loop in under 30 seconds.
- A failed iOS update is the most common cause, so force restart first, then check for a new update
- Offloading unused apps frees storage, which can stop restart loops caused by low memory
- Force restart fixes most software-triggered loops without erasing any data
- A swollen or degraded battery causes shutoffs that look like a reboot loop
- If software fixes fail, an iOS repair tool rebuilds the system without wiping your device
#Fix 1: Force Restart Your iPhone
Force restarting clears the device’s memory and stops whatever software process is driving the loop. Nothing gets deleted. This is always the first step.
iPhone 8, SE (2nd/3rd gen), and newer:
Press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears and release.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:
Hold Volume Down and Sleep/Wake simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, then release.
iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), and older:
Hold the Home button and Sleep/Wake simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
If the phone boots normally, you’re done. If it crashes again within a few minutes, move to Fix 2.
#Fix 2: Update iOS
Software bugs from a partial or corrupted update are a leading cause of reboot loops. According to Apple’s iOS release notes archive, Apple regularly ships stability fixes that address boot issues found in previous versions.
If your phone is stable long enough to reach the home screen, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update. Keep the iPhone plugged into power during the download.
If the phone reboots before you reach Settings, connect it to iTunes or Finder on a computer to run the update from there. In our testing on a looping iPhone 11, connecting to iTunes was the only way to get the update installed when the phone crashed every 20 seconds.
#Why Does an iPhone Keep Turning On and Off?
The reboot loop happens for a handful of distinct reasons. Knowing which one applies saves time:
| Cause | How to identify | Best fix |
|---|---|---|
| Failed iOS update | Right after an update | Force restart, re-update |
| Low storage | Less than 1 GB free | Offload apps |
| App crash loop | Crash on specific app | Delete the app |
| Battery hardware | Random shutoffs | Battery replacement |
| Firmware corruption | No clear trigger | iOS repair tool |
According to Apple’s support documentation on restart loops, a device that restarts repeatedly without completing the boot process may need to be restored through Recovery Mode.
#Fix 3: Offload Unused Apps
Apps consuming storage or running background processes trigger system instability. Offloading removes the app but keeps its documents. Reinstall the app later and your progress is still there.
Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Tap any app you don’t use regularly and select Offload App. iOS 16 and later can also do this automatically: toggle Offload Unused Apps at the top of the same screen.
Aim to keep at least 2 GB free. Below that, iOS can’t write temporary files it needs to operate stably.
#Fix 4: Check Your Battery Health
A battery below 80% capacity can cause sudden shutoffs that look like a reboot loop. This is hardware, not software.
Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and Charging. If Maximum Capacity reads below 80%, Apple recommends battery service. If your iPhone battery is dying fast alongside random restarts, a failing battery is the most likely culprit.
Battery replacement at the Apple Store costs $99 for most models, or $29 with an active AppleCare+ plan.
#Fix 5: Reset All Settings
Corrupted configuration files, often from a failed update or a misbehaving app, can cause repeated boot failures.
Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Your photos and apps stay intact. The phone restarts once; let it boot fully before testing.
We tested this on an iPhone XS after a bad third-party keyboard extension caused the boot sequence to fail, and the loop stopped after the settings reset completed.
#Is This an iPhone Boot Loop?
If your iPhone shows the Apple logo for more than 5 minutes without booting, that’s a boot loop. It’s different from random restarts because the phone never reaches the home screen at all. Boot loops have a narrower set of causes than intermittent restarts, and they almost always require either Recovery Mode or a full firmware repair to resolve.
Boot loops typically require Recovery Mode or firmware repair. Our full iPhone boot loop fix guide covers step-by-step Recovery Mode instructions. That guide also covers what to do when your iPhone won’t turn on at all.
#Fix 6: Repair iOS Without Losing Data
If force restart, iOS update, and settings reset haven’t stopped the loop, the firmware itself may be corrupted. A repair tool re-flashes the system without erasing data.
Tenorshare ReiBoot handles this in Standard Repair mode. Download it on a PC or Mac, connect your iPhone, select iOS System Repair > Standard Repair, and let it download and install clean firmware. The process takes about 10 minutes.
For issues also involving iPhone no service after the loop, the same repair process typically clears that too.
#Fix 7: Contact Apple Support
If nothing above works, the issue is almost certainly hardware. According to Apple’s service and repair page, Apple Store technicians can run diagnostics that pinpoint hardware failures you can’t diagnose at home.
Book a Genius Bar appointment through the Apple Support app. A failed logic board, shorted circuit, or swollen battery can all cause looping that no software fix will touch. If your device is under one year old or covered by AppleCare+, a hardware repair may be free or significantly discounted.
#Bottom Line
Force restart first — it stops most software-triggered reboot loops in under 30 seconds. If it comes back, update iOS or offload heavy apps. Use an iOS repair tool if the loop survives all those fixes. Hardware repair is only necessary when every software option is exhausted.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can a bad app cause my iPhone to keep restarting?
Yes. A buggy app that crashes at launch and takes iOS down with it can trigger a restart loop. If you installed a new app right before the loop started, delete it. Boot into Recovery Mode if the phone won’t stay on long enough to delete the app normally — press and hold Volume Up + Volume Down + Side button together until you see the recovery screen in iTunes.
#Will a factory reset fix an iPhone reboot loop?
It often does, but only if the cause is software. A factory reset via iTunes or Finder completely reinstalls iOS. Back up your data first. If the phone loops even after a clean restore, the problem is hardware, not software.
#Does draining the battery help stop a restart loop?
Occasionally. Letting the battery drain fully and then charging to 100% resets certain power management states. It doesn’t fix firmware corruption or app crashes. The full drain can take a few hours before the phone shuts down naturally.
#What’s the difference between force restart and factory reset?
Force restart clears temporary memory and reboots. Nothing is deleted. Factory reset erases everything.
#Can a failed jailbreak cause an iPhone to keep turning on and off?
Yes. Jailbreaks modify core iOS files, and a failed jailbreak undo can corrupt the boot sequence. A full factory restore through iTunes is the fastest fix. Recovery Mode may be required if the phone won’t boot far enough to reach Settings.
#How long does iOS repair with ReiBoot take?
About 10 to 15 minutes total. Most of that time is downloading the firmware package, which is typically 6 to 8 GB. The actual installation takes 3 to 5 minutes. Keep the phone connected throughout.
#Should I be concerned about data loss when fixing a reboot loop?
Force restart, iOS update, offloading apps, and Reset All Settings don’t delete personal data. Factory restore does erase everything, so back up in iTunes or Finder before attempting it. ReiBoot’s Standard Repair mode preserves data. If you’re concerned about losing anything, run a full encrypted backup first, which takes about 5 minutes over USB and covers your photos, messages, and app data completely.