iPhone 4, 5 and SE Hard Reset - Force Restart

If you have to force a restart on an old Apple iPhone, the hard reset is the way to achieve your goal. So if that  iPhone 4, 5 or SE freezes, the system no longer reacts or an app eats up too many resources, then you now have a solution. In addition, the underlying errors or a bug can also be eliminated. The iPhone hard reset should not be confused with “resetting”. So no data is lost and the device is not deleted. Here you can find the instructions for the iPhone 4, 5 and SE hard reset.

For the 2020 model: Force restart on iPhone 12

Force restart: iPhone 4, 5 and SE hard reset

If nothing works on the iPhone, the system is frozen, normal switching off and on again does not work, or an app is caught in a loop, it helps to force a restart on the iPhone. The hard reset on iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone SE (1st Gen) can be implemented with the following step-by-step instructions:

1. Press and hold the standby button (above) and the home button (below the display) at the same time
2. Release the two buttons when the Apple logo appears on the screen
3. Enter the unlock code and PIN to be able to use the smartphone again

If you have to force a restart on your iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s / 5c or iPhone SE (2016), the step-by-step instructions for the hard reset will help you. In short: press and hold the standby button and home button.

Hard reset on iPhone 4 (s), 5 (s) and SE (2016) in comparison

The procedure described above only works on the models of Apple smartphones listed. As of the iPhone 6 from 2014, the standby button is no longer on the top of the device, but on the right side. In current models, Apple also calls it the “side key” because its functions go well beyond standby. An exception is of course the 1st generation iPhone SE, which came out in 2016 and has its standby button on the top despite the side button already being used for two years. Further information on how to force restart on the iPhone is available in the Online user guide.

Johannes Domke

After graduating from high school, Johannes completed an apprenticeship as a business assistant specializing in foreign languages. But then he decided to research and write, which resulted in his independence. For several years he has been working for Sir Apfelot, among others. His articles include product introductions, news, manuals, video games, consoles, and more. He follows Apple keynotes live via stream.