Force Restarting Iphone 5: No Sleep Button Required

how to hard reset iphone 5 without sleep button

If your iPhone 5 is unresponsive and you want to perform a hard reset, you can do so by pressing a certain combination of buttons. This can be done by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears. If your Sleep/Wake button is broken, you can try holding the button down using a surface like a kitchen counter or using the Assistive Touch button.

How to hard reset an iPhone 5 without a sleep button

Characteristics Values
Volume Up button Press and release
Volume Down button Press and release
Side button Press and hold
Apple logo Release the side button when the logo appears
Alternative method Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button until the Apple logo appears

shunsleep

Use the kitchen counter to press down on the sleep/wake button

If your iPhone 5's Sleep/Wake button is stuck or not working, you can try to hard reset your phone by pressing down on the Sleep/Wake button using a hard surface like a kitchen counter. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this:

First, locate the Sleep/Wake button on the top-most edge of your iPhone. This button is used to turn your phone on or off and to put it in standby mode. When you need to wake your phone, simply press this button again.

Now, place your iPhone on a sturdy, flat surface like your kitchen counter. Ensure that the counter is clean and free of any debris to avoid scratching your phone.

Next, press down firmly on the Sleep/Wake button using the kitchen counter. Apply pressure straight down onto the button and hold it there for a few seconds. This simulated press should activate the button and initiate the hard reset process.

While continuing to apply pressure with the counter, use your other hand to hold the Home button, located at the bottom-center of your iPhone's screen. The Home button is the large, round button that serves as a touch-sensitive pad.

Keep holding both buttons simultaneously until you see the Apple logo appear on the screen. At this point, release the buttons and wait for your iPhone to restart.

If this method doesn't work, there are a few other options to try. You can attempt to restart your iPhone by plugging it into a charger, which may wake it up. Additionally, you can explore using the "Assistive Touch" feature or taking advantage of Apple's offer to fix Sleep/Wake button issues for free on iPhone 5 models, even if your warranty has expired.

shunsleep

Try the Assistive Touch button

If your iPhone 5's Sleep/Wake button is broken or stuck and you need to restart your device, you can try using the Assistive Touch button. The Assistive Touch button is a feature that provides an on-screen menu, allowing you to perform certain functions without using the physical buttons.

Here's how you can use the Assistive Touch button to hard reset your iPhone 5:

  • Enable Assistive Touch: Go to your iPhone's "Settings," then select "General," and finally, tap on "Accessibility." Locate the Assistive Touch option and toggle it on.
  • Customise the Assistive Touch menu: Once it's enabled, you can customise the menu by tapping on "Customise Top Level Menu." From here, you can add shortcuts for various functions, including locking the screen, taking a screenshot, or accessing the Control Centre.
  • Use the Assistive Touch button to restart: With Assistive Touch enabled, you can now use it to restart your iPhone 5. However, it's important to note that some users have reported that the Assistive Touch menu disappears during the hard reset process, interrupting the process and bringing them back to the home screen. In such cases, you may need to consider alternative methods or seek further troubleshooting advice.
  • Initiate the restart: If you're able to proceed with the Assistive Touch method, simply use the on-screen button and menu to initiate the restart process. Follow the same steps as you would for a regular restart, using the Assistive Touch button in place of the physical Sleep/Wake button.
  • Slide to power off: When the "Slide to power off" prompt appears, use Assistive Touch to slide and turn off your iPhone.
  • Wait for the device to turn off: After sliding to power off, wait for your iPhone 5 to completely turn off.
  • Turn on your iPhone: Once your device is off, you can turn it back on by pressing and holding the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously until you see the Apple logo.
  • Release the buttons: When the Apple logo appears, release the buttons, and your iPhone should restart normally.

Remember that while the Assistive Touch button can be useful in certain situations, it may not always provide a complete solution for performing a hard reset. If you encounter issues or the Assistive Touch method doesn't work for your iPhone 5, you may need to explore other troubleshooting steps or seek further assistance.

shunsleep

Press and release the volume up button, then volume down, then the side button

If your iPhone 5 won't turn on or is frozen, you can try performing a hard reset. This will require you to press a certain combination of buttons. Firstly, press and release the volume up button, which is located on the left side of your iPhone near the top edge. Next, press and release the volume down button, which is also on the left side of the phone, below the volume up button. Finally, press and hold the side button, which is on the right side of the phone. Continue holding the side button until you see the Apple logo on the screen.

If your iPhone doesn't turn on after performing these steps, try charging it for an hour and then attempting the steps again. If your iPhone shows a low-battery symbol, check your hardware and charge your iPhone again. If your iPhone still doesn't turn on, you may need to contact Apple Support for further assistance.

It is important to note that this specific combination of pressing and releasing the volume up and down buttons, followed by pressing and holding the side button, is applicable to the iPhone 8 and later models, including the iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Generation). For older iPhone models, such as the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, the process differs slightly. In those cases, you would need to press and hold the side button and volume down button simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds.

shunsleep

Press and hold the power and home buttons for 10 seconds

If you want to hard reset your iPhone 5 without using the sleep button, you can do so by pressing and holding the power and home buttons for 10 seconds. This method is also applicable to the iPhone 6S and earlier models.

Here's a step-by-step guide to performing a hard reset on your iPhone 5 without the sleep button:

  • Press and hold the Power and Home buttons simultaneously. The Power button is located on the top-most edge of your iPhone, while the Home button is the large, round button at the bottom-center of the screen.
  • Continue holding both buttons for at least 10 seconds. It may take up to 20 seconds or more for the Apple logo to appear.
  • Once the Apple logo appears on the screen, release the buttons.
  • Wait for your iPhone to restart completely. This may take a few moments.

If your iPhone still doesn't restart after performing these steps, try charging it for an hour and then attempt the hard reset process again.

Additionally, there are alternative methods to reset your iPhone without using buttons. One method involves using the Assistive Touch feature, and another method includes connecting your iPhone to a computer to perform a reset using iTunes or Finder.

shunsleep

If all else fails, plug your phone into a computer to repair it

If all else fails and your iPhone 5 is still not restarting, you can try plugging it into a computer to repair it without losing your data. Start by connecting your iPhone to a PC or Mac using its charging cable.

If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo or a solid-color screen, you can use your computer to repair it. Once you've connected your iPhone to your computer, click the 'Update' button on the pop-up message that appears in Finder or iTunes. This will attempt to repair iOS without deleting your data. If this process fixes your iPhone, it will restart as normal. If updating your iPhone was successful but you still can't use it, you may need to do a factory reset. Repeat the process, but this time, select 'Restore' instead of 'Update'. This will erase all the data on your iPhone, so only do this as a last resort.

If your iPhone is not appearing on your computer, get help from Apple Support.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment