How to Fix a Frozen iPhone – Expert Tips & Tricks

If your iPhone suddenly becomes unresponsive and the screen won’t swipe or tap, it can be frustrating, but don’t worry—you’re not alone. Many users face this problem, and the good news is that there are several ways how to fix a frozen iPhone without panicking. Sometimes the issue could be caused by a buggy app, an outdated iOS, or even a system glitch. In this article, we'll take you through everything you need, by reviewing the potential reasons for a frozen iPhone, quick fixes, such as force quitting and a hard reset, and even professional tools that will not put your data at risk. We'll also review other advanced options you may have, such as updating your iOS or restoring your frozen iPhone in DFU mode, so you'll have a full suite of options to get your device working again.

Part 1. The Possible Issues That Can Cause iPhone Frozen

We have all experienced the moment your iPhone freezes, and no matter what you do - tap the screen or swipe - it doesn't respond to your commands. Anxious and a bit frustrated? Before we get to the solutions on how to fix a frozen iPhone, let’s first talk about what happens and why. Understanding the reason for the freeze or failure to respond can help us identify the best possible way to fix it.

The most common reasons for frozen pages or screens are:

• App glitches: Occasionally, a single app fails, causing the entire phone to freeze.

• Low storage space: Your iPhone may run more slowly and freeze more frequently as its storage runs low.

• Outdated iOS: Skipping software updates can leave bugs unpatched, leading to performance issues.

• System errors: Random glitches in the iOS system can also cause freezing.

By understanding these possible issues, you’ll be better prepared to deal with them. So, if you’ve been asking yourself how to fix frozen iPhone screen, don’t worry—we’ll walk you through simple and effective fixes in the following sections.

Part 2. Fix a Frozen iPhone Caused by a Special App

Sometimes, it’s not your whole iPhone that’s the problem—it’s just one stubborn app that decides to freeze up and take the rest of your phone with it. Don’t worry, this is actually one of the easiest issues to handle. If you’re wondering about how do you fix a frozen iPhone when a single app is causing trouble, the solution is often as simple as closing that app and starting fresh. Here’s how you can do it:

Steps to close a frozen app on iPhone:

• Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to use the App Switcher (or double-press the Home button on older devices).

• Look for the stuck app and swipe it up to close it completely.

• Go back to your Home Screen and reopen the app to see if it works normally.

This quick fix works wonderfully most of the time. But if the app is still freezing, you may need to delete and reinstall the app. This is an easy frozen iPhone screen fix, that can save you potential issues later down the road.

Part 3. Hard Reset iPhone to Fix iPhone Frozen Issue

If your iPhone is frozen and unresponsive to taps and swipes, don’t worry—a hard reset may be just what you need. If the phone refuses to respond, you can consider this a fresh restart option. A lot of users looking for how to fix frozen iPhone screen find that a quick hard reset solves a lot of problems instantly. Let's take you through the steps below:

Steps to Hard Reset iPhone:

• For iPhone 8 or later: Quickly hold and remove the "Volume Up" button, then quickly press and release the "Volume Down" switch. After that, hold the "Side" button until the Apple icon appears.

• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: Click and hold both the "Volume Down" and the "Side" switch at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

• iPhone 6s or earlier: Click and hold the "Home" button and the "Power" switch together until the Apple logo shows up.

This simple reset often works like a charm and is one of the easiest ways how to fix a frozen iPhone for lossless data.

Part 4. Fix iPhone System with Professional Tool without Data Loss

Even if you've tried every quick fix available and your iPhone is still stuck, don't panic; there is an even smarter way to address it. You can always turn to a professional tool such as 4Easysoft iOS System Recovery for your rescue! This software not only helps you fix a frozen iPhone without losing your essential data, but also comes with many excellent features like bringing back deleted files and editing videos, which is great for keeping your content looking fresh. If you are looking for a way to fix a frozen iPhone safely, this is a good program to try.

Step 1Launch 4Easysoft iOS System Recovery. Connect your iPhone using a USB cable. If you are using an iOS 11 or above system, please unlock your device and tap the "Trust" button on the screen.

Step 2Pick the "Recover from iOS Device" mode from the main menu. All of the data will then be categorized into various file categories and shown on the application.

Step 3Double-clicking the chosen file will preview it; to recover, you can then check it. To begin recovering all of the selected files at once, click the "Recover" button.

Step 4Restart your iPhone—your system should now be back to normal, without losing any data.

Part 5. Update iOS System to Fix Frozen Issue

In some cases, the actual problem can be the iOS itself, not even the apps or storage. Outdated software can cause bugs, glitches, and performance problems, which can cause your device to freeze. If you are looking into how to fix a frozen iPhone and you’ve tried everything else, updating your iOS may fix your problem. Upgrading your device is one of the simplest ways to prevent and fix freezes because Apple often provides updates to fix these kinds of issues. But you may encounter iPhone stuck on verifying update issue.

Steps:

1. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi and has enough battery (or plug it into a charger).

2. Select Software Update under "Settings" > "General".

3. If an update is available, download and install the new version on your device.

4. Wait for the update to finish—your iPhone will restart automatically once it’s done.

Part 6. Restore iPhone to DFU Mode to Fix iPhone Frozen Issue

If you’ve tried everything else and your iPhone is still stuck, it may be time to use the ultimate fix—restoring your device in DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. Think of DFU mode as a deeper reset than the standard recovery; it wipes your device clean and reloads both the firmware and iOS system from scratch. Although this should ideally be your last option, it is often the solution when everything else has failed. So, if you're still asking yourself how to fix a frozen iPhone, then this should get you back on track. Just remember, it will wipe your data, so be sure to have a backup before you start.

Steps to Restore iPhone in DFU Mode:

1. Launch iTunes after connecting your iPhone to your PC.

2. Enter DFU mode follow the image below based on what version of iPhone you have.

3. Once detected, choose "Restore iPhone" in iTunes/Finder.

4. Wait for the process to finish—your iPhone will restart as if it’s brand new.

It might feel like a drastic step, but this deep reset often provides the most reliable frozen iPhone screen fix when nothing else can.

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