Typically, iPhones are arguably the most reliable and high-quality devices among other smartphone brands. They’re easy to use, have excellent displays, and are power-efficient. But, some users have experienced that their iPhone randomly restarts.
This can happen due to software and memory issues with your device. This guide will show you the most common reasons why your iPhone randomly restarts and how to fix the iPhone restarts on its own problem.
Read this guide to learn more.
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“Why Did My iPhone Randomly Restart?” — Most Common Reasons
Although iPhones are known to be one of the most durable and easy-to-use smartphones today, they can have problems such as random restarts. It can be due to various software or hardware-related issues. Below are some of the reasons why your iPhone restarts at random:
- Not Enough Memory – When your phone randomly restarts, it can have a problem related to its internal memory. If you have installed too many apps and your phone doesn’t have enough free memory, it can cause random restarts, errors, and crashes.
- SIM Card Issues – Another potential reason your phone restarts randomly is SIM card issues. If your iPhone has problems connecting to your mobile carrier, it can cause your phone to malfunction and restart.
- Outdated Software – Normally, your iPhone will have automatic software updates. However, if this feature was turned off or you currently don’t have access to a stable Wi-Fi network, your iPhone cannot download updates. Hence, it may have issues—like random restarts—unless the new update is downloaded and installed.
- Malware – If you’ve downloaded a suspicious app outside of the App Store, especially jailbroken apps, it may have attached malware, leading to your iPhone constantly restarting.
How to Fix iPhone When It Randomly Restarts
When you’re wondering, “why did my phone randomly restart?” and you’ve experienced one or more of the reasons above, try following the fixes below to solve this issue. However, the first thing that you should do is back up your iPhone. This way, you’ll avoid losing your data if your iPhone has hardware damage.
To back up your iPhone’s data through iCloud, follow these steps:
Important: Ensure you’re connected to a stable wireless network to successfully back up your iPhone’s data via iCloud.
- Switch on your iPhone and go to Settings > iCloud.
- Toggle iCloud Backup to on and select Back Up Now.
- Wait for the backup process to finish.
After backing up your data, review each fix and see which one is the most effective for your iPhone:
Fix #1: Perform a Software Update
It’s critical to keep your iPhone’s iOS version updated to help it perform seamlessly and avoid bugs. Also, iOS updates are needed to keep your phone compatible with certain apps and features. To perform a software update on your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Switch on your iPhone and go to Settings > General.
- Choose Software Update. If there’s an available iOS update, tap Install Now.
- Wait for your iPhone to download the update. Then, follow the on-screen steps to install the software update.
Note: Always toggle the Automatic Updates option to On so you’ll be notified when an iOS update is available.
Fix #2: Remove Your iPhone’s SIM Card
As mentioned earlier, your iPhone can have random restarts when it has issues connecting with its SIM carrier. To remove your iPhone’s SIM card, proceed to these steps:
- Turn off your iPhone and find the SIM tray on your device. Usually, it will be located on the right side of the device.
- Use a paper clip or any similar object and insert it into the small hole. The SIM tray will be ejected.
- Remove the inserted SIM card and place the tray back in. Turn on your iPhone and check if it solves the issue.
Once your iPhone stops restarting, the SIM card may be the culprit for this problem. You can try placing a SIM card with a different carrier or one compatible with your iPhone.
Fix #3: Uninstall Unused Apps
Another fix you can try is uninstalling unused apps, especially when you’ve installed too many apps on your iPhone. Not only can this help your phone’s performance, but it also helps you to organize your iPhone much easier.
To uninstall a particular app on your iPhone, follow these steps:
- On your phone’s Home screen, locate the app you wish to uninstall.
- Tap and hold its app icon until all app icons start shaking.
- Select the X button on the upper-left corner of the app icon and select Delete.
Fix #4: Reset All Settings on Your iPhone
Random restarts can happen once you’ve accidentally changed one or several settings on your iPhone. Fortunately, you can reset all settings on your device without wiping all saved data except your Wi-Fi password.
To reset all settings on your iPhone, do the following:
- Go to Settings > General and select Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
- Choose Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
- Wait for the reset process to finish.
Fix #5: Perform a Hard Reset
If all fixes don’t work, you can try to perform a factory reset on your iPhone. It resets your iPhone’s settings and configurations to their factory state. Also, it effectively deletes all personal and app data on the phone’s internal memory.
However, you won’t have to worry about this too much if you’ve already backed up your iPhone’s data via iCloud or another method. To perform a hard reset on your iPhone, proceed to these steps:
On an iPhone 7/7 Plus
- With your iPhone switched on, press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Volume Down buttons on your iPhone until the screen turns black and the Apple logo shows up.
On an iPhone 8/8 Plus or Newer
- Press and release the Volume Up button.
- Then, press and release the Volume Down button.
- Next, press and hold the Side button for 20 seconds until the screen turns black, and the Apple logo appears.
Final Thoughts
For a good reason, iPhones are known to be one of the best and mainstream smartphones today. It’s beginner-friendly, has excellent features, and is compatible with most apps. However, it’s possible to experience issues such as your iPhone randomly restarting.
Hopefully, this guide helps you to fix your iPhone when it randomly restarts. If the methods above were ineffective, try contacting Apple Support for further assistance and to schedule a repair.