If you just upgraded from an older model like the iPhone 7 or 8, you're probably staring at your screen in total frustration. You held down the power button. Nothing happened. Well, actually, Siri probably popped up to ask how she could help, which is the exact opposite of what you wanted.
Honestly, the "Power" button isn't really a power button anymore. Apple calls it the Side Button.
When the iPhone X launched in 2017, it changed everything about how we interact with iOS. Getting rid of the Home button meant Apple had to remap every single physical shortcut. If you're asking how do I turn iPhone X off, you aren't alone. It is counterintuitive. It's quirky. But once you memorize the finger gymnastics, it becomes second nature.
The Physical Shortcut That Actually Works
To shut down an iPhone X, XS, XR, or any of the newer Face ID models, you have to use a combination of buttons.
Press and hold the Side Button (on the right) and either Volume Button (on the left) simultaneously. Don't just click them. You need to hold them for about two or three seconds.
📖 Related: Real Photos of Extraterrestrials: Why Most of What You See Online is Fake
You’ll feel a quick haptic vibration, and then the "Slide to Power Off" slider appears at the top of the screen. Swipe that bar to the right. The screen will go black. It takes about 30 seconds for the device to fully shut down all background processes. If you just tap the buttons quickly, you’ll end up taking a screenshot instead, which is a common mistake that clutters up your Photos app with random images of your lock screen.
Why did Apple change it?
It feels like a step backward to need two hands just to turn off a phone.
The reality is that Apple wants your phone to stay on. Always. By reassigning the long-press of the Side Button to Siri, they prioritized digital assistance over device shutdown. Most users rarely restart their phones unless something is glitching. By making it a two-button combo, Apple also prevents "pocket shutdowns," where the phone accidentally turns off because the side button got squeezed in a tight pair of jeans or a cluttered bag.
How to Turn Off iPhone X Without Using Any Buttons
Buttons fail. It happens. Maybe you dropped your phone and the volume rocker is jammed, or perhaps the Side Button is just unresponsive after years of use.
You can actually shut down the device entirely through the software. This is a lifesaver if you're dealing with hardware damage.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on General.
- Scroll all the way to the very bottom. Like, the absolute bottom.
- Tap Shut Down.
- Swipe the slider.
This method is actually safer if your phone is behaving strangely. It gives the OS a "cleaner" signal to begin the shutdown sequence compared to the physical override.
What If the iPhone X Is Frozen?
Sometimes the slider won't appear. Or maybe the screen is totally black but you can feel vibrations, or the touch interface isn't responding to your swipe. This is when you need a Force Restart.
This isn't just a regular "off and on." It’s a hardware-level command that cuts power to the processor for a split second to break a software loop.
The sequence is specific. You have to be quick.
First, click and release the Volume Up button. Immediately click and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side Button. Keep holding that Side Button. Ignore the "Slide to Power Off" bar if it shows up. Keep holding until the screen goes dark and the white Apple logo finally reappears. Only then can you let go.
If you don't do it in that exact 1-2-3 rhythm, it won't work. It feels like a secret cheat code from an old video game, but it’s the only way to unfreeze a locked-up iPhone X.
Common Misconceptions About Battery Health
A lot of people think turning their iPhone X off every night saves the battery.
🔗 Read more: Thermal Imaging: Why You Can’t Trust Every Heat Map You See
Actually, modern lithium-ion batteries and iOS power management are designed for "Sleep Mode." Constant cold boots (turning it fully off and on) can actually consume more power during the startup sequence than just leaving the phone idle for eight hours.
The only time you really need to turn it off is if you aren't going to use it for several days. In those cases, Apple recommends leaving the battery at around 50% charge before shutting it down. Storing a phone at 0% or 100% for long periods can chemically age the battery faster.
Dealing with AssistiveTouch
If your buttons are broken and you hate digging through the Settings menu, there is a "pro" workaround.
You can enable AssistiveTouch in the Accessibility settings. This puts a little floating gray circle on your screen. You can customize the top-level menu of that circle to include a "Restart" or "Power" icon. This is a great bridge for users with motor switch difficulties or those who find the two-button squeeze physically taxing.
Why Your Phone Might Turn Back On Automatically
Ever noticed your phone turns itself back on the moment you plug it into a charger?
That’s a feature, not a bug. iPhones are programmed to boot up as soon as they sense a power source. If you are trying to keep the phone off to let it charge faster (which is a marginal gain at best), you have to turn it off after you plug it into the Lightning cable or place it on the Qi wireless charger.
Next Steps for a Healthy iPhone X
- Check your Battery Health: Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. If your maximum capacity is below 80%, your phone might be shutting down unexpectedly because the battery can't handle peak power demands.
- Update your iOS: Many "freezing" issues that require a hard shutdown are fixed in software patches. Even though the iPhone X is an older model, ensure you are on the latest version of iOS 16 that the device supports.
- Clean the buttons: If the buttons feel "mushy" and aren't triggering the shutdown screen, use a toothpick or a tiny amount of 90% isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab to clean around the edges of the Side and Volume buttons. Accumulated pocket lint is often the culprit behind "broken" buttons.