The iPhone 15 Pro Max is an incredibly powerful device, but like all computers, it is susceptible to occasional software crashes. If you are using an app and the screen suddenly freezes completely, or if the display goes entirely black and refuses to wake up when you tap the screen or press the power button, a standard reboot will not work. Because the touchscreen is unresponsive, you cannot “Slide to Power Off.”
In these situations, you must perform a “Force Restart” (sometimes called a hard reset). A force restart operates at the hardware level, cutting power to the processor and forcing the device to reboot regardless of what the software is currently doing. Crucially, a force restart will not delete any of your photos, apps, or personal data.
The Force Restart Button Sequence
Apple completely removed the physical Home button years ago, which means the process for force restarting modern iPhones relies entirely on the volume and side buttons.
To successfully force restart an iPhone 15 Pro Max, you must execute the following three button presses in rapid succession. Do not hold down the first two buttons; simply click them and let go quickly.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button on the left side of the phone.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button on the left side of the phone.
- Press and hold the Side Button (the main power/lock button) on the right side of the phone.
Continue holding the Side button down. The screen will eventually go completely black. Do not let go of the button yet.
Keep holding the Side button for another 5 to 10 seconds until the white Apple logo suddenly appears on the center of the black screen. As soon as you see the Apple logo, you can release the button.
What to Do if the Phone Still Won’t Turn On
If you perform the button sequence perfectly and the screen remains completely black after 20 seconds of holding the Side button, your battery is likely completely dead.
Software crashes can sometimes cause the processor to run at maximum capacity in the background, draining a full battery in just a few hours. Plug your iPhone 15 Pro Max into a reliable USB-C wall charger and wait at least 15 minutes. Once the battery has a sufficient minimum charge, the phone should boot up automatically. If it does not, try the Force Restart button sequence again while the phone is connected to power.