Although Apple hasn’t made many modifications to the iPhone’s appearance over the years, each time it does, the function of each button is altered. For instance, the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 do not remind you to switch off your device when you hold down the side button. Rather, it activates Siri, who then waits a moment for your instruction or query. Innumerable emails and direct messages on Twitter have been sent to me requesting detailed instructions on how to shut off the most recent generation of iPhones.

Your phone must now be turned off using a combination of buttons. Additionally, there is a software button hidden in the settings app that switches off your phone if you really can’t remember which buttons to push or when.

The enigmatic button combination to switch off your iPhone, another button combination to restart a troubled iPhone, and the location of the software button to turn it off are all explained here.

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Switch off your iPhone 12 or 11.

To get the power menu to appear, follow these steps: You must simultaneously press and hold the side button and the volume down button on your iPhone 11 or 12. It will just take one or two seconds. The power slider will appear at the top of your screen, followed by a Medical ID and an Emergency SOS slider close to the bottom, after you experience a haptic sensation.

To turn off your phone, slide the power switch from left to right. Holding down the side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen will turn it back on.

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Do you see that button? It doesn’t accomplish what you would expect.
CNET/Angela Lang

Restart an iPhone 11 or 12 that is having trouble.

Using a button sequence Apple introduced with the iPhone X, you may do a hard reset if your phone is freezing or operating slowly and you are unable to access the power menu.

Press and release the volume up button first, followed by the volume down button. Lastly, hold down the side button. All of the emergency and medical information will be skipped in favor of a new power menu. However, hold down the side button until the Apple logo appears on your phone instead of moving the switch.

Don’t worry, no data or information is lost when your phone is hard-reloaded. However, it usually resolves whatever problem you’re having.

switch off the phone in settings
The button combination does not need to be committed to memory. Using the Settings app, you may switch off your phone.
Jason Cipriani/CNET screenshots

Make use of the Settings app to turn off your phone.

Perhaps this will be simpler if you just cannot memorize the button combination. Navigate to General in the Settings app, then scroll to the bottom of the screen. There’s a button there that says “Shut Down.” To switch off your phone, tap it and slide the power off toggle.

Surely it wasn’t too bad? I seldom turn off my phone, to be honest. In order to get my phone to turn off and back on automatically, I usually do a hard restart. It can’t harm since it’s my primary troubleshooting technique and no data is lost.

We offer a wealth of more iPhone tips and tricks if you’re seeking for them. Discover the best features we’ve discovered in iOS 14.6, along with some undiscovered gems you won’t want to miss. Here’s how to generate your own app icons if you want to add some personalization to your iPhone. We also take a look at some of the new features that iOS 15 will offer this autumn.