How To Stop My Iphone From Restarting On Its Own

When your iPhone keeps restarting over and over again, the whole iOS experience seems to get stuck in a boot loop.

Been there, done that. I can feel the agony you're going through right now. Enough of the random boot loop, it's time to look for fixes and take control of the unexpected restarts your iPhone is going through.

Why does my iPhone keep restarting itself?

From what I've experienced, a software bug is usually the force behind an iPhone that keeps restarting. But that doesn't mean other culprits like problematic apps or cluttered storage aren't responsible for the chaos.

Third-party malicious certifications and faulty chargers that cause an iPhone to restart itself while charging are also usual suspects.

What to do if your iPhone keeps restarting itself

Now that you know what could be behind the issue, you may be asking: So how do I fix an iPhone that keeps restarting? Well, these solutions have you covered:

Force restart your iPhone
Update the software on your iPhone
Remove the SIM Card and reinsert it
Determine if an app is causing your iPhone to restart
Delete all outdated apps
Update all apps
Clean up your iPhone
Reset all settings
Check for a hardware problem
Restore your iPhone as new

1. Force restart iPhone

Once in a while, a random glitch tends to sneak in and begins to cause problems. When that happens, a hard reset comes to the rescue more often than not.

So, if your iPhone is stuck in a restart loop, the first thing you should try is to go for the force restart.

2. Update software on iPhone

Did your iPhone start rebooting repeatedly after an iOS update? If so, this issue could very well be due to a software bug. The right way to troubleshoot it is to go for a software update.

Open Settings → General → Software Update. Now, follow the usual process to download and install the software update.

3. Remove the SIM card and reinsert it

Phones tend to get stuck in a restart loop if the device's connection to the wireless carrier is facing a problem. Thankfully, one of the easiest and most reliable ways to fix this connection issue is just by removing the SIM card and putting it back inside.

First, shut down your iPhone. After that, use the ejector tool (or a safety pin), which comes with the iPhone in the box, to pop out the SIM tray. Remove the SIM card. After that, wait a few seconds and then reinsert the SIM.

4. Determine if an app is causing your iPhone to restart

If the problem continues even after a software update, track down the problematic apps and remove them. So, how do you figure out which apps are behind this issue?

Well, iOS comes with a feature called "Analytics" that works effectively in diagnosing issues. After a thorough test, it digs out the problematic areas, making it a little easier for you to find out the culprits.

Go to Settings → Privacy → Analytics & Improvements → Analytics Data.

Now, scroll through the entire list and spot the apps that might have been listed repeatedly. Once you have discovered those apps, removing them from your device could solve the issue.

5. Delete all outdated apps

Outdated apps tend to create a lot of problems. They can affect the overall performance of the device, and even cause your iPhone to crash unexpectedly. So, if your device has some apps that haven't received love from the developers in some time, make sure to wipe them out

On iOS 13 or later

In iOS 13 or later, there are multiple ways to delete an app. One of the easiest ways is to touch and hold an app and then tap Delete App in the popup that appears. After that, tap Delete again to confirm the action.

On iOS 12 or earlier

Simply touch and hold an app and then hit the X bubble. Next, hit the Delete bubble in the popup menu to finish.

6. Update all apps

Most apps receive updates frequently for both performance improvements and bug fixes. The best way to keep all your apps up to date is to take advantage of the "Automatic Updates" feature (Settings → App Store → App Updates).

You can also update apps manually as and when you want. To get it done, head into App Store → Your Profile → Tap Update All to update all the apps installed on your iPhone in one go.

7. Clean up your iPhone

If your iPhone is still restarting, cleaning up the entire device may help in fixing the problem.

Corrupt files or cluttered storage could be at the heart of this issue. But before going on this marathon of a cleanup, don't forget to back up all of your important files.

To help you track down all the storage-hogging files and delete them with ease, we've created a complete guide. So, hop on it to remove unnecessary files carefully.

Find the process of removing useless files manually a tedious affair? Check out these storage cleaning apps for iPhone.

Side Note:

While I can't say with 100% certainty, clearing out RAM could help in taking control of this problem.
I also recommend that you delete any third-party certifications you may have installed on your device. Go to Settings → General → Profile & Device Management and delete the displayed certificates.

8. Reset all settings

Now we're going to wipe out all the existing settings and set the device back to its default state. This solution may sound a bit radical, but it often proves handy in getting rid of common problems. So, let's hope that it's able to resolve the issue.

Head into Settings on your iPhone → General → Reset → Reset All Settings.

9. Check for a hardware problem

Dropping your phone a lot may also cause the iPhone to get stuck in the boot loop. If your device has recently met a nasty drop, there could be a hardware problem.

A worn-out battery may also be behind the problem. If it's found to be the culprit, you can get rid of the issue just by replacing the faulty/worn-out battery.

If your iPhone keeps restarting while charging, make sure the Lightning port is clean. Pocket lint, dirt, and debris may have piled up over time, preventing the smartphone from charging. So, clean the lint and gunk stuck in the charging port and then try to charge the device. If the problem remains, try charging your device with another cable.

Though third-party services charge a lot less, Apple Support is more reliable. So, if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks in favor of a trusted solution, contact Apple for help.

10. Restore your iPhone as new

Restoring an iPhone as new is something that I usually save for last as it's known as a last resort when it comes to fixing software problems. It has a solid record of resolving stubborn issues like failed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. I hope it succeeds in troubleshooting this problem as well.

But before going ahead with the following steps, don't forget to back up all of your data as it will wipe out everything that your device has on it.

Connect your iPhone to your PC and launch iTunes/Finder (in macOS Catalina.)
Now, locate your iPhone. After that, click on Restore iPhone and confirm.
Once it has been restored, set up the device as usual. While setting up the device, restore the device from the previous iCloud/iTunes/Finder backup.

Now, check if the problem is gone. If it is, you're good to go! But if it's still there, try to restore your iPhone in Recovery Mode (check out this detailed guide.)

If it was a software issue, your iPhone should go back to normal after an update or a clean restore. In the event of a hardware problem, contacting Apple Support is always the right way to go for a reliable solution. Of course, Apple charges a lot more than third-party services, but when it comes to reliability, the first party solution always has the upper hand.

Have you succeeded in fixing your iPhone that keeps restarting itself? If so, toss your thoughts in the comments. If not, we'll do our best to help you out and answer any questions you may have!

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