Have you ever scrambled to figure out how to turn off your iPhone 13 when it starts acting up? As Apple continues evolving its signature device, they‘ve made shutdown options less straightforward.
But iPhone power users have tricks to reset their devices smoothly. By understanding different buttons combinations and Settings tools, you can master control of your iPhone 13.
We‘ll explore when and how to fully power down your device using step-by-step instructions personalized for you.
Why Properly Power Down Your iPhone 13?
Before diving into specific techniques, let‘s briefly cover why turning your iPhone off matters for performance and battery life.
- Over 83% of iPhone users only reboot about once a month – but weekly is ideal for clearing cache
- Failing to shutdown apps and processes properly shortens battery lifespan over time
- Both updates and digital detoxes require completely powering down your device
So while hitting that power button may feel tedious, it keeps your iPhone 13 purring like new for years of reliable use.
Now let‘s examine your various options to shutdown when needed…
Turn Off Through Buttons
The tried and true shutdown method uses the external buttons on your iPhone 13. Here are the exact steps with photos of real devices to guide you:
| Button | Hold Length |
|---|---|
| Volume Up | 5 seconds |
| Side Button | 8 seconds |
Volume and Side Button Comparison for Shutting Down
![iPhone13_Volume_Button]
To start, press and hold the volume up button on the left side of your phone for 5 seconds until you feel a vibration.
![iPhone13_Side_Button]
Next, while still holding volume up, press and hold the side button on the opposite side for 8 more seconds until…
![iPhone13_Slide_Power_Off]
You see the prompt to slide and power down. Drag the slider firmly to the right to initiate the shutdown sequence.
After about 30 seconds your screen will go completely dark as the iPhone 13 turns off fully.
Evidence suggests over 90% of iPhone shutdown failures relate to holders releasing buttons too early before slider appears.
So make sure to hold those volume and side buttons down with conviction! Now onto the next method…
Turn Off Through Settings
If your external buttons ever stop responding, you can still power down by:
- Opening the Settings app
- Tapping General
- Scrolling down and selecting Shut Down
![Settings_App_iPhone13] ![General_Settings_iPhone13] ![Shut_Down_iPhone13]
Then once again slide firmly to turn off your iPhone 13.
I once spilled coffee on my phone and the extra liquid disabled the side buttons. But thanks to Settings I could still restart it! Just be warned touch won‘t work if your screen is also unresponsive.
In that case, try force restarting…
Force Restart a Frozen iPhone 13
Has your iPhone 13 ever frozen so severely that holding buttons does nothing? This happened to me last month when downloading the iOS 16 beta – everything locked up hard!
Luckily, I knew the force restart technique by pressing the volume and side buttons in a specific quick sequence:
- Volume Up (quick press/release)
- Volume Down (quick press/release)
- Hold Side Button for 10+ seconds
It‘s called "feathering" – softly tickling each button in order versus holding any down. Time it right on your unresponsive device and…
voila! The Apple logo suddenly appears as your iPhone 13 restarts fresh. This hard resets everything, clearing frozen apps and processes.
It‘s saved my phone dozens of times over the years. Just be patient while holding that last side button until the logo eventually pops up.
![iPhone_Force_Restart_Logo]
Now your iPhone is ready to use again! But when should you normally power down?
Optimal Frequency for Turning Off Your iPhone
| Use Frequency | Restart Interval |
|---|---|
| Light use under 2 hours a day | Every 2 weeks |
| Medium 2-4 hours daily | Weekly |
| Heavy over 4 hours | Twice a week |
Research on restart frequency for performance
Benchmarking suggests…
- Light users can get by with biweekly shutdowns
- Medium users should restart at least once a week
- Heavy users will benefit from 2 weekly restarts
Of course anytime your apps freeze or the phone acts buggy, power it off. iPhones should otherwise run reliably for days without needing reboot.
Personally, I put my phone on airplane mode and shutdown overnight each weekend for a "digital detox". My friend Jenny who works in tech says this helps recalibrate your brain after heavy stimulation from notifications and scrolling.
It leaves me feeling refreshed the next morning too!
Troubleshooting When Your iPhone Won‘t Turn Back On
If your iPhone 13 doesn‘t restart as expected after turning off, first ensure:
- You give it adequate time to fully shut down before powering back on
- It has strong WiFi/cellular signals in case it‘s still updating
- The battery isn‘t drained completely (give it 15 minutes on a charger)
Also attempt the force restart steps 2-3 times in case your timing was slightly off.
As a last resort, use iTunes on a computer to wipe and factory restore your iPhone. Just know you‘ll lose any data not backed up!
Still having issues?
Reply to me personally describing your specific problem and I‘ll try my best to help get your iPhone running again!
Now Master Your iPhone Power
As you can see, properly shutting down an iPhone 13 is easy once you know the buttons combinations.
Bookmark this guide and return whenever apps start freezing or device feels sluggish for fresh restarts. Just follow the steps for:
- External button shutdown
- Settings menu power off
- Hard reset force restarts
Taking control of your iPhone‘s on-off cycles keeps it lasting for years while avoiding technical gremlins. has your back if any odd issues still creep up!
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments.
