How to Turn Off Any Phone: iPhone, Samsung and Pixel

You hold the power button, waiting for the power-off menu, and instead a voice assistant pops up and asks how it can help. That is not a fault. On modern iPhones, Samsung Galaxy phones and newer Pixels, a long press on the side button summons Siri, Bixby or Gemini by default. Turning the phone off now takes two buttons at once.

Here is the quick answer for each:

If the screen is frozen and none of that works, skip to force restart a frozen phone.

Turn off an iPhone

iPhone X and later (Face ID models, including all iPhone 11 to iPhone 17)

1. Press and hold the side button and either volume button together.
2. Let go when the slide to power off slider appears, about two seconds later.
3. Drag the slider to the right. The screen goes black in around 30 seconds.

Hold too long and the phone starts an Emergency SOS countdown with a loud alarm. If you see the countdown, let go straight away. Do not keep holding to "get past it", because on US iPhones it calls 911 when the countdown ends.

iPhone with a Home button (iPhone SE 2nd and 3rd gen, iPhone 8 and older)

Hold the side button (or the top button on the original iPhone SE and older models) until the slider appears, then drag it.

Without using the buttons

Every iPhone can shut down from Settings. This is the fix when a button is broken.

Go to Settings > General > Shut Down (it is at the very bottom of the General list), then drag the slider.

You can also ask Siri: say "Hey Siri, turn off my iPhone" or "Siri, shut down", then confirm.

Turn an iPhone back on

Press and hold the side button (or top button) until the Apple logo appears. If nothing happens, the battery may be flat. Charge it for 30 minutes and try again. More on that in our phone not charging guide.

Turn off a Samsung Galaxy

With the buttons

1. Press and hold the Side key (the power button on the right edge) and Volume Down together.
2. Tap Power off in the menu that appears.
3. Tap Power off again to confirm.

Galaxy phones ask twice. If the phone does not switch off after the first tap, look for the confirmation button.

From Quick settings

Swipe down from the top of the screen with two fingers (or swipe down twice) to open the full Quick settings panel. Tap the power icon at the top right, then tap Power off twice.

With Bixby

Say "Hi Bixby, turn off the phone." It asks you to confirm before shutting down.

Make the Side key open the power menu again

If you never use Bixby, you can put the Side key back the way it used to work:

1. Open Settings > Advanced features > Side button.
2. Under Press and hold, pick Power off menu instead of Bixby or your digital assistant.

Now a long press on the Side key alone shows the power menu. While you are there, the Double press option can open the camera or turn on the flashlight.

Turn a Galaxy back on

Press and hold the Side key for a few seconds until the Samsung logo appears.

Turn off a Google Pixel

Pixel 6 and later (including Pixel 7, 8, 9, 10 and the Fold)

1. Press and hold Power and Volume Up together for a few seconds.
2. Tap Power off on screen.

That two-button combo is the one Google lists in its own Pixel Help guide. On its own, a long press on Power opens Gemini (or Google Assistant on older software).

Pixel 5a and earlier

Press and hold Power for a few seconds, then tap Power off.

From Quick Settings

Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the full Quick Settings panel. Tap the power icon near the bottom, then Power off.

Make Power open the power menu again

Go to Settings > System > Gestures > Press and hold power button and switch it from the digital assistant to Power menu. The exact label varies a little by Android version, but it is in the Gestures screen.

Turn a Pixel back on

Press and hold Power until the Google logo appears. On Pixel 6 and later this can take up to about 7 seconds, so keep holding.

Force restart a frozen phone

When the screen is frozen or black and the normal method does nothing, use a force restart. It cuts power to the software and starts it again. It does not delete your photos, apps or data.

The phone restarts rather than staying off. If you want it off, use the normal power-off steps once it is responding again.

What if none of this works?

A phone that will not turn off and will not respond to a force restart is rare. Try these, in order:

1. Let the battery run down. Leave it unplugged. Once it is flat, charge it for 30 minutes and turn it on with the side button.
2. Check for a stuck button. A swollen case or a sticky button can hold the side key down, which keeps the phone in a loop. Take the case off.
3. Plug it into a computer. An iPhone that will not get past the Apple logo can be put into recovery mode from a Mac or a PC with the Apple Devices app. Apple walks through it on its support site. Recovery mode can end with a full reset, so try it only after the steps above.

If the buttons are physically broken, iPhones can still shut down from Settings > General > Shut Down, and Android phones from Quick Settings. A button repair is a small job at most repair shops, often in the $50 to $100 range out of warranty in the US, but get a quote first. Under the standard one-year warranty, a button that failed on its own is normally covered.

Related

FAQs

Why does holding the power button open Siri or Bixby instead of turning off my phone?

Apple, Samsung and Google all moved the voice assistant to a long press of the side button. To turn the phone off, hold the side button together with a volume button: either volume button on iPhone, Volume Down on Samsung, and Volume Up on Pixel 6 and later.

How do I turn off my iPhone without the screen?

If the screen does not respond, use a force restart: press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. That restarts the phone without needing the screen. Once it responds, shut it down normally.

How do I turn off my phone if the power button is broken?

On iPhone go to Settings > General > Shut Down. On Samsung and Pixel, open Quick Settings with two swipes down and tap the power icon. You can also ask Siri or Bixby to turn the phone off.

Does a force restart delete anything?

No. A force restart only restarts the software. Your apps, photos and settings stay exactly as they were. It is different from a factory reset, which you would have to choose on purpose.

How long should I hold the buttons to turn off my phone?

About 2 seconds for the power-off menu. Holding for 7 seconds or more starts a force restart on Samsung and Pixel, and on iPhone a long hold can trigger the Emergency SOS countdown, so let go once the menu appears.

Is it good to turn off my phone every night?

It is not needed. A restart about once a week clears minor glitches, and modern phones manage battery fine while on. Turn it off if you want a guaranteed quiet night or will not use it for a while.