How to Fix Freezing on iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

If you're experiencing freezing on your iOS device, this guide will help you resolve the issue.

Make sure to test your device after performing each one of these steps. Any one of these steps may individually resolve your freezing issue altogether. If you feel like a particular step has resolved your issue, feel free to skip to the end of this guide.

To restart your device:

Restart your iPhone X

1. Press and hold the Side button and either volume button until the slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn your iPhone X completely off.
3. After your iPhone X turns off, press and hold the Side button again until you see the Apple logo.

Restart your iPhone 8 or earlier, iPad, or iPod touch

1. Press and hold the Top (or Side) button until the slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn your device completely off.
3. After the device turns off, press and hold the Top (or Side) button again until you see the Apple logo.

With iOS 11 or later, you can also turn off your device by going to Settings, then General, then Shut Down.

To turn off Automatic Downloads:

1. Select Settings.
   
2. Select iTunes & App Store.
   
3. Turn off ALL automatic downloads.
   

To turn off Background App Refresh:

1. Select Settings.
   
2. Select General.
   
3. Select Background App Refresh.
   
4. Select Background App Refresh again.
   
5. Background App Refresh can be completely turned off.
   

These processes do not need to be going on in the background and may gain you a noticeable increase in performance if you stop them.

1. Select Settings.
   
2. Select Safari.
   
3. Select Clear History and Website Data.
   
4. Select Clear History and Data on the confirmation screen.
   

This action may make browsing the web less convenient for a while. Safari will have forgotten the URLs you've been visiting so it will not suggest them as you type, unless they had been previously bookmarked. These will build back up over time.

1. Double press the Home button rapidly.
   
2. You will now see a list of apps that are currently open. Swipe up on any of the apps to close them.
   

To check and see if updates are available for your iOS device:

1. Select Settings.
   
2. Select General.
   
3. Select Software Update.
   
4. Your iOS device will perform a search for available iOS updates.
   
   • If no update is available, it will display your current version of iOS and inform you that your software is up to date.
     
   • If an update is available, it will be displayed.
     
     
     • Select Download and Install to begin the update process.
     • If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed.

Factory resetting your iOS device is something that should only be considered or attempted if all other troubleshooting options fail.

Performing a factory reset on your iOS device completely erases the device. Be sure all appropriate data has been backed up before proceeding further.

Clicking this button will open a new guide that will provide you with steps to resolve your issue.