- If your iPhone won’t turn off after the iOS 26 update, it’s likely due to a minor software glitch or system conflict, and in most cases, you can fix it yourself without needing to visit Apple support.
- The quickest solutions include force restarting the device, using AssistiveTouch to shut it down, or powering off through the Settings menu if the buttons aren’t responding.
- If the issue persists, updating to the latest iOS 26 patch, freeing up storage, checking for crashing apps, or using DFU mode can resolve deeper problems that prevent proper shutdown.
Just updated to iOS 26 and now your iPhone won’t turn off no matter what you try? You’re not the only one facing this problem. After installing the iOS 26 update, many iPhone users are running into a strange issue where the power button does nothing, the screen stays on, or the shutdown slider won’t appear at all.
It’s frustrating, especially if your battery is draining or the phone freezes up completely. The good news is this problem is usually caused by a temporary glitch in the new software, and it can be fixed without going to the Apple Store.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through step-by-step fixes to solve the “iPhone won’t turn off after iOS 26 update” issue. Whether your buttons aren’t responding or the screen is stuck, these methods are safe, beginner-friendly, and tested on real devices running iOS 26.
Why Your iPhone Won’t Turn Off After iOS 26 Update
Before jumping into the fixes, let’s look at why this issue might be happening:
- Software glitches introduced by the iOS 26 update
- Unresponsive buttons or a stuck volume key
- Touchscreen delays or system lag
- Background apps or processes that prevent shutdown
- System bugs with power-off functionality in iOS 26
Fixes for iPhone That Won’t Turn Off After iOS 26 Update
If your iPhone won’t turn off after the iOS 26 update, don’t worry. Below are detailed and proven solutions that can help you shut down your device properly and fix any software glitch caused by iOS 26.
Each method is safe to try and doesn’t require any special tools or advanced tech skills.
1. Force Restart Your iPhone
A force restart (also known as a hard reboot) is one of the quickest ways to fix an iPhone that’s unresponsive or stuck after the iOS 26 update.
This method bypasses normal shutdown processes and refreshes the system without erasing any data.
How to Force Restart by iPhone Model:
iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and later
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button
- Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- Press and hold the Volume Down and Side button together until you see the Apple logo
iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st gen)
- Hold the Home button and Power button at the same time until the screen turns off and the Apple logo shows up
A force restart interrupts whatever is preventing shutdown—whether it’s a software bug or frozen app loop caused by iOS 26.
2. Use AssistiveTouch to Power Off
If your Side button isn’t working after the iOS 26 update, or the physical buttons are laggy, you can use AssistiveTouch—a built-in accessibility feature.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility
- Tap on Touch, then select AssistiveTouch
- Turn AssistiveTouch ON
- Tap the floating AssistiveTouch button on your screen
- Go to Device > More > Restart or Shut Down
Pro tip: This method is great if your power or volume buttons are physically damaged or not responsive after the update.
3. Shut Down from the Settings Menu
Apple provides a built-in shutdown option in the Settings app—ideal when buttons aren’t working after the iOS 26 update.
- Open Settings > General
- Scroll down and tap Shut Down
- Use the Power slider to turn off your iPhone
It’s a clean software-based shutdown method that bypasses button presses entirely.
4. Update to the Latest Version of iOS 26
Sometimes, your iPhone won’t turn off after updating to iOS 26 because of bugs in the initial release. Apple often releases follow-up patches like iOS 26.0.1 or 26.1 to fix issues like this.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- If an update is available, tap Download and Install
Always keep your iPhone updated to the latest iOS 26 patch to avoid persistent issues.
5. Close Background Apps Manually
Sometimes an app running in the background can freeze or glitch, stopping your phone from shutting down correctly.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and pause (Face ID models)
- Or double-press the Home button (older models)
- Swipe up on all open apps to close them
- Try shutting down the phone again
Common culprits post-iOS 26 update: Safari, Instagram, YouTube, and games with high memory usage.
6. Reset All Settings (Non-Destructive)
If you suspect deeper system conflicts after the iOS 26 update, try resetting all system settings. This will not delete your data, but it will reset things like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and notifications.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
- Tap Reset > Reset All Settings
- Enter your passcode and confirm
It clears minor iOS-level issues without touching personal files.
7. Inspect the Power and Volume Buttons
If your iPhone still won’t turn off after iOS 26, it could be a hardware issue that just happened to show up after updating.
- Loose or stuck Side button
- Jammed Volume up/down buttons
- Unusual delay when pressing any physical button
If your buttons feel mushy or don’t respond properly, visit an Apple-authorized service center to get them checked.
8. Use Finder or iTunes to Shut Down or Restore
If nothing else works, you can manage your iPhone from your computer and use tools like Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) to reboot or restore it.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable
- Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or iTunes
- Select your device from the sidebar
- Choose Update to reinstall iOS 26 without data loss
- Or click Restore to reset your iPhone (this will erase everything)
Note: Only use the Restore option if you’ve backed up your iPhone and are ready to start fresh.
9. Contact Apple Support
If your iPhone still won’t turn off after iOS 26 update and you’ve tried everything, it’s time to get help from the experts.
- Chat with support at getsupport.apple.com
- Book a Genius Bar appointment
- Visit an authorized service center near you
Apple can diagnose hardware issues or bugs that might be affecting power functionality on iOS 26.
10. Let Your iPhone Charge for at Least 30 Minutes
If your iPhone won’t turn off after the iOS 26 update, the issue might be tied to low battery or unstable charging behavior, especially if the screen is frozen or black.
Sometimes the phone appears stuck when it’s simply out of power or not charging properly due to a faulty cable or adapter.
- Connect your iPhone to a certified Lightning cable and power adapter
- Let it charge for at least 30 minutes uninterrupted
- Watch for signs of life: the Apple logo, charging icon, or even vibrations
- If nothing happens, try switching the charging cable, adapter, or USB port
11. Remove and Reinsert Your SIM Card
In rare cases, the iPhone won’t turn off after iOS 26 update due to a SIM-related glitch. iOS often verifies cellular and network states during power-down, and a loose or misaligned SIM card can interrupt the process.
- Power off the phone using AssistiveTouch or the Settings > General > Shut Down option
- Use a SIM ejector tool or paperclip to remove your SIM tray
- Wait 10–15 seconds, clean the SIM if needed, and reinsert it securely
- Turn the device back on or attempt a normal shutdown again
12. Use DFU Mode to Fully Restore iOS 26 (Last Resort)
If your iPhone still won’t shut down or restart properly, and every other method has failed, Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode is your best bet. It performs a deeper restore than standard recovery mode and can fix serious firmware-level issues that sometimes follow an iOS 26 update.
Steps to enter DFU Mode (iPhone 8 or newer):
- Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac)
- Quickly press and release Volume Up
- Quickly press and release Volume Down
- Press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black
- As soon as the screen turns black, hold Volume Down while continuing to hold the Side button for 5 seconds
- Release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down for another 10 seconds
- If done correctly, the screen stays black and iTunes/Finder will detect your iPhone in DFU mode.
You’ll now see options to Restore or Update your device.
⚠️ Note: Choosing “Restore” will erase all your data. Use this only if you have a backup or if nothing else has worked.
13. Free Up Storage and Uninstall Glitchy Apps
If your iPhone is low on storage or running poorly optimized apps, that can interfere with the shutdown process—especially after a major update like iOS 26.
- Go to Settings > iPhone Storage and check how much free space is left
- Aim to keep at least 5 GB free
- Delete large, unused apps or offload files to iCloud or your computer
- Go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data
- Look for apps with repeated crash reports, and consider uninstalling them.
Conclusion
If your iPhone won’t turn off after the iOS 26 update, it’s likely due to a temporary glitch, a stuck process, or a compatibility bug that came with the new software. The good news is that this issue is usually fixable without needing a trip to the Apple Store.
Start with the basics: try a force restart, use AssistiveTouch, or shut down through the Settings app. If your buttons are unresponsive or the screen is frozen, check your charging setup, remove the SIM card, or update to the latest version of iOS 26. And if nothing else works, tools like DFU mode or Finder/iTunes restore can get your iPhone back to normal.
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