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What to Do When Your Phone Freezes

If your phone is frozen, stuck on one screen, not responding, or will not respond to taps, try the simple steps below.

Try these steps first

1. Wait about 30 seconds to see if the phone responds.
2. If possible, close the app that is frozen.
3. Try turning the screen off and back on.
4. Restart the phone normally.

If the phone will not respond at all

You may need to force-restart the phone. The button combination varies by model, so use the official instructions for your exact iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, or other device.

If it keeps happening

• Check whether the phone is low on storage.
• Install available software updates.
• Update the app that keeps freezing.
• If the phone is unusually hot, let it cool down before using it again.

A restart does not normally erase your photos, apps, or messages. A factory reset is different and should not be done unless you understand what will be erased.