How to Restart iPhone from Computer Easily

When your device's screen is unresponsive or the physical buttons stop working, you need an alternative solution to power cycle the phone. Finding out how to restart iphone from computer is often the best workaround for these tricky hardware situations.

It is important to note that for security reasons, Apple does not provide a simple "Restart" button within Finder or iTunes. Instead, you generally need to rely on entering Recovery Mode or utilizing specialized third-party utility software to force the system to reboot. In this post, we'll guide you on how to restart iPhone from computer fast.

Part 1. Can I Restart My iPhone Directly from a Computer?

Not really — there's no official way to do a normal "restart" of your Apple iPhone directly from a computer (Mac or PC), at least not in the sense of "press a Restart button and wake up the phone."

What you can do from a computer

• If your iPhone is unresponsive or stuck, you can connect it to a computer (via USB) and use tools like iTunes (on Windows or older macOS) or the Finder (on newer macOS) to enter recovery mode or DFU mode — this lets you restore or update the device, which forces a restart.
• Some third-party tools / "system recovery" utilities like TunesKit iOS System Recovery can trigger a restart or re-boot via computer if the iPhone is stuck.

What you can't do

• You cannot perform a normal, safe reboot (like what happens when you hold the power button or use the software "Shut Down" + "Turn On" on the iPhone) directly from your Mac/PC.
• Using recovery/DFU mode or restore methods may erase data (unless you're very careful or restore from backup), so it's not equivalent to a simple restart.

Part 2. How to Restart iPhone from Computer?

We've all been there—your iPhone freezes, and pressing the buttons doesn't do a thing. Don't panic! You can actually restart your iPhone from your computer, and the process is simpler than you might think. Let's walk through the methods.

Method 1: Restart iPhone from Computer using TunesKit iOS System Recovery

When your iPhone is frozen on the Lock screen or stuck on the Hello screen, you may not be able to restart it with the usual button combinations. In this case, a dedicated system repair tool such as TunesKit iOS System Recovery can be very helpful.

It is designed to fix more than 150 types of iOS system issues without causing data loss. With its intuitive interface and step-by-step instructions, it allows users—even those without technical experience—to resolve common iOS errors easily, eliminating the need to seek help from a technician.

Well, let's see how to restart your iPhone from a computer using this powerful software when simply pressing the volume and power buttons doesn't work.

Step 1Connect Your iPhone

Download and install the TunesKit iOS System Recovery software on your PC or Mac. Launch the program and connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Wait for the software to detect your device. Click the "iOS System Repair" button on the main interface and then click the "Start" button.

Step 2 Select Standard Repair

You will be presented with two repair modes. Select "Standard Repair". This is the critical step to ensure your data is preserved; do not select "Deep Repair" unless you are willing to erase your phone.

Step 3Download the Firmware Package

Confirm your device information (Model, iOS version) displayed on the screen. Click the "Download" button to download the firmware package required for the repair. This file is large (several GBs) and may take some time to complete download.

Step 4Restart iPhone from Computer without Buttons

Once the download is complete, click the "Repair" button. The software will now fix the iOS system. When the process finishes, your iPhone will automatically restart and boot up to the lock screen.

Method 2: Restart iPhone on Computer with Recovery Mode

Recovery Mode is a deep repair tool used when your iPhone is too incapacitated to restart normally due to software corruption. You can rely on this method when iPhone stuck in boot loop, frozen during a failed update, or completely unresponsive to physical button presses. It allows your computer to bypass the damaged operating system and reinstall the necessary software to restore functionality.

Here are the steps to enter recovery mode on different iPhone models:

For iPhone 6S or Earlier:

• Press and hold the Power and Home buttons simultaneously.
• Keep holding until you see the Recovery Mode screen (iTunes logo with a cable).

For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus:

• Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons together.
• Continue holding until the Recovery Mode screen appears.

For iPhone 8 or later models:

• Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down.
• Press and hold the Side button until the Recovery Mode screen appears.

Connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later). iTunes/Finder will detect your device in Recovery Mode. Choose Update to reinstall iOS without erasing data, or Restore to reset your iPhone completely.

Method 3: Restart iPhone Using DFU Mode from Computer

DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode allows you to reload your iPhone's software and firmware. This makes it possible to restart your iPhone from a computer even when the device is unresponsive. Using DFU mode carries about a 50% risk of data loss. If you are aware of this, follow the steps below carefully.

For iPhone 6S or Earlier

• Press and hold both the Power and Home buttons.
• After a few seconds, release the Power button but continue holding the Home button. If the Apple logo appears, you held the Power button too long.
• When the screen stays black, your iPhone has successfully entered DFU mode.

For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus

• Press and hold both the Power and Volume Down buttons.
• After a few seconds, release the Power button while continuing to hold the Volume Down button.
• When the screen turns black, DFU mode is activated.

For iPhone 8 or later models:

• Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button.
• Press and hold the Side button for about 8 seconds.
• While holding the Side button, press and hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds.
• Release the Side button, but continue holding the Volume Down button for another 10 seconds.
• If the screen remains black (without showing the Apple logo), DFU mode is successfully entered.

Now connect your iPhone to your computer. Open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina or later). iTunes/Finder will detect your device in DFU mode, allowing you to update or restore your iPhone.

Tips

• Make sure you hold the buttons for the correct amount of time; releasing too early may cause DFU mode to fail.
• DFU mode is a powerful tool, but always back up your data if possible before using it.

Part 3. FAQs about Restarting iPhone on Computer

Part 4. Conclusion

When exploring how to restart iPhone from computer, the most reliable and user-friendly solution is using a dedicated repair tool. TunesKit iOS System Recovery stands out by offering one-click entry and exit from recovery mode, fixing over 150 iOS system issues, and safely repairing the device without causing data loss. Its straightforward interface makes it easy for anyone to reboot an unresponsive iPhone directly from a computer, making TunesKit an effective choice when standard restart methods fail.