iPhone or iPad Keeps Crashing or Rebooting After iOS 13 Update? Here’s What to Do

Experiencing random reboots or crashes after installing iOS 13? You’re not alone. Many users have reported that their iPhone or iPad became unstable — restarting unexpectedly, freezing, or getting stuck in boot loops. The good news: this issue is usually software-related and fixable without a trip to the Genius Bar. Here’s how to troubleshoot and stabilize your device.

1. Force Restart Your Device

If your iPhone or iPad is unresponsive or stuck in a boot loop, try a force restart first.

For devices without a Home button (Face ID models):

Press and quickly release Volume Up
Press and quickly release Volume Down
Hold the Power/Top button until the Apple logo appears

For devices with a Home button:

Hold down the Power button + Home button until the Apple logo shows

This doesn’t erase anything — it just forces the device to reboot, which often clears minor glitches.

2. Install All Pending App Updates

Outdated apps can conflict with new iOS versions and cause instability.

Open the App Store
Tap your profile icon
Scroll to see available updates
Tap Update All, or update apps individually

Once updated, restart your device to refresh its system cache.

3. Free Up Storage Space

If your device is running low on memory, it may reboot or freeze randomly.

Go to Settings > General > [Device] Storage
Look for apps taking up large amounts of space
Offload or delete unused apps, photos, and videos
Aim to keep at least 1–2 GB of free space

4. Reset All Settings

Sometimes system conflicts arise after an update. Resetting all settings can help.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
Tap Reset > Reset All Settings
Enter your passcode and confirm

This won’t delete your data, but it will reset things like Wi-Fi passwords and VPN configs.

5. Factory Reset Your Device

If your iPhone or iPad is still randomly rebooting, consider a full wipe and restore.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone
Tap Erase All Content and Settings
Back up your data first to iCloud or a computer
Follow prompts to erase and set up the device as new

6. Restore via DFU Mode (Advanced)

If even a factory reset doesn’t work, use DFU mode to do a deep restore using iTunes or Finder.

For Face ID or newer iPhones/iPads:

Connect your device to your computer
Press and release Volume Up
Press and release Volume Down
Hold Power button until screen goes black
After 5 seconds, hold Volume Down while still holding Power for another 5–10 seconds
Release Power but keep holding Volume Down until iTunes detects a device in DFU mode

From there, click Restore to reinstall iOS completely.

Still Not Working? Try These Options

Third-Party Repair Tools: Tools like ReiBoot, Dr. Fone, and Joyoshare UltFix can often repair iOS bugs without data loss.
Contact Apple Support: If your device is under warranty or AppleCare, they can run diagnostics or offer a replacement.
Visit an Apple Store: Hardware damage can also cause reboot loops — especially if your iPhone has been dropped or exposed to water.