Random restarts often occur when a device gets old or running low on storage. It can also be triggered by some malwares and system bugs. If the underlying cause isn’t that too complex, then the transpiring symptoms will just be minor and therefore easily remedied by standard procedures. Otherwise, more advanced solutions would be necessary. Any device can give into random reboots and Apple’s latest iPhone XR is no exception. To give you some inputs on how to deal with this problem, I’ve mapped out some potential solutions you can try on. Read further and learn what to do in case your new iPhone XR suddenly reboots by itself.
But before we actually move on to our troubleshooting, if you have other issues with your phone, then visit our troubleshooting page as we’ve already addressed some of the most common problems with this device. In case you need more help with your problem, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit to contact us.
First solution: Clear all background apps.
Rogue apps particularly those that are left suspended in the background are usually among the main triggers of system instability. Although keeping apps running in the background can benefit in terms of faster reloading or multitasking, they can become corrupted and crashed at some point. When this happens, other apps or the entire system could become adversely affected and so, adverse symptoms begin to emerge. As resolution, try clearing all background apps on your iPhone XR with these steps:
- From the Home screen, swipe your finger up and then pause.
- Swipe right or left to navigate through apps preview.
- Then swipe up on each app preview to quit/end individual apps.
If the problem started after installing a new app, then that app is likely the trigger. In that case, try to uninstall or delete the suspected app and then see if the problem is fixed. If it isn’t, then you need to determine the other culprits and troubleshoot further.
Second solution: Force restart.
A force restart is usually carried out when a device gets stuck as the usual reboot (soft reset) could not be done because the screen is unresponsive. Similar to a soft reset, performing a force restart can help fix various types of problems caused by minor system errors and other software-related factors. Errant apps that are left opened or suspended will be forcibly cleared out and cached files including corrupted temporary data stored in the memory are likewise dumped in the process. The absence of the physical Home button on the latest iPhones including iPhone XR also altered the way a force restart is done. And here’s how to force restart an iPhone XR:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Then, press and hold the Power button on the side of the phone and then release when the phone restarts.
Wait until the phone boots up completely and then try to use it again to see if the problem is gone. More often than not, minor software issues including random restarts are remedied by a force restart but may also persists if tough bugs and more complex system errors are the main trigger.
Third solution: Install pending updates for apps and iOS.
Bug-inflicted system instability is often addressed by an update. If rogue apps are at fault, then updating the errant app will likely fix the problem. If a corrupted operating system or system data are to blame, then installing the new iOS update usually addressed the problem. If possible, try to check for pending app updates then install them on your iPhone with these steps:
- Tap to open the App Store then scroll down to Updates section.
- Navigate through the list of apps with pending updates.
- Tap the Update button next to the app.
- Or tap the Update All button to install all app updates at once.
After installing all pending app updates, check for new iOS update to download and install wirelessly.
- To check for new iOS update, go to Settings-> General-> Software Update menu.
If an update is available, a notification will show up. Read the information and follow the rest of the onscreen instructions to implement the update.
After updating, reboot your iPhone to apply the recent changes and to refresh the internal memory.
Fourth solution: Reset and restore factory defaults.
A factory reset erases all data, settings, personal information and other files saved on your iPhone and then install the latest iOS version available. This is often used as last resort when dealing with more complex system errors that could not be rectified by any of the previous methods. Before you proceed, back up all your important files to iCloud or other external storage media. Once you’re all set, follow these steps to restore your iPhone XR to factory defaults through settings:
- Tap Settings from your Home screen.
- Select General.
- Scroll down to and then tap Reset.
- Choose the option to Erase all content and settings.
- Enter your passcode when asked to proceed.
- Tap the option to confirm system reset.
If the above procedure could not be carried out, then you can manually restore your iPhone XR to its factory default settings using iTunes on a computer. In order to do this, get your computer and iPhone ready. You can use either a Mac or Windows computer that runs on a compatible operating system with your iPhone XR and has the latest version of iTunes installed. Once everything is set, proceed with these steps to restore your iPhone XR to factory settings through iTunes:
- Open iTunes on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone XR to your computer with the Apple-supplied USB cable or Lightning cable that came with your device.
- If prompted to Trust This Computer or enter your device passcode, follow the onscreen instructions to continue.
- Select your iPhone when it appears in iTunes.
- Navigate to the Summary panel from the iTunes main screen.
- Click the Restore [device] command button.
- If you see a confirmation message, click the Restore button again to confirm action. Doing so will prompt iTunes to start erasing your device and then installs the latest iOS available.
Your iPhone restarts after it restores to factory settings. At this point, you can proceed with the initial setup process and set your iPhone as new.
Fifth solution: Restore iPhone in recovery mode.
Major software errors that could not be resolved by a factory reset are usually dealt with by a recovery mode restore. This is a more advanced system restore done on an unresponsive or stuck iPhone using iTunes. Similar to a factory reset, you could also lose important information from doing a recovery mode restore. So if possible, back up your files to iTunes beforehand. Once you’re all set, proceed with these steps:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using the Apple-supplied USB/Lightning cable.
- While it’s connected, press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Then quick press and release the Volume Down button.
- Next, press and hold the Side/Power button and continue to hold as it restarts. Don’t release the Side/Power button when the Apple logo appears as you need to put the device in a recovery state.
- Release the Side/Power button when you see the Connect to iTunes logo on the screen.
- On your computer, navigate to iTunes then you should see a message saying that your connected iOS device is in recovery mode and prompts options to update or restore.
- Select the Restore option to wipe everything from the phone system and then restore iOS through iTunes.
Wait until the system restore is finished then you can disconnect your iPhone from the computer.
Other options
- DFU mode restore. If the problem isn’t resolved by a recovery mode restore, then you may opt to troubleshoot further and resort to the deepest type of system restore known as the DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode restore. This puts your device in a state that’s able to communicate with iTunes on a computer even without activating the boot loader or iOS. You can refer to the step-by-step walkthrough on how to carry out a DFU mode restore on the iPhone XR tutorials section posted on this site’s troubleshooting page.
- Service/iPhone repair. Random restarts may also occur among other symptoms of physical or liquid damage on the phone. To rule this out, you can take your iPhone to the nearest Apple-service center in your place and have it carefully assessed by an authorized technician. If service is needed and your iPhone is still covered by warranty, contact your device provider/carrier for more instructions on how to avail for service or unit replacement warranty.
For further recommendations, report the problem to Apple Support.
I hope that we’ve been able to help you fix the problem with your device. We would appreciate it if you helped us spread the word so please share this post if you found it helpful. Thank you so much for reading!