How to Turn Off Your iPhone Without the Power Button: 5 Methods

Imagine this: you're about to board a flight, the flight attendant asks you to turn off your iPhone, and you press the side button—nothing. It's broken. Or maybe you've got a case that makes the button impossible to press, or your hands are full. Don't panic. There are multiple ways to shut down your iPhone without ever touching that button. In fact, Apple has built-in accessibility features that let you power off your device using just the screen or even your voice. Here are five methods that actually work, whether you have an iPhone with Face ID, Touch ID, or an older model.

Use AssistiveTouch to Turn Off Your iPhone

AssistiveTouch is a built-in accessibility feature that puts a virtual button on your screen. It's designed for users who have difficulty pressing physical buttons, but it's also a lifesaver when your power button stops working. Once enabled, you can shut down your iPhone with just a few taps.

Here's how to set it up:

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch.
2. Toggle on AssistiveTouch. You'll see a small gray circle appear on your screen—this is your virtual button.
3. Tap the AssistiveTouch button, then tap Device.
4. Tap and hold the Lock Screen icon until the power-off slider appears.
5. Slide to power off.

That's it. The slider works exactly like the one you'd get from pressing the physical buttons. You can also customize the AssistiveTouch menu to put the power off option one tap away. Just go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Customize Top Level Menu and add the Lock Screen icon. Now a single tap on the AssistiveTouch button followed by a tap on Lock Screen brings up the slider.

Turn Off iPhone Using Settings

If you don't want to enable AssistiveTouch permanently, you can use the Settings app. This method is straightforward and works on all iPhones running iOS 11 or later.

Steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap General.
3. Scroll to the bottom and tap Shut Down.
4. Swipe the power-off slider.

That's all. Your iPhone will turn off immediately. This is probably the easiest method if you can still navigate your phone normally. It's also useful if you want to avoid fumbling with buttons in the dark.

Use Siri to Turn Off Your iPhone

Did you know Siri can shut down your iPhone? It's not a default command, but there's a trick using Siri Shortcuts. First, you need to create a simple shortcut that turns off the phone.

1. Open the Shortcuts app (download from App Store if you don't have it).
2. Tap the + icon to create a new shortcut.
3. Tap Add Action.
4. Search for and select Shut Down (it's under Scripting > Device).
5. Tap Done to save the shortcut. Name it something like "Power Off."
6. Now say, "Hey Siri, Power Off." Siri will ask for confirmation. Say "Yes" or tap the confirmation.

Your iPhone will then shut down. This is hands-free and perfect when you can't touch the screen. Just note that you need to unlock your iPhone for the shortcut to run, unless you adjust the settings in Shortcuts to allow it to run without confirmation.

Force Restart (When All Else Fails)

Sometimes you don't just want to turn off your iPhone—you need to restart it because it's frozen. A force restart doesn't require the power button to work perfectly; it uses a specific button sequence that bypasses software issues.

For iPhones with Face ID (iPhone 8 and later):

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button (the power button) until the Apple logo appears. This step still uses the power button, but if it's physically stuck, you might still be able to press it with some force. If the button is completely broken, this method won't work.

For iPhones with Touch ID (iPhone 6, 7, SE):

1. Press and hold both the Home button and the Top (or Side) button until the Apple logo appears.

Note: Force restart doesn't turn off the phone; it reboots it. If you need to completely power down and the power button is non-functional, use AssistiveTouch or Settings instead.

Use Back Tap (iOS 14+)

iOS 14 introduced Back Tap, a clever accessibility feature that lets you trigger actions by tapping the back of your iPhone. You can set it to shut down your phone with a double or triple tap.

1. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap.
2. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
3. Scroll down and select Shut Down from the list of actions (you may need to scroll to the bottom under the System section).

Now, whenever you double-tap (or triple-tap) the back of your iPhone, the power-off slider will appear. This is incredibly convenient if you have a case that covers the buttons. It works on iPhone 8 and newer models (with the exception of iPhone SE 2nd gen and iPhone 12 mini, which have slightly different back tap behavior).

"I've been using Back Tap for months after my power button broke, and it's been flawless. It's also great for when you're wearing gloves." — Reddit user u/iPhoneFixer2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off my iPhone without any buttons at all?

Yes. The AssistiveTouch and Settings methods require no physical button presses. You can also use Back Tap once you've set it up. Just make sure your screen is working.

What if my screen is unresponsive?

If your screen is unresponsive and the power button is broken, you're in a tough spot. The only option is a force restart using the button sequence, but that still requires the power button to be functional. If the power button is physically broken, you may need to wait for the battery to drain or visit an Apple Store.

Does turning off iPhone using AssistiveTouch damage the phone?

No. AssistiveTouch is an official Apple feature and performs the exact same shutdown process as pressing the physical buttons. It's completely safe.

Final Thoughts

Losing the use of your iPhone's power button doesn't mean you have to live with a phone that never turns off. With these five methods—AssistiveTouch, Settings, Siri Shortcuts, force restart, and Back Tap—you can shut down your iPhone quickly and easily. I personally recommend Back Tap if you have iOS 14 or later; it's the most seamless once you set it up. For older devices, AssistiveTouch is the reliable fallback. Now you can confidently board that flight or reset a glitchy phone without ever touching the side button again.