5 Ways to Fix the iPhone Frozen on Lock Screen Issue with Ease

"My iPhone 11 has been frozen on the lock screen for a day now. I cannot touch anything on my screen. My camera logo is gray and disabled; it does that every time my phone freezes up. It's been doing this forever. What can I do to fix this issue? I always reboot or do it manually with the Volume up and down buttons, but it doesn't help. Also, when my phone is frozen, my Wi-Fi logo goes away with no notifications."

- Apple Support Community

Impressive gadgets like iPhones also have bugs like many other phone brands. Recently, many users sought help in various forums where their iPhone gets frozen on the lock screen, and they cannot access quick features or unlock the phone.

A range of factors is behind this error. This post will analyze the deep reasons for the iPhone frozen on lock screen won't turn off and offer you five practical solutions to get it fixed.

Part 1. Why Does My iPhone Freeze on the Lock Screen?

Before troubleshooting the iPhone frozen on the passcode screen issue, you may wonder why it happens on your iPhone. Below are the possible reasons:

• System Malfunction or iOS Bug: Incomplete system upgrades or internal iOS errors may cause the lock screen to become unresponsive.
• App Conflicts: Certain background-running apps may consume significant resources, causing the device to freeze on the lock screen.
• Insufficient Storage Space: When the iPhone's storage is nearly full, system performance significantly declines, and the lock screen may freeze as a result.
• Hardware Issues: If the iPhone has been dropped or exposed to water, the touchscreen or motherboard may be damaged, leading to an unresponsive lock screen.

Part 2. How to Unfreeze iPhone Stuck on Lock Screen?

A few tricks below will resolve the iPhone 17 frozen on the lock screen error. You can select the way you trust most and follow the step-by-step guide.

Trick 1. Ask Someone to Call You

If your iPhone gets stuck on the lock screen and you can't use Face ID, enter your passcode, or interact with anything else, having someone call you might help fix the issue.

When the call comes through, your iPhone will switch to the call screen. If you're able to answer the call normally, the glitch could resolve itself as soon as you hang up.

Trick 2. Force Restart Your iPhone

Force restarting is one of the most common solutions for a frozen lock screen. The steps vary depending on your iPhone model:

• iPhone 8 and later models: Quickly press the "Volume Up" button → Quickly press the "Volume Down" button → Press and hold the "Side" button until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: Press and hold the "Volume Down" button + "Power" button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 6s and earlier models: Press and hold the "Home" button + "Power" button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

Trick 3. Restore iPhone via iTunes

In addition to the methods mentioned above to unfreeze your iPhone, you can also try restoring your iPhone to factory settings using iTunes. This method requires you to put your iPhone into recovery mode, and the recovery mode will fix the lock screen issue by installing the latest iOS version on your device. However, this will erase all data on your iPhone. If you have previously backed up your data, you can follow the steps below. (How to back up an iPhone to a computer?)

Here is how to fix an iPhone frozen on the lock screen that can't turn off via iTunes:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your PC and open iTunes.

Step 2. Put your iPhone into recovery mode by following these steps:

• iPhone 8 or later: Press and quickly release the "Volume Up" button, then the "Volume Down" button. After that, press and hold the "Side" button.
• iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the "Side" button and the "Volume Down" button at the same time.
• iPhone 6 or earlier: Press and hold both the "Home" button and the "Side" button simultaneously.

Step 3. Keep holding the buttons until the recovery mode screen appears.

Step 4. When you see the "Restore" or "Update" option on the iTunes window on your PC, tap "Restore" and confirm the operation.

Trick 4. Using iOS System Recovery

Although the ways above may resolve the iPhone lock screen not responding to touch problem, some may cause data loss or have a lower success rate. Thus, a higher-success-rate and a data loss way is needed at the moment. iOS System Recovery can automatically detect system issues and repair dozens of iOS system errors on an iPhone/iPad/iPod without data loss and at high speed. It's user-friendly and works for all lock screen freezing situations.

The key features of the iOS System Recovery:

• Fix the iPhone frozen on the lock screen issue without data loss.
• Support a wide range of iOS system issues, including iPhone stuck in recovery mode, frozen on the Apple logo, boot loops, stuck in headphone mode, the Hello screen, restoration problems, and more.
• Safe and easy to use.
• High success rate.
• Fast detect the problem and automatically fix it within minutes.
• Support all iPhone models (iOS 26 compatible), such as iPhone 17/16/15/14/13/12/11, etc.

Free Download for PC

 

Free Download for Mac

Here is how to fix an iPhone frozen on the lock screen using iOS System Recovery:

Trick 5. Fix iPhone at Apple Store

If your iPhone's frozen on lock screen issue still persists after trying all software-based solutions, it is likely caused by a hardware problem, such as a faulty screen, touch module, or internal component. In this case, visiting an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider is the safest option. Apple technicians can run professional diagnostics to identify the root cause and perform proper repairs. To avoid voiding your warranty or causing further damage, it's recommended not to attempt unofficial repairs.

Part 3. How to Prevent iPhone from Getting Frozen on the Lock Screen Again?

Since iOS glitches can happen from time to time, it's important to know how to prevent issues like your iPhone freezing on the lock screen.

• Avoid jailbreaking your iPhone unless absolutely necessary or if you need to access its full potential.
• Keep your iOS system up to date to maintain software stability.
• Avoid running too many apps at once to reduce memory usage.
• Regularly clean up storage space by deleting unnecessary files and apps.
• Be cautious when downloading third-party apps to prevent software conflicts.
• Regularly back up your iPhone to ensure you can restore your data when needed.

Final Words

An iPhone freezing on the lock screen can be frustrating, but most issues can be resolved using the methods mentioned above. For a safe, efficient, and data-preserving solution, we highly recommend iOS System Recovery. It fixes lock screen freezes, system crashes, and other iOS issues while keeping your data intact. By combining this with preventative habits, you can ensure your iPhone continues to run smoothly.

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