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You are here: Home / How-to / Slide to unlock not working on iPad / iPhone

Slide to unlock not working on iPad / iPhone

By SK 75 comments Last updated February 18, 2017

Several users have reported that the slide to unlock feature either does not work and is unresponsive, or very slow to respond, making it impossible to slide to unlock the device. Several users have also stated that this issue started after updating their devices or apps.

Slide to unlock not working on iPad / iPhone

Contents

  • Slide to unlock fixes
  • Seeing a long rectangular box when trying to slide?
  • Related Posts:

Slide to unlock fixes

After trying each step, check to see if your issue resolves

  • Hard reset your device by pressing and holding the Sleep/Wake (on/off) button and the Home button together until the Apple logo appears (ignore the red slider).
  • Press firmly along the entire bezel of the screen; there may be a loose connection
  • Sometimes moisture causes this problem, try drying your screen and iPhone with a soft absorbent cloth or leaving the iPad turned off for a while
  • Does your screen have any debris or dust on it? A dirty screen sometimes make your multi-touch screen stop functioning correctly (see this article). Try to clean your screen and try again.
  • Ask Siri to open apps from your lock screen for you. Siri is another (secret) method to reach your Home screen. Hold down the Home button until Siri asks “What can I help you with?” Say Open Settings, Open Mail, etc. and if prompted, enter your passcode. Once you’re in an app, press Home.
  • Restore from backup in iTunes by connecting your device to a computer. (Back up your device first, see this article)

After reaching Home, consider updating your apps via the app store and your iOS to the latest version for your iDevice.  Go to Settings > General > Software Update and upgrade from there.

 

Seeing a long rectangular box when trying to slide?

You might have VoiceOver (an accessibility feature) turned ON. If you turn up the iDevice’s volume, does it tell you what you are tapping on-screen? If so, try triple-clicking the home button and see if that turns it off. Once you reach your home screen, change your accessibility shortcut by going to  Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut (scroll all the way down to find this.) Change your triple click to something other than VoiceOver.

Slide to unlock not working on iPad / iPhone

If a triple-click didn’t work, turn VoiceOver OFF

  1. Double-tap the Settings icon on your homepage
  2. Use three fingers to scroll down to the General menu, and double-click on it
  3. Use three fingers to scroll down to the Accessibility menu, and double-click on it
  4. Double-tap on the VoiceOver menu item
  5. Turn VoiceOver off

You can also turn off VoiceOver via iTunes.  Connect your iPhone to iTunes, click on your device, select the Summary panel, and choose Configure Accessibility.  Under Seeing Select Neither turn off VoiceOver

Related:

  • iPad Frozen, not responding, how to fix
  • “My iPhone 4 went dead”; Fix
sudz - apple
SK( Managing Editor )

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.

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Reader Interactions

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Show 75 Comments

  1. Mumtaas says

    January 30, 2021 at 3:54 AM

    My iphone X not sliding to unlock, lower number not responding to unlock

    Reply
  2. Deb says

    April 15, 2020 at 2:30 PM

    Thanks this helped. I didn’t know about holding down the power and home button at the same time. Windows have disappeared and the screen is working. Connected to wifi and backing up iCloud. MANY thanks.

    Reply
  3. Ken Paul Ocampo says

    April 30, 2019 at 6:47 AM

    I need help.. slide to unlock really isn’t working.. tapping the home button works but other than that.. none.. i tried pressing the power and the home button together.. but the red slide to turn off appears and still cant turn it off because the slide or swipe maybe has a problem.. is there any other option for this? thanks a lot

    Reply
    • SK says

      April 30, 2019 at 7:15 AM

      HI Ken,

      If you use iOS 11 or above, go to Settings > General and scroll all the way down to Shut Down. Tap that and the slider should appear.

      If you use an earlier iOS, let us know.

      Reply
  4. Summer says

    April 21, 2019 at 10:54 PM

    My AssistiveTouch on my iPad has turned off the motion on my screen and won’t let me get back into the ipad what do I do?

    Reply
    • SK says

      April 23, 2019 at 11:16 AM

      Hi Summer,

      Try going to Settings App > General > Accessibility > and toggle off Reduce Motion.

      Another option is to temporarily turn off AssistiveTouch and make the change listed above. The Reset AssistiveTouch and add back in the settings you want to access via Assistive Touch.

      To reset AssistiveTouch, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch, Customize Top Level Menu > Reset

      You can reset all settings and then reconfigure your assistive touch.

      Reply
  5. Arthur Hamilton says

    February 14, 2019 at 5:52 AM

    My iPad is on email page and I can’t shut it off or slide to unlock at bottom of page. It also has camera I r/h corner and slide buttons at top and bottom of page. I tried shutting it fed and that does not work. Any suggestions

    Reply
    • SK says

      February 14, 2019 at 9:58 AM

      Hi Arthur,

      Double press your Home Button and then swipe up, towards the top of your screen, all the app previews to force close your apps. Do this until all you see is your home screen.

      Then, try powering off and powering back on.

      If you can’t power off manually, if using iOS 11 or higher go to Settings > General > Shut Down.

      If you’re not using iOS 11+, press both the Home and Power buttons at the same time until you see the Apple Logo on-screen, then release those buttons.

      See if your iPad now works normally.

      Reply
  6. Martin Bundy says

    November 11, 2018 at 12:56 PM

    iPad mini 3 32gb Verizon

    Reply
  7. N0rma Wilson says

    June 14, 2018 at 12:04 PM

    I pressed reset and now I can’t turn on I pad I can het logo but that’s all

    Reply
  8. Fina says

    December 28, 2017 at 9:39 PM

    Restored ipad 2, but slide button still wont work.. i

    Reply
    • SK says

      December 29, 2017 at 9:40 AM

      Hi Fina,

      In iOS 11, if you use a passcode or Touch ID, instead of sliding across your phone’s screen, you press the home button to access your password or Touch ID entry and then the home screen. If you don’t have a password (not recommended) just press the home button to unlock. Slide to Unlock disappeared as a feature with iOS 10.

      If you’re having problems with Slide to Power Off, here are some additional suggestions:

      After the restore, perform a regular restart by powering fully down, waiting 20-30 seconds, and then powering back up. Wait for the iPad 2 to load and then perform a few tasks in different apps, like checking email or reading news. After a few minutes try to power down again using the power button or the software shut down (Settings > General > Shutdown). See if Slide to Unlock works now.

      If not, let’s try a forced restart by pressing and holding both the Home and Power buttons at the same time. Maintain this hold until you see the Apple Logo on-screen (sometimes this takes a while so don’t let go until you see that logo). Then go through the steps again of checking email etc. And after a few minutes try to power off again.

      SK

      Reply
  9. Tim says

    June 14, 2017 at 6:35 AM

    Thank you. This worked.

    Reply
  10. Dharma says

    February 18, 2017 at 3:16 AM

    my iphone 4 ios7.1.2 can not slide open,shows black apple sign screen and again shows slide screen How to fix?

    Reply
    • SK says

      February 18, 2017 at 7:06 AM

      HI Dharma,

      Try a hard reset by holding the power and home button together for 7 seconds, then let go of the home button and continue holding the power button? This restarts the iPhone. If that didn’t work, press/hold both the home and power button until you see the Apple logo then let go of the buttons.

      If that does not work, ask Siri to open apps from the lock screen for you, giving you another method to reach your Home screen. Hold down the Home button until Siri asks how she can help. Say Open Email or Open Settings and enter your passcode, if prompted. Once you’re in the app or settings menu, press Home to go to the main screen.

      Last option, Try a Restore…you will most likely lose data, especially if you do not backup with iTunes or iCloud

      1: Connect the device to Your computer and open iTunes

      2: If the device appears in iTunes, select and click Restore on the Summary pane

      Be Well,

      Liz

      Reply
  11. John B says

    August 31, 2016 at 6:32 PM

    Two comments:

    1. It’s just a phone. The comments about verbally abusing family members over glitches require some serious reflection. Families are a lot more important than phones.

    2. The hard reset option clearly works for some folks’ problems but not for others’. It has worked for me in the past on my other iPhone, but the slide to unlock my older iPhone 5 is still not working. I’m open to other ideas.

    Reply
  12. Ng says

    August 20, 2016 at 2:20 AM

    please my ipadair can’t open when i slide to open and it is showing rectangular shape when i slide,what do i do,i’ve tried all i can and tried what others did to no avail.

    Reply
  13. lorraine says

    August 16, 2016 at 6:19 PM

    hi my ipad wont let me open it the slide button to turn it off works but it wont let me slide on bottom to set it up can any one help ive done the hard reset but still not working thanks

    Reply
  14. Kay says

    July 1, 2016 at 8:52 PM

    Thank you thank you thank you. You saved my life!! My screen was frozen and unresponsive to touch, and your hard reset fixed it completely!! You guys are like gods to me

    Reply
  15. pomppy says

    May 21, 2016 at 11:41 AM

    I tried the hard rest it didnt work for me i am using iphone 6s latest update
    Please help

    Reply
  16. mary says

    May 21, 2016 at 6:25 AM

    hard reset not working for me… still have just a rectangle around the “slide to unlock” option

    Reply
  17. Sandy says

    May 2, 2016 at 3:22 PM

    The slide to unlock isn’t working for my iPod and i cant reset it because the home button also doesn’t work what can I do?

    Reply
  18. Martha says

    January 28, 2016 at 5:35 AM

    My slide button won’t let me in my iPad.

    Reply
  19. Rick says

    January 21, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    Someone is a genius! My ipad wont unlock and your suggestion is to go into settings? I wonder which part of “it wont unlock” dont you understand?? Lol, if i could get into settings l wouldnt be trying to find help to unlock it.

    Reply
    • SK says

      January 22, 2016 at 7:12 AM

      Thank you for the feedback. We clearly see the issue on this old post. We will be updating it over the weekend. Your first step is the hard reset and then once that yields the results then you can go back in to check your iOS settings and update.Thank You.

      Reply
  20. Mel says

    December 15, 2015 at 3:24 PM

    If I plug the iPad mini into computer & unlock will I loose all photos on it?
    As the home button & button up top to reset isn’t working. I still have the squares on lock screen preventing me from unlocking & Siri isn’t coming up either when I try it.

    Reply
  21. Kiran says

    December 2, 2015 at 11:28 AM

    My iPad is not slide locked my iPad is not working

    Reply
  22. Skezzle says

    November 4, 2015 at 12:15 AM

    my ipad froze after the latest update but a hard reset has sorted it
    hold the lock button and home button until the apple logo appears
    worked for me

    Reply
  23. Andresa says

    October 22, 2015 at 7:27 AM

    Swe to unlock abutton and off not working how to fix for my iPad mini?
    Pls if somebody knows and experience same as minels answer me ..TIA!

    Reply
    • Kiran says

      December 2, 2015 at 11:24 AM

      My iPad slide locked not wark

      Reply
      • Martha says

        January 28, 2016 at 5:34 AM

        I can’t get into my iPad to slide to open It won’t turn of. I’ve tried to shut it down to restart and I can’t slide it to turn off.

        Reply
  24. Ace says

    October 16, 2015 at 1:46 AM

    I did the hard-reset & did NOT work.. So after a few restarts, I hit my home button 3 times, it gave me the option to select switch controls – which i did & was THEN able to access my device.. (Home button is round one on the front)

    Reply
  25. trizia dalessio says

    October 15, 2015 at 1:17 AM

    THANK YOU it worked!

    Reply
  26. Ngozi says

    October 13, 2015 at 12:27 PM

    Thanks. The hard reset worked. I almost bit off my son’s head this night cos he was with the phone before the problem developed. I told him it’s fixed he asked how and when I told him he said to thank you. His name is Constantine.

    Reply
  27. Carolyn says

    October 11, 2015 at 5:40 AM

    The hard reset unlocked my slide problem, too. (Button on side and round indentation in front simultaneously held until apple icon appears–for anyone wondering how to do that!)

    Reply
  28. Amanda says

    October 8, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    Thank you so much for hard reset info was coming to terms with having to buy a new one! Updates seem to bring more and more issues!

    Reply
  29. christy says

    October 8, 2015 at 8:42 AM

    The hard reset worked! Thanks a million!!!!

    Reply
  30. Donna Darmofal says

    October 7, 2015 at 3:55 PM

    I tried the hard reset and it did not work. I cannot unlock my Ipad. What do I do next?

    Reply
  31. fong says

    October 2, 2015 at 9:51 AM

    thanks it work!

    Reply
  32. Isla says

    September 30, 2015 at 2:43 AM

    This has happened to me many times now I just want to know what causes it?

    Reply
  33. Graham bird says

    September 29, 2015 at 10:33 AM

    The slide on my iPad 2 is not unlocking the iPad what do I do.

    Reply
  34. aj says says

    September 28, 2015 at 5:20 PM

    thanx..hard reset worked for me but i still wanna know why this problem occured. can smbdy explain to me in order to prevent it to occur again.

    Reply
  35. desire says

    September 21, 2015 at 11:44 AM

    diana what did you do to your ipad please

    Reply
  36. Diana says

    September 21, 2015 at 10:36 AM

    Thanks! The Hard reset worked for me. Amen!

    Reply
  37. desire says

    September 21, 2015 at 5:51 AM

    hi guys i have problem for my ipad 3g, i can”t slide to unlock or slide to power off. how can i do? thanks!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  38. Jack says

    August 27, 2015 at 8:40 PM

    If you have Siri, use her. Say “Open Siri Settings”, and siri will prompt you to enter your password to get in, if you have a password.

    From there, turn on Assistive Touch in General > Accessibility. It’ll help immensely.

    Reply
  39. KERRIE says

    August 14, 2015 at 7:28 PM

    the hard reset worked (lock button + home button hold for 15 seconds) thanks for the help

    Reply
  40. Zazzy says

    July 25, 2015 at 6:41 AM

    Thanks, I thought I broke my brothers iPad, and he got so angry at me, but I did the hard reset and it worked! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  41. Lois says

    June 14, 2015 at 6:30 AM

    Hard reset worked!!! Thanks soooo much!

    Reply
  42. kiran sharma says

    June 4, 2015 at 9:58 AM

    My iphone5 ,slide to unlock is not eorking,at present my phone is in
    flight mode please help me

    Reply
  43. Nathaniel says

    May 25, 2015 at 4:43 PM

    Thanks hard reset worked for my iPhone 6

    Reply
  44. tvr naidu says

    April 28, 2015 at 7:56 AM

    my sreenslider is unlocked

    Reply
  45. dianne says

    April 8, 2015 at 11:45 PM

    Hi I need some suggestion my iPad the slide unlock is not working even I try to reset still same..so what is the best solution for that..thank you

    Reply
  46. sortep2 says

    March 31, 2015 at 2:48 PM

    hi guys im having a problem with my iphone 5s since ios 8.2 update.
    Some times when i try to unlock my phone with “slide to unlock” it dos not ulock unless i turn off and then on the screen with the power booton. Some times it is fine and it unlocks without a problem but if the above problem happens and i ulock the phone fast it ulocks but then i can’t navigate throw the home screen insted it looks like it preeses the screen in some spots it’s self and whont let me do anything anless i lock it and unlock it again… don’t know whats going on :/

    Reply
    • regi says

      September 24, 2015 at 12:42 AM

      thank you so much to sortep2 . my I 6 got locked too and i tried the 15 second home and start button rule and my phone is working saved me $280.thanks

      Reply
  47. yasir says

    March 27, 2015 at 11:40 PM

    hard reset worked (Power+Home press and hold for 15 seconds and then release). Thanks

    Reply
    • regi says

      September 24, 2015 at 12:43 AM

      thank you yasir it worked

      Reply
  48. Susser says

    March 26, 2015 at 7:43 AM

    Just did a hard reset and got mine working thanks to you.
    Much appreciated. 🙂

    Reply
  49. rae says

    March 13, 2015 at 10:21 AM

    thanks for the help the hard reset worked.

    Reply
  50. biplob chowdhury says

    March 9, 2015 at 10:35 PM

    my iphone 5 slide does not work.

    Reply
    • Crystal says

      February 8, 2016 at 7:55 AM

      iPad will not slide to unlock. Screen shows no Notifications. I really don’t know what to do if it won’t unlock?

      Reply
  51. Sharmala Buell says

    January 12, 2015 at 8:12 AM

    The hard reset worked! Thanks!!
    Folks like you are a great help to us who have no access to technicians!!

    Reply
  52. eddie says

    December 30, 2014 at 10:54 PM

    ipad slide button doen’t unlock at all

    Reply
    • Nicole says

      February 7, 2016 at 12:39 AM

      My iPad will not let my slide to unlock it .. Any ideas what could be wrong

      Reply
  53. Jaquazzea says

    December 13, 2014 at 6:47 PM

    Fix tha thing

    Reply
  54. Kevin says

    November 27, 2014 at 5:48 AM

    Thanks brooooo
    it was very workingggg

    Reply
  55. pdb says

    August 4, 2014 at 1:38 PM

    would propably work if I could get to my “settings” … I can’t get passed “slide to unlock”

    Reply
    • Theresa says

      October 21, 2014 at 4:07 AM

      Same issue…how do we get it open to try these things????

      Reply
    • pat nelson says

      October 7, 2015 at 8:05 AM

      my slide button will not unlock my i pad

      Reply
      • Edward Clough says

        October 27, 2015 at 3:31 PM

        unable to open my phone by sliding >slide to unlock. Also I am unable to shutdown phone.

        Reply
        • lucy says

          February 11, 2016 at 3:25 PM

          you have to press and hold the on/off botton and the home button at the same time and hold it till the apple sign pops up.

          Reply
          • Woidy says

            February 18, 2016 at 6:08 PM

            Come back same issue again

      • moenia crump says

        February 8, 2016 at 11:59 AM

        right what do I have to do

        Reply
    • lucy says

      February 11, 2016 at 3:26 PM

      hold and press on/off button and home button at the same time until apple logo pops up.

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 28, 2016 at 5:32 AM

        It worked, thanks for the tip Lucy!

        Reply

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