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 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.
If a triple-click didn’t work, turn VoiceOver OFF
Double-tap the Settings icon on your homepage
Use three fingers to scroll down to the General menu, and double-click on it
Use three fingers to scroll down to the Accessibility menu, and double-click on it
Double-tap on the VoiceOver menu item
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
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original 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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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!)
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 :/
Janet Hebson says
I turn on the computer “enter pass code” appears, no key board to enter the “pass code with. Solution?
Sharon hryckvich says
Cannon turn on WiFi tab
Ian Rae says
How’s can you go to settings to reset if you can’t switch on???
Mumtaas says
My iphone X not sliding to unlock, lower number not responding to unlock
Deb says
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.
Ken Paul Ocampo says
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
SK says
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.
Summer says
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?
SK says
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.
Arthur Hamilton says
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
SK says
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.
Martin Bundy says
iPad mini 3 32gb Verizon
N0rma Wilson says
I pressed reset and now I can’t turn on I pad I can het logo but that’s all
Fina says
Restored ipad 2, but slide button still wont work.. i
SK says
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
Tim says
Thank you. This worked.
Dharma says
my iphone 4 ios7.1.2 can not slide open,shows black apple sign screen and again shows slide screen How to fix?
SK says
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
John B says
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.
Ng says
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.
lorraine says
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
Kay says
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
pomppy says
I tried the hard rest it didnt work for me i am using iphone 6s latest update
Please help
mary says
hard reset not working for me… still have just a rectangle around the “slide to unlock” option
Sandy says
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?
Martha says
My slide button won’t let me in my iPad.
Rick says
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.
SK says
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.
Mel says
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.
Kiran says
My iPad is not slide locked my iPad is not working
Skezzle says
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
Andresa says
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!
Kiran says
My iPad slide locked not wark
Martha says
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.
Ace says
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)
trizia dalessio says
THANK YOU it worked!
Ngozi says
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.
Carolyn says
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!)
Amanda says
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!
christy says
The hard reset worked! Thanks a million!!!!
Donna Darmofal says
I tried the hard reset and it did not work. I cannot unlock my Ipad. What do I do next?
fong says
thanks it work!
Isla says
This has happened to me many times now I just want to know what causes it?
Graham bird says
The slide on my iPad 2 is not unlocking the iPad what do I do.
aj says says
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.
desire says
diana what did you do to your ipad please
Diana says
Thanks! The Hard reset worked for me. Amen!
desire says
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!!!!!!!!
Jack says
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.
KERRIE says
the hard reset worked (lock button + home button hold for 15 seconds) thanks for the help
Zazzy says
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!
Lois says
Hard reset worked!!! Thanks soooo much!
kiran sharma says
My iphone5 ,slide to unlock is not eorking,at present my phone is in
flight mode please help me
Nathaniel says
Thanks hard reset worked for my iPhone 6
tvr naidu says
my sreenslider is unlocked
dianne says
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
sortep2 says
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 :/
regi says
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
yasir says
hard reset worked (Power+Home press and hold for 15 seconds and then release). Thanks
regi says
thank you yasir it worked
Susser says
Just did a hard reset and got mine working thanks to you.
Much appreciated. 🙂
rae says
thanks for the help the hard reset worked.
biplob chowdhury says
my iphone 5 slide does not work.
Crystal says
iPad will not slide to unlock. Screen shows no Notifications. I really don’t know what to do if it won’t unlock?
Sharmala Buell says
The hard reset worked! Thanks!!
Folks like you are a great help to us who have no access to technicians!!
eddie says
ipad slide button doen’t unlock at all
Nicole says
My iPad will not let my slide to unlock it .. Any ideas what could be wrong
Jaquazzea says
Fix tha thing
Kevin says
Thanks brooooo
it was very workingggg
pdb says
would propably work if I could get to my “settings” … I can’t get passed “slide to unlock”
Theresa says
Same issue…how do we get it open to try these things????
pat nelson says
my slide button will not unlock my i pad
Edward Clough says
unable to open my phone by sliding >slide to unlock. Also I am unable to shutdown phone.
lucy says
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.
Woidy says
Come back same issue again
moenia crump says
right what do I have to do
lucy says
hold and press on/off button and home button at the same time until apple logo pops up.
Pam says
It worked, thanks for the tip Lucy!