iPhone 16e with eSIM frozen on 'slide to call Em' green screen and red warning lights

My iPhone 16e, iOS 18.5, eSIM - Consumer Cellular, is frozen with green screen showing "slide to call Em" The type is large; 48pt. Pressing the recovery buttons (Volume up, Volume down, and holding reset button for 10 seconds) results in red warning lights, then a siren sound. I have the iPhone connected to Walter.local (Mac mini M1). I also have a MacBook Air M3.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 16e, iOS 18

Posted on May 22, 2025 7:49 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 22, 2025 12:50 PM

That is not the force restart procedure:


  • Press and quickly release VOLUME UP


     then

  • Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN


     then

  • Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears. do not release it after 10 seconds, that triggers the emergency calling feature.


The operative word here is QUICKLY for the first two buttons, then a long hold for the SIDE button; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 22, 2025 12:50 PM in response to RoosterBoy101

That is not the force restart procedure:


  • Press and quickly release VOLUME UP


     then

  • Press and quickly release VOLUME DOWN


     then

  • Hold the SIDE button until an Apple logo appears (15-30 seconds), ignoring "slide to power off" if it appears. do not release it after 10 seconds, that triggers the emergency calling feature.


The operative word here is QUICKLY for the first two buttons, then a long hold for the SIDE button; and try it a couple of times, the timing is a little tricky. If done correctly this will always work unless the phone has a hardware problem. 

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iPhone 16e with eSIM frozen on 'slide to call Em' green screen and red warning lights

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