iPhone Recovery Mode: How to Enter It and Choose a Fix

iPhone Recovery Mode lets you connect your phone to a computer to update iOS or erase and reinstall it when it will not start or complete an update. The right first choice is usually Update, which attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing your data; Restore erases the iPhone, so use it only when necessary and after considering your backup.

What You’ll Need

• Your iPhone and a compatible USB cable. If the phone uses USB-C, use a cable that connects it to the computer.
• A Mac with Finder, or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app. On a Windows computer without Apple Devices, iTunes may be used where available.
• An internet connection, because the computer may need to download iOS.
• Your iPhone passcode and, after an erase, the Apple Account credentials associated with the device may be needed for setup.

Step-by-Step

1. Check whether Recovery Mode is needed. Try a normal restart first if the iPhone is responsive. Recovery Mode is useful when the screen shows the cable-and-computer image, an iOS update or restore has stalled, or the phone repeatedly fails to start. If you can still use the phone, back it up before attempting repairs.
2. Prepare the computer. Connect the computer to the internet and open Finder on a Mac, Apple Devices on Windows, or iTunes if that is the app available to manage the iPhone. Make sure the app is current. Connect the cable to the computer, but do not connect the iPhone yet.
3. Identify your iPhone’s button combination. For iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), use the side button. For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, use Volume Down. For iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation), use the Home button. If unsure, check the model in Settings > General > About when the phone is accessible.
4. Start Recovery Mode. On iPhone 8 or later, quickly press and release Volume Up, then quickly press and release Volume Down. Press and hold the side button. On iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, press and hold the side button and Volume Down together. On iPhone 6s or earlier, press and hold the Home and side (or top) buttons together. Keep holding the applicable button or buttons through the Apple logo; release only when the screen shows a cable pointing toward a computer or a computer symbol.
5. Connect and locate the iPhone. While it is showing the Recovery Mode screen, connect it to the computer. In Finder, look for the iPhone under Locations in the sidebar. In Apple Devices or iTunes, select the iPhone when it appears. Keep it connected during the process.
6. Choose Update first if you want to preserve data. When prompted to Update or Restore, choose Update to have the computer download and reinstall iOS while attempting to keep personal data. This is the usual first repair choice if the phone’s software is stuck and you have not decided to erase it. Keep the computer online and wait for the download and installation; do not unplug the cable.
7. Re-enter Recovery Mode if the download takes too long. A lengthy download can cause the iPhone to leave the Recovery Mode screen. Let the download finish on the computer, then repeat the button steps to enter Recovery Mode again and reconnect. Select Update when prompted. Avoid interrupting an installation that is actively progressing.
8. Use Restore only if Update fails or erasing is acceptable. Restore reinstalls iOS and erases the iPhone’s contents. Before selecting it, confirm that you have a usable backup if you need your data; anything not backed up may be lost. After restoring, follow the setup prompts and restore from an available backup if appropriate. Activation may require the Apple Account previously used with the device.
9. Finish and verify. When the computer reports that the process is complete, the iPhone should restart. If you chose Update, check whether it starts normally and whether your data remains. If you chose Restore, complete setup and restore a backup if available. Disconnect only after the process is finished.

Common Mistakes

• Releasing the button at the Apple logo: Keep holding until the Recovery Mode cable/computer screen appears. The Apple logo alone does not mean recovery mode is active.
• Using the wrong button combination: The Home-button procedure applies to older models, not iPhone 8 and later. Check the model rather than guessing.
• Choosing Restore too soon: Restore erases local data. Try Update first when preserving data matters, and understand that Update is not a substitute for a backup.
• Disconnecting during a download or installation: Leave the phone attached while the computer is working. If the phone exits recovery during a long download, wait for the download to finish and then re-enter recovery.
• Assuming Recovery Mode bypasses a passcode or account lock: It does not. Erasing a device does not remove the need for the Apple Account associated with it during activation.

Tips

• Use a direct connection to the computer rather than a hub or keyboard port. If the computer does not detect the phone, try another cable or USB port.
• Keep the computer awake, connected to power if practical, and online during an iOS download.
• If you can unlock the iPhone before starting, make a current backup. Check that the backup completed rather than assuming it did.
• Recovery Mode is different from a forced restart. A forced restart does not erase data; Restore does.
• If the phone has physical damage, has been exposed to liquid, or cannot maintain a connection, stop repeated attempts and seek qualified service.

Troubleshooting

The iPhone restarts normally instead of entering Recovery Mode: Repeat the sequence from the beginning, pressing the volume buttons quickly and separately on iPhone 8 or later, then holding the side button continuously. On older models, hold the correct pair of buttons until the recovery screen appears. A brief press or letting go at the Apple logo can prevent entry.

The computer does not show the iPhone: Check that Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes is open and current. Try a different cable and port, reconnect the cable, and restart the computer if needed. If a prompt asks whether to trust the computer but the phone cannot be unlocked, keep it in Recovery Mode and see whether the computer detects it there.

Update fails, or the phone returns to the recovery screen: Check the internet connection and available computer storage, then try Update again. If the download took a long time, let it finish before re-entering Recovery Mode. If Update repeatedly fails, Restore may be the remaining software option, but it erases the phone. If you need data that is not backed up, get service guidance before choosing Restore.

The computer reports an error or cannot complete the process: Restart the computer, update its device-management software, check the cable and USB connection, and try again. If the same failure persists across a different cable or computer, or the iPhone buttons do not work, contact Apple Support or a qualified repair provider.

The iPhone stays on the Recovery Mode screen after completion: Confirm the computer has finished its task. If it has, disconnect and restart the iPhone. If it returns to recovery, reconnect and try the available repair path; repeated failure may indicate a hardware issue or require service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Recovery Mode erase my iPhone?
Entering Recovery Mode does not erase data. Choosing Restore does. Update attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing, but keep a backup whenever possible.

Should I choose Update or Restore?
Choose Update first when the goal is to repair iOS while keeping data. Choose Restore only if Update fails or you accept erasing the iPhone and have considered your backup.

How long should Recovery Mode take?
It depends mainly on the internet speed and the iOS download. Allow time for the download and installation, and do not unplug the phone while the computer is working.

Can I enter Recovery Mode without a computer?
You can perform the button sequence, but completing an Update or Restore requires connecting the iPhone to a Mac or Windows computer.

What if I forgot the iPhone passcode?
Recovery Mode can be used to erase and reinstall iOS, but the erase removes data that is not backed up. Activation may still require the Apple Account previously linked to the phone.

Is Recovery Mode the same as DFU mode?
No. Recovery Mode is the standard computer-assisted iOS repair method described here. DFU mode is a different, more advanced process and usually is not the first step for a software issue.