Last updated on 5 July 2022
If your iPhone won’t come on or you’re dealing with a serious error, the iPhone Recovery Mode will come in handy. It allows you to connect your computer to your iPhone and repair the operating system. If it doesn’t work, the last resort would be to contact Apple.
Apple is known for making its iPhones and iPads as trouble-free as possible. But this doesn’t mean that things can’t go wrong with your device. With this guide, you can repair your OS and start using your iPhone again.
You can also see our guide on different iPhone tips and tricks that you can apply to enhance your iPhone use.
Situations where you need Recovery Mode
It would be best to put your iPhone in recovery mode because your device is unresponsive, and all the other troubleshooting steps have failed. Some of the reasons why you might need recovery mode are:
- While updating your iOS, the iPhone becomes stuck in a loop and repeatedly restarts.
- Your iPhone display shows only the Apple logo for a long time without turning on.
- The iPhone won’t turn on or turn off. Instead, it is responsive.
With recovery mode, you can connect your iPhone to a computer and use an app like iTunes or Finder to figure out the problem and fix it.
Steps to put your iPhone into Recovery Mode
Although the user interface can depend on the iOS version you are using, it is pretty straightforward to put your iPhone into recovery mode. Follow the steps below:
Step 1 – Connect your iPhone
First, connect the iPhone to your PC or Mac with a USB cord.
Step 2 – Open your software
macOS Catalina & newer
If your computer uses macOS Catalina and above, open Finder.
macOS Mojave & older
If you’re using a macOS Mojave and below, open iTunes.
Windows
Use iTunes if you are using Windows.
Step 3 – Hold your buttons to activate the recovery mode
iPhone 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13
Press the Volume Up button, then press the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Lock button until recovery mode starts.
iPhone 7
For iPhone 7 or 7+, press the Lock and Volume Down buttons and hold.
iPhone 6 & older
For iPhone 6s or older, press and hold the Lock and Home buttons simultaneously until the recovery mode screen will appear.
Step 4 – Go back to your computer
If you’re using iTunes
If you’re using iTunes, you will see the iPhone icon in the window’s top-left corner.
If you’re using Finder
For Finder, click on your phone’s name in the left sidebar.
Step 5 – Choose between Update & Recover
Choose between Update and Restore your iPhone. If it’s Update that you click on, it would fix your phone but retain your data. But if this doesn’t work, you need to repeat the steps and click on Restore instead.
After this, your phone will exit recovery mode.
If it doesn’t work
After recovery mode, you can turn your phone back on and set it up. If recovery mode doesn’t work, the next best thing is to contact Apple directly for help.
