How to Enter Recovery Mode on iPhone: Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction / Why This Is Needed

Recovery Mode is a special iOS boot mode that allows you to update or completely restore the operating system on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when standard methods fail. It is needed if:

• The device is stuck on the Apple logo and won't boot.
• iTunes (on Windows) or Finder (on Mac) does not recognize the device in normal mode.
• Update/restore errors appear (e.g., errors 4013, 4005, 9).
• You forgot your password and want to completely erase the device (but for this, using Find My is usually simpler).

In this guide, you will find a universal step-by-step instruction for putting iOS devices into Recovery Mode.

Requirements / Preparation

Before you begin, ensure you have:

1. A computer (Mac or Windows PC) with internet access.
2. A cable to connect the device to the computer. Use an original or high-quality certified cable (MFi). Cheap or damaged cables are a common cause of failures.
3. The latest software version:
   • For macOS Catalina (10.15) and newer: use the built-in Finder.
   • For Windows, macOS Mojave (10.14) and older: install the latest version of iTunes from the official Apple website.
4. Sufficient battery charge on the device (at least 20%, 50%+ is better).
5. An understanding of the consequences: Entering Recovery Mode does not delete data by itself, but subsequently pressing the "Restore" button in iTunes/Finder will result in a complete erasure of the device. If you have a backup in iCloud or on your computer, you will be able to restore your data afterward.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Turn Off the Device

Press and hold the side (or top) button, then move the "Power Off" slider on the screen. Wait for the device to turn off completely (the screen will go dark).

💡 Tip: If the device is unresponsive to the power button and is frozen, perform a force restart:

• iPhone 8 and newer: Press and quickly release "Volume Up," then "Volume Down," then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: Hold both the "Volume Down" button and the side/top button simultaneously.
• iPhone 6s and older with a Home button: Hold both the Home button and the side/top button simultaneously. After a force restart, the device will turn off. Immediately proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Connect the Device to the Computer

Connect your iPhone/iPad to the computer using the cable. Not connecting the device while it's off? No, connect it after turning it off; on the next step, you will start holding the buttons.

Step 3: Hold the Correct Button Combination

This is the key step, and it depends on your device model. Hold the indicated buttons immediately after connecting the cable to the turned-off device.

• For iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2nd generation) and newer, iPad without a Home button (Face ID models):
  1. Press and quickly release the "Volume Up" button.
  2. Press and quickly release the "Volume Down" button.
  3. Hold the side button (power button) until the device screen shows the Apple logo.
  4. Do not release the button until the logo changes to the Recovery Mode screen (iTunes or Finder cable icon).
• For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Hold the "Volume Down" button and the side (or top) button simultaneously. Hold until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
• For iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation) and older, iPad with a Home button: Hold the Home button and the side (or top) button simultaneously. Hold until you see the Recovery Mode screen.

⚠️ Important: On older iPhones with a Home button (up to iPhone 6s), the process can take up to 10-15 seconds for the screen to appear. Do not release the buttons too early. If the Apple logo appears, you held the buttons for too long—release them and start again from turning off the device.

Step 4: Complete the Process on the Computer

Once the Recovery Mode screen (cable icon) appears on the device, release all buttons. Now look at your computer's screen.

• A window will appear in Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows) stating that a device in Recovery Mode has been detected.
• You will be offered two options:
  • "Update": Attempts to update iOS to the latest version without deleting your data. This is the preferred first step if the problem occurred after a failed update.
  • "Restore": A complete reinstall of iOS, erasing all data and settings on the device. Choose this if "Update" didn't help or if you want to start fresh.
• Select the desired option and click "Next" or "Restore".
• The program will begin downloading the necessary software (which may take time) and installing it on the device. Do not interrupt the process or disconnect the cable!

Checking the Result

After successful installation completion:

1. The device will automatically reboot.
2. The welcome/setup screen will appear (like on a new device).
3. If you chose "Restore," the device will be empty. Connect it to a computer or sign in to iCloud to restore data from a backup.
4. If you chose "Update" and the process was successful, the device should boot with saved data and settings (unless the update itself caused their loss).

Disconnect the cable and set up the device if necessary.

Possible Issues

• The device does not enter Recovery Mode but simply turns off or boots up. Most likely, you released the buttons too early or held them for too long (the Apple logo appeared). Solution: Perform a force restart (see Step 1), turn the device off completely, and repeat Step 3, strictly following the button combination for your model.
• iTunes/Finder does not see the device in Recovery Mode. Check:
  • The cable is securely connected at both ends.
  • You are using an original or certified cable.
  • The latest version of iTunes is installed on the computer (or you are using an up-to-date macOS).
  • Try a different USB port (preferably directly on the computer, not through a hub).
  • Restart the computer and try again.
• The restore process is interrupted with an error (e.g., 4013, 4005). Most often, this is a connection issue (cable, port) or a temporary Apple server outage. Solution:
  1. Use a different cable and USB port.
  2. On a Mac, open Terminal and run the command sudo killall -STOP -c usbd, then after 10 seconds sudo killall -CONT -c usbd (this restarts the USB service).
  3. If the error persists, try using a different computer.
  4. As a last resort, wait until Apple's servers become available (check System Status).
• After restoration, the device is stuck on the Apple logo. This may indicate a hardware malfunction. Try repeating the restore process once more. If the problem does not go away, contact Apple Support.