How to put iPhone in recovery mode

Something gone wrong? No problem.
 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
A screenshot shows a message saying an iPhone needs to be updated or restored.

It might not happen every day, but there's nothing more frustrating than our sweet, sweet technology failing us.

iPhones are no exception. If your screen is stuck on the Apple logo for a long time, or it prompts you to connect to your computer screen or simply tells you it's in recovery mode, then all you need to do is follow the steps below in order to recover and restore it.

How to put your iPhone in recovery mode and restore it

Total Time
  • 15 mins
What You Need
  • iPhone
  • laptop or desktop computer

Step 1: Make sure your computer is up-to-date.

This is an important start! Get that Mac up to speed, and update Apple Devices or iTunes.

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your computer.

Use either a USB-C Cable or USB-C to Lightning Cable.

Step 3: Open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.

If you're on Mac, use Finder. If you're on PC, open Apple Devices. If you don't have the Apple Devices app or are using an operating system older than macOS Mojave, open iTunes.

Step 4: Wait until the screen says "Connect to computer".

Step 5: Press the following buttons in the following order.

If you have an iPhone 8 or later, you need to quickly press volume up, then volume down, and then hold the side button until you see Connect to computer. (For 7th generation iPhones you'll need to hold the side button and the volume down button at the same time, while earlier iPhones require holding the side and Home buttons at the same time.)

An image of an iPhone with blue arrows indicating which buttons to press in which order.
Credit: Apple

Step 6: Locate your iPhone.

Once you've found your device, and if given the option, click Update (if Update isn't there, choose Restore instead). If your iPhone exits the Connect screen at any point, repeat Step 3 once the download is finished.

Step 7: Set up your iPhone.

Almost there! Once your Update/Restore is complete, it's time to set up your iPhone.

If you're looking for a guide on how to reset your iPhone, we've also got you covered.

Topics iPhone

Mashable Image
Sam Haysom

Sam Haysom is the Deputy UK Editor for Mashable. He covers entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.

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