To put an iPhone 8 or later into recovery mode, connect it to a computer, quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then hold the side button until the Connect to computer screen appears. Keep holding through the Apple logo. Older iPhone models use different button combinations, listed below.
Recovery mode is a troubleshooting state that allows a computer to update or restore iOS when the iPhone cannot start properly. Entering that screen is different from choosing Restore. Restore erases the device, so understand the computer’s options before clicking through the repair process.
Decide whether recovery mode is the right step
Apple’s recovery-mode guidance describes situations such as an iPhone stuck at the Apple logo without a progress bar, a device the computer does not recognize normally or a phone showing the Connect to computer screen.
A slowly moving progress bar during a transfer or update is a different situation from an unchanging Apple logo with no bar. Check Apple’s Apple logo and progress-bar guidance before interrupting a process that may still be working. If the underlying problem is simply a lack of space, start by checking your iPhone storage before moving on to recovery steps.
For an ordinary app problem on a phone that starts normally, begin with less disruptive troubleshooting. Recovery mode should have a clear purpose. Write down the original symptom and anything that happened immediately before it, such as an interrupted update, so you can explain the problem if support is needed.
Prepare the computer and protect your data
Use an up-to-date Mac with Finder or a Windows PC with the latest Apple Devices app. Apple’s instructions identify these as the tools for the computer-based process. You also need a suitable USB cable, a stable connection and time for any required software download.
If the iPhone still works well enough to back up, make a backup before undertaking a restore. If it cannot start, check whether you already have an iCloud or computer backup and note its date. Do not assume that entering recovery mode will create a new backup for you.
Have your Apple Account information available through your usual secure method. Recovery mode is not a way to remove ownership requirements or make a phone with an unknown owner ready for use. If you are handling someone else’s phone, involve the owner before an erase or setup decision.
Choose a stable place to work where the cable will not be pulled accidentally. Close unnecessary tasks on the computer and make sure a laptop has sufficient power. These preparations are simple, but they reduce avoidable interruptions during a repair.
Connect the iPhone before the button sequence
Connect the iPhone to the computer and open Finder on the Mac or Apple Devices on Windows. Keep it connected while you perform the appropriate button sequence. The goal is the screen showing a computer and cable, not merely a temporary restart.
Identify the iPhone model before choosing the instructions. The presence of a Home button is not enough on its own: the second- and third-generation iPhone SE models use the newer sequence, while the first-generation SE uses the older Home-button sequence.
If the case makes the buttons difficult to press, remove it carefully. Do not keep forcing a button that is damaged or stuck. Apple recommends service when a required button prevents recovery mode from being used.
iPhone 8 and later, including newer iPhone SE models
1. Press and quickly release Volume Up.
2. Press and quickly release Volume Down.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. Continue holding when the Apple logo appears.
5. Release when the Connect to computer screen appears.
The first two presses are quick individual actions. The final action is a sustained hold. If the phone simply restarts, you may have released the side button at the Apple logo instead of continuing to the recovery screen.
Watch the display rather than counting on a universal number of seconds. If repeated careful attempts fail, check the cable, computer software and physical buttons instead of endlessly repeating faster or harder presses.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
With the phone connected, press and hold the side or top button and Volume Down together. Keep holding both until the Connect to computer screen appears. This model family does not use the newer sequence of two quick volume taps followed by a side-button hold.
Choose the instructions for the actual device in your hand. If you are helping a family member remotely, ask them to identify the model rather than describing it only as an old iPhone. A clear model name prevents a lot of unsuccessful button combinations.
iPhone 6s or earlier, including the original iPhone SE
Keep the phone connected and press and hold Home together with the top or side button. Continue holding until the Connect to computer screen appears. Release then, rather than at the first Apple logo.
If the Home button does not respond, stop and use Apple support. Downloading an unfamiliar repair utility is not a substitute for understanding a physical-button failure, and it can introduce unrelated account or payment requests.
Choose Update or Restore deliberately
When the computer detects the iPhone in recovery mode, it may offer Update and Restore. Apple says to try updating first if you have not already done so. Restore reinstalls iOS and erases the data on the device.
Read the computer’s confirmation text in full. If preserving unbacked-up data is your priority, do not click Restore simply because it sounds like a repair. Consider the backup situation and support options before accepting an erase.
If a software download takes more than 15 minutes, Apple notes that the iPhone may leave the recovery screen. Let the download finish, then repeat the recovery-mode steps if required. Do not repeatedly cancel a working download and start over from the beginning.
If the computer cannot complete the process
Write down the exact error code or message and when it appeared. A cable-detection failure is different from a download problem or an error during installation. That distinction helps you choose the next appropriate check.
Confirm that the computer software is current and that the cable connection is stable. If recovery mode still cannot update or restore the phone, or a required button is not working, contact Apple or an authorized service provider with the details you recorded.
After a successful restore, follow the setup process and use an available backup where appropriate. Verify that important information is present before assuming everything has returned. Keep the older backup until you have checked the recovered phone.
Frequently asked questions
Does entering recovery mode automatically erase my iPhone?
Entering the screen and choosing Restore are separate actions. Restore erases the device. Read the computer’s options before accepting any operation that removes data.
Why does the Apple logo appear instead of the recovery screen?
The newer-model sequence requires continuing to hold the side button through the Apple logo. Keep the device connected and release only when the Connect to computer screen appears.
Can I use the same sequence for every iPhone?
No. iPhone 8 and later, the iPhone 7 family and older Home-button models use different combinations. Check the model, including the generation of an iPhone SE.
What if a required button is broken?
Apple recommends service when a damaged or stuck button prevents the recovery-mode process. Stop forcing the button and explain the hardware problem when requesting help.
Video walkthrough
Black Screen demonstrates this topic in the video below. Menu placement can differ between app versions; follow the current controls described in this guide.
Sources and further help
Featured photo: Photo by Karol on Unsplash.
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