• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AppleToolBox

Tools and Fixes for Mac, iPad, iPhone & iWatch

Search posts

  • About
  • Contact

CONNECT WITH US

CATEGORIES

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • iPod
  • Apple Watch
  • Mac/MacBook
  • AirPods
  • Apple TV
  • News
  • Apple Services
  • HomePod
  • Reviews

SITE

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Search posts

You are here: Home / iPhone / How-To Use DFU Mode on Your iPhone XS/XR/X or iPhone 8

How-To Use DFU Mode on Your iPhone XS/XR/X or iPhone 8

By SK 1 comment Last updated September 21, 2018

DFU Mode is an essential tool in the iDevice arsenal. Device Firmware Update is different than the recovery mode. DFU mode allows your phone to interact using iTunes without the phone operating system (iOS) loading.

How-To Get to DFU Mode on iPhone X and iPhone 8

RELATED

  • Force Restart Not Working on your iPhone 8 or iPhone X devices? Here’s How To Do It
  • iOS: Everything about DFU & Recovery Mode

Why Use DFU Mode?

For most problem solving, recovery mode is what folks use. But sometimes that just doesn’t work out–that’s where DFU comes in!

You also need the DFU mode when you are trying to downgrade the iOS version or un-jailbreak it.

Things are a bit different for accessing DFU Mode on iPhone X Series phones and iPhone 8 models. Let’s take a look.

It’s easy to think your iPhone is in DFU mode when it isn’t!

When the iPhone enters into DFU mode, you ALWAYS see a blank black screen on your iPhone.

DFU Mode on iPhone XS/XR/X and iPhone 8 Step by Step

  1. Update to latest iTunes version on your computer FIRST
  2. Close any open apps on your phone (if possible) and on your computer
  3. Power on your phone (if needed)
  4. Connect Your iPhone to your Computer using the Lightning Cable
  5. Launch iTunes and make sure that your iPhone shows up in the list of devices
  6. Next, Press the Volume UP button followed immediately by the Volume DOWN button
  7. Now, Press and hold the Side or Power button until the iPhone screen turns black
    1. Your screen should stay black, if not go through the previous steps again
  8. Release the Side or Power button and press down both the Side or Power button AND Volume DOWN button together for 5 seconds or so
  9. After 5 seconds, release the side or power button but keep pressing the Volume Down button
  10. Give it a few seconds, around 10, until iTunes recognizes the DFU mode and check that your screen remains black
  11. If you successfully entered the DFU Mode on your device, your iPhone’s screen should remain black and you see a message on your computer that “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes.”
    1. If not, repeat these steps

If you do not see a black screen, you are not in DFU Mode. Please run through these steps again. 

DFU Mode black screen iPhone X Series
You’re in DFU Mode if your screen is completely black

Sometimes during the process, you may accidentally enter recovery mode or your iPhone simply turns off.

Please try the steps again and you will be successful.

To exit the DFU mode on your iPhone XS/XR/X or 8, simply turn off the device.

We hope that you do not ever need to get to the DFU mode on your brand new iPhones.

Some ifolks like to clean everything when they get a new iPhone and these steps should help if you are trying to clean and then restore your iPhone X Series phone with a fresh install of iOS.

Please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions or additional tips that you want to share.

sudz - apple
SK

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.

Related Posts:

  • iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them - Troubleshooting Guide
    iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them -…
  • Error Occurred Installing iOS 12 on iPhone or iPad, How-To Fix
    Error Occurred Installing iOS 12 on iPhone or iPad, How-To…
  • How To Reset the Screen Time Passcode on iOS, iPadOS, or macOS
    How To Reset the Screen Time Passcode on iOS, iPadOS, or…
  • iPhone stuck in Recovery mode? Here are 4 steps to fix it
    iPhone stuck in Recovery mode? Here are 4 steps to fix it
  • Error occurred installing iOS 13 or iPadOS on iPhone or iPad? How to fix
    Error occurred installing iOS 13 or iPadOS on iPhone or…
  • Active noise cancelation not working after updating AirPods Pro firmware?
    Active noise cancelation not working after updating AirPods…
  • Should I sign up for Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program?
    Should I sign up for Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program?
  • iMessage Not Working iOS 12? Fix Message App Problems
    iMessage Not Working iOS 12? Fix Message App Problems
  • Why does my iPhone DCIM folder appear empty on a PC?
    Why does my iPhone DCIM folder appear empty on a PC?

Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Show 1 Comments

  1. Justine bernabe says

    February 28, 2023 at 6:49 AM

    Why i cant download in the apps store an iPad

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Change the Color Profile on Your Mac
  • How to Turn Safari Search Suggestions On and Off on iPhone and iPad
  • How to Change Login Picture on Mac
  • Problems Using External Hard Drive With Mac: How to Fix
  • How to Delete Notes in the Notes App on iOS, iPad, and Mac
  • How to Use ChatGPT on iPhone and iPad

Connect with us

Footer

ABOUT

  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

GUIDES

  • iOS 13 & iPadOS
  • Apple ID
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • iTunes
  • FaceTime
  • iMessage
  • Siri
  • Books and iBooks
  • Game Center
  • AirPlay

CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • FeedBurner
  • YouTube

© Copyright 2010-2023 Guiding Tech Media · All Rights Reserved

This site and its content are in no way affiliated or endorsed by Apple, Inc. · Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited