Use Recovery Mode to Fix Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Recovery mode is a powerful tool you can use to fix problems with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. It reinstalls the software on your device, resolving a wide range of software-related issues in the process.

Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch might go into recovery mode after a failed software update. Other times, you might choose to put it in recovery mode as a troubleshooting solution. Either way, you can follow the instructions in this guide to restore your software and get your device back to normal again.

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What Is Recovery Mode?

An iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in recovery mode shows an iTunes or computer icon on the screen, prompting you to connect it to a computer. When you do so, you can choose to Update or Restore the software on your device.

Either option reinstalls the latest available operating software from Apple, but the Restore button also erases all the content and data from your device. Afterward, you can choose to recover a backup or set it up as new.

How to Exit Recovery Mode

While in recovery mode, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is totally unresponsive. You can’t wake it up, receive phone calls, or use it in any other way. You may be able to exit recovery mode by holding the Sleep/Wake button or following Apple’s instructions to force restart your device.

However, if there is a problem with the operating software on your device, it may be impossible to exit recovery mode. In this case, you need to update or restore the software to fix your device.

What Problems Does Recovery Mode Fix?

Since recovery mode reinstalls the software on your device, it’s an effective solution for any software-related problems you might come across. To name a few, these include failed updates, boot loops, unresponsive touchscreens, and even poor battery life.

If you experience the same software problems after using recovery mode, there might be an issue with your backup. Restore your device with recovery mode again, but set it up as new afterward. If that doesn’t work either, restore using DFU mode or seek a hardware repair.

Make a Backup Before Using Recovery Mode

Recovery mode gives you the choice to Update or Restore your device. If you choose to Restore, it also erases your content and settings. That includes any photos, messages, apps, and other data on your device.

Even if you only want to update your device, make a backup before putting it in recovery mode. It’s not possible to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch when it’s in recovery mode and you could lose all your data otherwise.

How to Put Your Device in Recovery Mode

To put an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in recovery mode you need to connect it to a computer and force restart the device. When you do this correctly, a computer or iTunes icon appears on the display. Your computer also recognizes a device in recovery mode.

Select your device from the list below to jump to the right instructions:

• iPhone 8, iPhone X, or later
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 6S, iPhone SE, or earlier
• iPad with Face ID
• iPad with Home button
• iPod touch (7th generation) or later
• iPod touch (6th generation) or earlier

iPhone 8, iPhone X, or later / iPad with Face ID

1. Connect your device to a computer using an Apple-certified USB cable.
2. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
3. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
4. Press and hold the Side or Top button.
5. Your iPhone or iPad will restart, keep holding the Side or Top button until it enters recovery mode. Choose to update or restore your device.

iPhone 7 / iPod touch (7th generation) or later

1. Connect your device to a computer using an Apple-certified USB cable.
2. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button with the Volume Down button.
3. Your iPhone or iPod touch will restart, keep holding both buttons until it enters recovery mode. Choose to update or restore your device.

iPhone 6S, iPhone SE, or earlier / iPod (6th generation) or earlier / iPad with Home button

1. Connect your device to a computer using an Apple-certified USB cable.
2. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button with the Home button.
3. Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will restart, keep holding both buttons until it enters recovery mode. Choose to update or restore your device.

How to Update or Restore in Recovery Mode

Your computer should recognize an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in recovery mode and automatically open Finder or iTunes, depending on your computer software.

Choose whether you want to Update or Restore the software on your device. When you update it, you shouldn’t lose any content. Whereas choosing to restore your software also erases all the content and settings.

After 15 minutes, your device may automatically exit recovery mode. If this happens, repeat the instructions above to put it in recovery mode again and finish updating or restoring the software.

What If Recovery Mode Doesn’t Work

There aren’t many problems you can’t fix by restoring your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with recovery mode. But if it didn’t do the trick, there is an even deeper restore you can do instead.

Device Firmware Update mode—or DFU mode for short—reinstalls the firmware on your device as well as the software. If your problem persists after using recovery mode, restore your device with DFU mode instead.

Dan Helyer( Senior Writer )

Dan is a freelance writer based in South West England.

He spent two years supervising repairs as a Genius Admin for Apple Retail and uses that knowledge to keep our troubleshooting guides up to date.

Long before that, Dan turned to Apple products from a musical background. Having owned iPods for years, he bought a MacBook to learn sound recording and production. It was using those skills that he gained a first-class Bachelor of Science in Sound Technology.