Apple devices can still experience software and hardware problems. When software issues occur, Apple may address them through software updates.
Unfortunately, iPhones can still develop faults. Sometimes, they stop updating even when the model is compatible with the latest version of iOS. Other times, you may want to restore the device, but the restore function will not work.
In these instances, you can force your device into iPhone recovery mode. This is a safety mode that means you cannot do anything on your device until you plug it into a computer. Sometimes, you can even force iPhone recovery mode after water damage.
Once you’ve done this, you can use your Mac, or the Apple Devices app if you’re a Windows user, to manually restore the device and, in some cases, get it back in working order.
How to Put iPhone in Recovery Mode: Check Your Device Model
If your device will turn on, you can go to Settings > General > About to find out the exact model of your iPhone.
If the iPhone won’t turn on, you can check your devices through the “Find My” app on another Apple device or through iCloud.com, if the iPhone is associated with your Apple account.
Click here, and you should see the details of any Apple device you’re currently using with this account. Simply click on a device to see what model of iPhone it is.
The reason you need to know this is that there are different ways to force an iPhone into Recovery mode, depending on the model:
iPhone 6s and older: Hold the button at the side or the top (the same button you would power the phone on with) at the same time as holding the round home button. After about 10 seconds, you will see the screen prompting you to connect the device to the computer.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Hold the side button and the volume down buttons simultaneously until you see the same screen.
iPhone 8 and newer: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button. Then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the side button until the “Connect to computer” screen appears.
The screen you are waiting for should look like this:
Once you see this, use the appropriate cable to connect it to your computer. A Mac should automatically recognize the device and provide relevant options. On a Windows PC, head to the Start menu and search for Apple Devices, and open this app.
Once the app recognizes your device, you’ll be given options to “Update” or “Restore” the iPhone. If you haven’t already tried updating it, Apple recommends trying “Update” first. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, choose “Restore” and follow the prompts. “Restore” reinstalls iOS and erases your data and settings. If you have a recent iCloud or computer backup, you can use it to restore your information after the process is complete.
As an avid gamer, I’ve run into my fair share of error codes and weird faults that have forced me to find fixes to problems I never anticipated. That gave me a passion for sharing those fixes with others so we can all game without feeling like our hardware is rebelling against us.
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