Often, a simple restart is all it takes to fix a strange problem on your iPhone. But rarely will you run into major issues that require a forced restart and go to iPhone recovery mode instead.
For example, you might have an iPhone that freezes on startup, keeps loading continuously, or doesn’t respond to touch. A forced restart helps reboot an unresponsive device, but the extra step and going into recovery mode also gives you a chance to fix the problem permanently.
There are two options in iPhone recovery mode. You can update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS while keeping your data intact. Or you can reset it to factory settings. If you have a local or iCloud backup, you can also restore your data if the device starts working normally again.
However, forcing an iPhone to restart, let alone go to recovery mode, can be a little confusing as the process is different for different iPhone models. It’s the same with the iPad. You need to make some basic preparations ahead of time.
How to Prepare for iPhone or iPad Recovery Mode
To force restart your iPhone or iPad and go into recovery mode, you need to have a Mac or PC close at hand. It’s best to use one that has a local backup of your iPhone or iPad as you might end up rebooting your device. Otherwise, any Mac or PC will do as you don’t need to “trust” the desktop in recovery mode.
On macOS Catalina and later, you must use the Finder app to interact with your iPhone or iPad while it’s in recovery mode. On macOS Mojave and earlier, and on Windows, you must use iTunes. If you’re using a PC and doesn’t have iTunes on it, please install it before moving on.
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However, start by connecting your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC via USB. You may need to use a USB-C to USB adapter on a Mac that only has USB-C ports. Then open Finder or iTunes. You are now ready to enter recovery mode.
How to force restart iPhone and enter recovery mode
Depending on your iPhone model, you must use one of three different methods to force restart and enter recovery mode.
iPhone 8 Series, iPhone X and later
On iPhone 8 series and later, which includes all iPhones with Face ID (such as iPhone X) and iPhone SE (2020) based on Touch ID, you must use a three-button combination to force restart and sign in recovery mode. Click them in the following order:
1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button (sleep / wake).
After a few seconds, the screen will turn black and the Apple logo should appear. Hold until you see the recovery mode screen. Then you can release the side button.
iPhone 7 Series Only
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus require a two-button combination to force restart and enter recovery mode. Start by simultaneously pressing and holding the Volume Down and Side buttons.
Hold both buttons until the screen turns black and the Apple logo appears. When you see the recovery mode screen, release both buttons.
iPhone 6s Series and older
On iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and older iPhones, simply press and hold the Home and Side / Top buttons.
The screen should go black and the Apple logo should appear shortly after. Keep holding until you see the recovery mode screen. Then you can release both buttons.
How to force restart iPad and enter recovery mode
If you want to force restart your iPad and enter recovery mode, you have to use one of two methods depending on whether your device has a Home button or not.
iPad without Home button
On an iPad without a Home button, such as iPad Pro (2018) and newer, press the following buttons in the correct sequence to force restart and enter recovery mode:
1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the top button (sleep / wake up).
Hold until iPad forcibly reboots and goes into recovery mode. Then you can release the top button.
iPad with Home Button
On all iPads with a physical Home button, such as the iPad Air (2019), hold the Home and Top buttons at the same time.
Hold both buttons until the recovery mode screen appears. Then you can release both buttons.
How to use recovery mode
Once you enter recovery mode on your iPhone or iPad, you will automatically see a pop-up notification in Finder or iTunes asking you to update or restore your device.
We recommend updating your iPhone or iPad first. Select Update and your Mac or PC will try to download and install the latest iOS or iPadOS without deleting your data.
If your device exits recovery mode and automatically reboots (which happens after 15 minutes), wait for the download to complete, re-enter recovery mode and select Refresh again.
If the update fails or doesn’t fix your device, you need to restore to factory settings. It will also delete all locally stored documents, photos and videos on the device.
However, afterwards, you can recover your lost data with a local backup or an iCloud backup. You can also get back any data that was synced to iCloud (like your photos if you had iCloud Photos enabled) or third-party cloud storage services.
If you want to continue, select “Recover” and then select “Recover and Update”.
If you change your mind and want to exit recovery mode, start by disconnecting your device from your Mac or PC. Then hold the side / top button until the screen turns off. Hold it down again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
Recovery Mode doesn’t fix everything
Updating or restoring your iPhone or iPad will most likely make the device work again. However, recovery mode is not a panacea for all problems. If the cause is hardware related, which is likely, if the device is still having problems, your best bet is to make an appointment at your local Genius bar.
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