5 Easy Ways to Fix iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode Issue

So your iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/7 is stuck in recovery mode for some reason, and you couldn't use the device at all. Depending on your iOS version, it will display a black screen with a computer icon or iTunes symbol when iPhone enters the recovery mode. And you will be asked to connect iPhone to your computer. This iPhone stuck in recovery mode issue is one of the most common issues with Apple devices. Here, we summarize the most effective ways to get iPhone out of recovery mode. And they also work on iPad and iPad. Let's dive in.

Fix 1: Force Restart iPhone If iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode
Fix 2: How to Get iPhone Out of Recovery Mode by Restoring iPhone via iTunes
Fix 3: DFU iPhone If iPhone Won't Restore in Recovery Mode
Fix 4: iPhone Stuck in Recovery/DFU Mode and Won't Restore? Fix it via iOS System Recovery
Fix 5: Contact Apple Support to Get Help

What Is iPhone Recovery Mode?

Putting iPhone into the recovery mode allows you to update the operating system to a new working version or restore a working backup to your device. This process will erase everything on the device, including the operating system and the firmware itself. Many iPhone problems can be solved by restarting, but some more complex problems require putting the iPhone in recovery mode.

Why Is My iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode?

Below are the most common causes for the iPhone 7/8/X/11/12/13/14 stuck in recover mode issue:

* You activated the iPhone recovery mode to solve complicated problems, such as the iPhone won't turn on, forgot iPhone password, etc., but the recovery process didn't complete successfully.

* Failed to update the latest iOS software on the device.

* Failed to jailbreak iPhone.

* The hardware is damaged.

Fix 1: Force Restart iPhone If iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode

Restarting your iPhone may help you exit the recovery mode without losing data. Since your iPhone restore screen is frozen, you are not able to use the normal restarting way. Here, we will show you how to force restart your iPhone by pressing the buttons. The specific steps differ according to iPhone model.

How to get iPhone out of recovery mode by a force-restart:

Note: Please make sure your iPhone is not connected to your PC.

Force restart iPhone 8, iPhone 11, and later models:

1. Press and release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Power button until you see the Apple logo.

Force restart iPhone 7:

1. Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down buttons at the same time.
2. Release both buttons when your iPhone restarts.

Force restart iPhone 6s and older models:

1. Press and hold the Power button and the Home button simultaneously.
2. Keep pressing the buttons until your iPhone restarts.

Learn more: This guide will teach you to fix the iPhone stuck on preparing update step by step.

Fix 2: How to Get iPhone Out of Recovery Mode by Restoring iPhone via iTunes

When your phone is stuck in recovery mode, you will be prompted to connect your device to a computer. You can use iTunes (or Finder if you use Mac) to download the latest iOS version to your device. If everything goes well, you can exit the recovery mode after downloading. Note that this process may erase all the contents on your iPhone. You can restore a previous backup of iCloud or iTunes to get back data.

How to exit recovery mode by restoring via iTunes:

Note: Please make sure you have the latest iTunes installed on your computer.

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer using the USB cable that comes with your device.
2. Open iTunes on your computer and click the iDevice icon at the top left corner. If you use a Mac running macOS Catalina or higher, open Finder and select your iPhone on the left sidebar.
3. Click Restore iPhone > click Restore and Update to confirm. Note that all your data will be erased.
4. iTunes will install the newest iOS version on your iPhone. The process takes about 30 minutes. Please keep your iPhone connected to PC during the process.
5. Once complete, follow the on-screen prompts on your iPhone to set it up.
6. When you get to the Apps & Data screen, restore the backup from iCloud or iTunes to get back your data.

Fix 3: DFU iPhone If iPhone Won't Restore in Recovery Mode

If iPhone is locked in recovery mode and the above methods won't work, you can consider choosing DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode to restore. This is the deepest type of system restore for iPhone. When iPhone is under this mode, it cannot load iOS or the bootloader, but it can be detected by iTunes. Please note that DFU mode recovery will cause data loss. And if the operation is not correct, it will cause more serious damage to the phone.

Step 1: Connect iPhone to computer using the USB that comes with your device. Open iTunes or Finder on your computer.

Step 2: Put your iPhone into DFU mode. Please follow the instructions according to your iPhone model.

DFU iPhone 8/X/11 or later models:

• Press and release the Volume Up button, then press and release the Volume Down button.
• Then press and hold the Power button.
• When you see the screen turns black, press the Volume Down button while pressing the Power button.
• Keep pressing the two at the same time for 5 seconds, then release the Power button but keep holding the Volume Down button.
• If your device is detected by iTunes, but the iPhone screen stays black, it means your iPhone has successfully entered the DFU mode If you see an Apple logo or anything else on iPhone screen, it means your iPhone may still be in the recovery mode, so you will need to go over the steps again.

DFU iPhone 7:

• Press and hold the Power and the Volume Down buttons at the same time.
• Press the two buttons for 8 seconds and then let go of the Power button, but keep pressing the Volume Down button.
• When iPhone is detected by iTunes, but the iPhone screen stays black, it means that you have entered the DFU mode.

DFU iPhone 6s or older models:

• Press and hold the Power and Home buttons at the same time.
• Keep pressing both buttons for 8 seconds, then release the Power button but keep holding the Home button.
• If you see iTunes detect your iPhone but the iPhone screen stays black, it means that you have entered the DFU mode.

Step 3: When your iPhone is in DFU mode, follow the steps shown on the screen to restore your iPhone.

Also read:

iPhone Stuck in DFU Mode? 3 Ways to Fix without Data Lost

How to Put iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/7/6 and iPad Mini/Air/Pro in DFU Mode?

Fix 4: iPhone Stuck in Recovery/DFU Mode and Won't Restore? Fix it via iOS System Recovery

If iPhone is stuck in Recovery or DFU mode and won't restore, you can fix the problem with a powerful third-party software called iOS System Recovery. This software is designed to fix various iOS issues in an effective way. It enables you to fix screen issues like iPhone blue/white/black screen of death, iOS mode issues like stuck on DFU/recovery/safe/headphone mode, and various iTunes errors like iTunes error 4005. This software is very easy to use. There are clear on-screen instructions to guide you through the whole process.

With this software, you can bypass recovery mode on iPhone without data loss easily. Download this tool now:

How to get iPhone out of recovery mode via iOS System Recovery:

Step 1: Download and run iOS System Recovery on your computer, then connect your iPhone to computer using a USB cable. Head to the iOS System Recovery section from the welcome window.

Step 2: iOS System Recovery will detect your iPhone stuck in the recovery mode automatically. Once detected, click Confirm to continue.

Step 3: Select your iPhone information as required, then click Repair to start to fix the iPhone recover mode loop issue. The software will download the plugin and repair your iPhone. When the process is finished, your iPhone will boot up. Then you will find it exit the recovery mode successfully.

Fix 5: Contact Apple Support to Get Help

If the problem persists after trying all the solutions above, the culprit may be damaged hardware. In this case, you can contact Apple Support to look to get the solution. You can start a chat to talk to Apple support. You can also find a local Apple authorized service provider or make an appointment at the Genius bar to have your device fully checked.

The Bottom Line

In most cases, iPhone stuck in recovery mode is caused by software issues like iOS update failure. You can follow the above solutions to bring iPhone back to normal. And the most recommended solution is to use iOS System Recovery. It allows you to fix the issue without losing data, and it is very simple to operate.

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