How to put iPhone in recovery mode depends on the model, but the goal is the same: connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC so you can update or restore iOS when normal startup or troubleshooting no longer works.
Recovery Mode can also help when an iPhone shows Unavailable or Security Lockout, although a forgotten passcode still requires the device to be erased before it can be used again.
Use the model-specific steps below to enter Recovery Mode correctly, then choose the right computer option based on whether you are fixing a software problem or resetting a locked iPhone.
1. When Should You Use Recovery Mode?
Recovery mode is appropriate in four situations.
- You forgot the iPhone passcode and need to reset the device using a computer.
- The iPhone is stuck during startup or an update, and normal troubleshooting has not worked.
- Finder or Apple Devices says the iPhone must be updated or restored.
- iOS cannot start normally, and the computer needs Recovery Mode to reinstall the software.
2. How to Put iPhone in Recovery Mode
What button puts iPhone in recovery mode? The answer depends on the model. Use the sequence below that matches the specific iPhone. The phone must be connected to a computer with Finder or iTunes open before starting.
iPhone 8 and Later
This method applies to iPhone 8 and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation).
- Connect the iPhone to the computer with a cable. Open Finder on Mac or iTunes on Windows.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding it even when the Apple logo appears.
- Continue holding until the Connect to computer screen appears, showing a cable and computer.
- Release the Side button. Finder or iTunes will display a prompt to Update or Restore.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus use the Sleep/Wake button on the right side and the Volume Down button on the left.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer and open Finder or iTunes.
- Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake (Side) button simultaneously.
- Keep holding both buttons even when the Apple logo appears.
- Continue until the recovery mode screen appears, then release both buttons.
iPhone 6s, iPhone SE 1st Generation, and Earlier
These models use the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button for how to put iPhone in recovery mode.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer and open Finder or iTunes.
- Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake (Top or Side) button simultaneously.
- Keep holding both buttons past the Apple logo.
- Release when the recovery mode screen with the cable icon appears.
>>>Read more: How to Check iPhone Storage in Seconds: Simple Guide
3. Putting a Disabled iPhone in Recovery Mode
If too many incorrect passcode attempts are made, newer iOS versions may show iPhone Unavailable or Security Lockout. If you no longer know the passcode, Recovery Mode can be used with a computer to reset the device.
After ten failed passcode attempts with the Erase Data setting enabled, the phone wipes itself.
Recovery Mode does not bypass or recover the forgotten passcode. It allows the computer to erase and reset the iPhone so you can set it up again and restore an available backup.
Knowing how to put iPhone in recovery mode when disabled follows the exact same button sequence as a normal recovery mode entry.
4. Other Ways to Erase a Disabled iPhone
Two alternatives exist for erasing a disabled iPhone without using a computer, though both erase all data on the device.
On-device reset: On iOS 17 and later, an unavailable iPhone may show Forgot Passcode?.
If Find My was previously enabled, and the device has Wi-Fi or cellular access, you can follow the prompts to start an iPhone reset and enter your Apple Account password. The process erases the device so it can be set up again.
Erase through Find My: If Find My is enabled, you can remotely erase the iPhone through Find My or iCloud.com/find.
The device is erased when it receives the command, but Activation Lock remains enabled to protect it. Your Apple Account credentials are still required to reactivate the iPhone.
Both options erase all data on the device. Neither unlocks the phone while preserving the existing content.
If the problem is a failed iOS update or startup issue, Update may be worth trying before Restore because it attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing the device.
However, if the iPhone is locked because you forgot the passcode, Update does not remove that passcode; Apple requires the device to be reset and erased.
5. Choose Update or Restore on the Computer
Once you know how to put iPhone in recovery mode, Finder or iTunes displays a prompt with two options. The choice between them affects whether data is preserved.
Update Reinstalls iOS and May Keep Data
Choosing Update downloads and reinstalls the current version of iOS without erasing the contents of the phone.
If Recovery Mode is being used for an iOS startup or update problem and the computer offers both choices, trying Update first may reinstall iOS without erasing the device.
Update attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing personal data. If successful, your existing data should remain on the device.
Restore Erases the Device and Reinstalls iOS
Restore downloads the current iOS version and erases all content and settings on the device as part of the installation. The result is a phone in factory condition.
Use Restore only when Update has already been tried and failed, when the phone is disabled and the passcode cannot be recovered, or when a complete wipe is the intended outcome.
Recover Information From an Existing Backup
After a Restore completes, the iPhone setup screen offers the option to restore from an iCloud backup or an iTunes backup.
Choose this option during setup to recover apps, photos, and settings from the most recent backup.
Data not included in any backup, including items not synced to iCloud and not part of a previous computer backup, will not be recoverable after a Restore.
6. Leaving Recovery Mode and Fixing a Recovery Loop
Recovery mode can be exited without completing an update or restore. It can also become stuck in a loop under certain conditions.
- If you entered Recovery Mode accidentally, disconnecting and restarting the iPhone can return it to normal startup if iOS is functional.
- If the software download takes more than 15 minutes and the iPhone exits Recovery Mode, let the download finish, then enter Recovery Mode again.
- For startup or update problems, try Update before Restore when appropriate.
- If the computer cannot recognize the iPhone or Recovery Mode repeatedly fails, a hardware or cable issue may need further diagnosis.
7. FAQs
Will Recovery Mode Erase My iPhone?
Entering recovery mode does not erase data. It is a connection state that allows the computer to communicate with the phone at a low level. The data is erased only if Restore is chosen in Finder or iTunes.
Can I Enter Recovery Mode Without a Computer?
No. Recovery Mode is designed to work with a Mac using Finder or a Windows PC using Apple Devices. Older systems may still use iTunes. The phone enters the recovery mode state using button combinations, but nothing happens until it is connected to the computer and the software recognizes it.
How Long Does Recovery Mode Take?
Entering Recovery Mode itself is usually quick, but the update or restore can take much longer depending on the software download, computer, and internet connection. If a download takes more than 15 minutes and the iPhone exits Recovery Mode, let the download finish and then enter Recovery Mode again.
Does Recovery Mode Work if My iPhone Won’t Turn On at All?
Sometimes. Recovery Mode can help when iOS will not start normally, but the iPhone still needs enough power and working hardware to respond to the button sequence and connect to a computer. If there is no response after charging and a force restart, service may be needed.
How Do I Manually Enter Recovery Mode?
Connect the iPhone to a computer, then use the button combination for your model and keep holding the required button until the Connect to computer screen appears. For iPhone 8 and later, press Volume Up, press Volume Down, then hold the Side button.
Conclusion
Recovery Mode is most useful when the iPhone cannot start, update, or recover normally, but what you do after entering it matters just as much as the button sequence.
For how to put iPhone in recovery mode, use the correct combination for your model, then choose Update when you are troubleshooting iOS and want to preserve data, or Restore when the device must be erased.
Knowing that difference can help you avoid an unnecessary reset and make Recovery Mode a repair tool rather than a last-resort guess.
