How to put an iPhone in recovery mode

2 min read · 6 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Short answer

Connect the iPhone to a computer. On iPhone 8 or later, press and quickly release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the side button until the recovery screen with a cable and computer appears. On the computer, choose Update first.

Recovery mode lets a computer reinstall the iPhone's software when the phone is stuck on the Apple logo, will not start, or is not recognised. You need a Mac, or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app, and a cable.

Step by step

  1. Prepare the computer

    On a Mac, install any macOS updates and open Finder. On a Windows PC, install or update the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store and open it.

  2. Connect the iPhone with a cable

    Leave it connected for all the following steps.

  3. Press the buttons for your model

    iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE 2nd generation and later: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the side button. iPhone 7: hold the side button and Volume Down together. iPhone 6s or earlier: hold the Home button and the top or side button together.

  4. Keep holding until the recovery screen appears

    Do not let go when the Apple logo shows. Wait for the picture of a cable pointing to a computer.

  5. Choose Update on the computer

    A message offers Update or Restore. Update reinstalls iOS and tries to keep your data.

  6. Use Restore only if Update fails

    Restore reinstalls iOS and erases everything on the iPhone. You can bring your data back afterwards from a backup.

Good to know

If the download takes longer than 15 minutes, the iPhone leaves recovery mode. Let the download finish, then repeat the button steps.

To leave recovery mode without doing anything, unplug the cable and hold the side button until the phone restarts.

After a restore, the iPhone asks for the Apple Account that was on it. That is Activation Lock, and it cannot be skipped.

Try a forced restart first. It is quicker and loses nothing: how to force restart an iPhone.

In short: Connect to a computer, Volume Up, Volume Down, hold the side button, then Update.

Sources
  • Apple Support: If you can't update or restore your iPhone or iPod touch

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