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iPhone DFU mode is a low-level restore state used when an iPhone needs deeper troubleshooting than a normal restart or Recovery Mode can provide. For iPhone 8 and later, connect the iPhone to a computer, quickly press Volume Up, quickly press Volume Down, hold the Side button until the screen turns black, then hold Side + Volume Down for about 5 seconds. Release only the Side button and keep holding Volume Down until the computer detects the iPhone. A successful DFU screen stays completely black.
DFU is usually a last-resort path. For most failed updates or restore problems, try Recovery Mode before DFU mode because it may offer an update path before a full restore. Entering DFU mode by itself does not erase your data, but completing a DFU restore does. Also, DFU does not provide unrestricted firmware downgrades: a normal restore still depends on iOS versions Apple is currently signing.
In this article
Part 1. How to put iPhone in DFU Mode normally?
Before you start, connect the iPhone directly to a Mac or PC with a reliable USB cable. Use Finder on a current Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a current Windows PC. Older systems may still use iTunes. If the iPhone is usable and you may need to restore it, make a backup first. You can also use Dr.Fone - Backup & Restore (iOS) or review this iPhone backup software guide before proceeding.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Standard DFU Entry
The button sequence is different across iPhone generations. Use the section that matches your model instead of applying one generic Home/Power sequence to every iPhone.
Do not choose by the presence of a Home button alone: iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) uses the iPhone 8-and-later sequence, not the older Home-button sequence. Keep the USB cable connected throughout the attempt. A computer is needed to confirm DFU detection and perform a restore; a black display by itself is not a useful no-computer DFU check.
| iPhone model | DFU button route | Full instructions |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 8 / 8 Plus, X through 16 series, SE (2nd / 3rd generation), and later models using this button layout | Quick Up, quick Down; hold Side until black; Side + Down about 5 seconds; release Side, keep Down. | iPhone 8-and-later steps |
| iPhone 7 / 7 Plus | Side + Down about 8 seconds; release Side, keep Down. | iPhone 7 steps |
| iPhone 6s / 6s Plus, SE (1st generation), iPhone 6, 5s, 5c, 5, 4s and earlier | Home + Top/Side about 8 seconds; release Top/Side, keep Home. | Older Home-button steps |
How to put iPhone 8 or later into DFU mode
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Step 1Connect the iPhone
Connect your iPhone with a data-capable USB cable and open Finder on a current Mac or Apple Devices on Windows. Older supported setups may use iTunes. If the phone is working normally and asks you to allow an accessory or trust this computer, respond to that prompt before you begin.
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Step 2Start the button sequence
Quickly press and release Volume Up, then quickly press and release Volume Down. Press and hold the Side button until the screen turns completely black.
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Step 3Switch to DFU timing
As soon as the screen is black, hold Side + Volume Down together for about 5 seconds. Then release only the Side button and continue holding Volume Down for about 10 seconds, or until the computer detects the iPhone.
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Step 4Confirm DFU mode
The display should remain completely black and Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes should detect an iPhone. The computer may call it an iPhone in "recovery mode"; that wording alone does not distinguish the two modes. Release Volume Down once it is detected. If you see the Apple logo on the phone, restart the sequence; a cable-to-computer graphic on the phone means Recovery Mode instead.
Older iTunes detection alert: the computer can use "recovery mode" for a DFU device. Check the phone itself is still black; this image is not the DFU display.
How to put iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus into DFU mode
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Step 1Connect the iPhone 7
Connect the iPhone to your computer and open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes on an older supported setup.
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Step 2Hold Side + Volume Down
Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down together for about 8 seconds.
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Step 3Release Side only
Release the Side button while continuing to hold Volume Down until the computer detects the iPhone. The screen should stay black.
The iPhone 7 has a Home button, but this DFU sequence does not use it. The Side and Volume Down buttons still need to work.
How to put iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation), or earlier into DFU mode
These older models use Home + Top/Side (Lock). On an iPhone 6 or 6s, the Lock button is on the side; on an iPhone 5s or SE (1st generation), it is on top. The older illustrations below show the physical buttons, not a current iPhone interface.
Historical power-off and Top-button references for older iPhones. These identify the physical control; they do not illustrate connecting a USB cable.
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Step 1Connect the iPhone
Connect the device to the computer and open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes as appropriate.
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Step 2Hold Home + Lock
Hold the Home button and the Top/Side (Lock) button together for about 8 seconds.
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Step 3Release Lock, keep holding Home
Release the Top/Side button and continue holding Home until the computer detects the device. If the Apple logo appears, the Lock button was held too long and you should try again.
The illustration shows a continued Home-button hold. Stop when the computer detects the device with its screen black, rather than relying on a pictured countdown alone.
This historical cable-to-iTunes image is a Recovery/connection screen, not a successful DFU screen.
If Your iPhone Won't Enter DFU Mode
| What you see | What it establishes | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Apple logo or a normal restart | Not DFU; the timing or release point was missed. | Let it start or force restart, then retry your model's sequence. On iPhone 8 and later, release only Side after the 5-second combined hold. |
| Cable-to-computer graphic on the phone | Recovery Mode, not DFU. | Use the supported Recovery path if that meets your goal, or exit and retry the DFU timing. |
| Black phone and computer detects an iPhone | The expected DFU signals, even if the desktop alert says "recovery mode." | Release the held button. Review the data-loss decision before selecting Restore. |
| Black phone, but no computer detection | DFU is not confirmed; the phone may be off or the connection/display may be faulty. | Check the USB cable and port below; if needed force restart and check charging rather than blindly restoring. |
Use a cable that supports both data and charging, connect directly to another USB port, and try a known-good cable or another computer. Update macOS or Apple Devices/iTunes as appropriate. A phone that works normally can respond to Allow/Trust prompts; do not make a new Trust prompt a requirement that a black DFU screen must display. If a button is stuck or the computer still cannot detect the device, use Apple's detection checks or service rather than repeatedly changing firmware.
Before choosing Restore: entering DFU alone is not an erase, and you can leave it without restoring if no restore is running. If you decide to continue, make sure you accept the loss of local data and have any available backup and Apple Account sign-in details. Select the detected iPhone in Finder or Apple Devices, choose Restore iPhone, and read the erase confirmation before proceeding. Keep the cable connected until the restore finishes; then set up the phone and restore available data.
Need to preserve data? If you have not tried Recovery Mode's Update option, try that supported path first when offered; do not expect a data-preserving Update operation inside DFU. A normal DFU restore still requires firmware Apple authorizes and signs; it does not let you install any older or unsigned iOS version.
Part 2. How to Enter DFU Mode without Home Button or Power Button?
If you are looking for how to put an iPhone in DFU mode without buttons, the key limitation is that a required physical button cannot simply be bypassed by a dependable consumer software shortcut on a current iPhone. The same applies if you are trying to learn how to enter DFU mode without a Power button on a model that requires it. This is especially important because some older tutorials use legacy jailbreak-era tools or custom IPSW workflows that were designed for much older devices and should not be treated as a current solution for modern iPhones.
No Home button by design is different from a broken required button. Face ID iPhones do not need a Home button. iPhone 7/7 Plus and iPhone SE (2nd/3rd generation) have one but do not use it for DFU entry. An iPhone 4, 5, 5s, 6, 6s, or first-generation SE does need its working Home button for the normal sequence. AssistiveTouch cannot replace a required physical button during low-level DFU entry.
Software-Based DFU Entry Guide: What Still Works in 2026
For a modern iPhone, choose the next step based on what the device can still do:
| Situation | Best next step | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Required buttons still work | Use the model-specific DFU sequence | True DFU mode depends on precise hardware-button timing. |
| A button is broken, but the iPhone still boots | Check the Recovery Mode alternative | A working iPhone may enter Recovery Mode through a supported desktop feature. This is not a buttonless DFU command; use Update before Restore when offered. |
| A button is broken and true DFU is required | Get Apple service or repair the button | Apple advises service when button problems prevent recovery procedures; hardware-level DFU workarounds are not appropriate for a normal consumer repair guide. |
| The iPhone is already in DFU and will not exit | Use the exit-DFU steps below | Exiting DFU is a different task from entering it without buttons. |
Recovery instead of DFU: with working buttons on an iPhone 8 or later, connect it to Finder or Apple Devices, quickly press Volume Up, quickly press Volume Down, then hold Side until the cable-to-computer screen appears. In Recovery, try Update first if you have not already; Restore erases data. If a required button is broken but the phone still starts and can communicate with a computer, Dr.Fone's Enter/Exit Recovery Mode feature is an optional software route. It enters Recovery, not true DFU. If the device cannot communicate or the required physical DFU input cannot work, arrange button repair or Apple service.
When evaluating an iPhone DFU mode tool, distinguish four functions: entering Recovery, guiding the physical DFU sequence, guiding a DFU exit, and performing a firmware repair. Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) provides Enter/Exit Recovery Mode and a dedicated guided Exit DFU Mode option. The exit guide still asks you to follow the model-specific buttons; it is not an automatic buttonless DFU-entry tool. Use it when that guided workflow matches your goal, not as a substitute for a broken required key.
Older RedSn0w custom-IPSW tutorials describe legacy iOS/jailbreak workflows, not a dependable current consumer method for entering DFU on every iPhone. Keep those separate from the model-specific steps above. Do not disassemble a phone or try board-level contact tricks to bypass a broken button; use a qualified repair provider.
Part 3. What to do if my iPhone is stuck in DFU mode?
If you entered DFU accidentally and no restore or firmware installation is running, use the force restart for your model. If a restore is already in progress, let it finish instead of unplugging or interrupting it.
- iPhone 8 or later, including SE (2nd/3rd generation): quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears. This can take longer than 10 seconds.
- iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: hold Side + Volume Down until the Apple logo appears.
- iPhone 6s, SE (1st generation), or earlier: hold Home + Top/Side until the Apple logo appears.
After the logo, wait for the lock screen and check whether it starts normally. If it stays black with no computer detection, charge it for an hour and retry the correct force restart; Apple's black-screen checks cover this branch. Repeated failure, damaged buttons, or an undetected device may need service, not another DFU attempt.
If the iPhone still will not exit DFU mode, Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) now provides a dedicated Exit DFU Mode workflow. This is a better match for the problem than immediately downloading firmware and running a full repair.
Guided repair for supported iOS software and firmware problems.- Standard Repair is designed to preserve device data.
- A dedicated Exit DFU Mode guide helps you follow the right buttons.
- Windows and Mac workflows for eligible iPhone and iPad devices.
How to Exit DFU Mode with Dr.Fone
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Step 1Open the Exit DFU Mode feature
On your Windows PC or Mac, open Dr.Fone and connect the iPhone by USB. Go to Toolbox > System Repair, choose iPhone if prompted, then choose Exit DFU Mode. The screenshot below shows the Exit DFU choice; the Mac interface may differ.
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Step 2Select your iPhone model range
Choose the tab for your iPhone model range, then carry out the displayed button instructions. Watch for the Apple logo and normal startup. This is a guided manual exit, so the required buttons must still respond.
If the exit does not solve the startup problem: return to System Repair and consider Standard Repair only for a supported software issue. It is designed to preserve data; Advanced Repair, Factory Reset, and Anti-Recovery Repair can erase data and are not interchangeable exit commands. Check the selected feature's in-app access or license requirements before starting. A free download does not mean every repair or exit function is free. See the iOS repair mode guide for that separate repair workflow.
For the current interface sequence, see the Dr.Fone Exit Recovery/DFU Mode guide.
Part 4. What if I lost my iPhone data in DFU Mode?
Simply entering DFU mode does not erase your iPhone. Data loss happens when you use DFU mode to complete a restore, because the restore reinstalls iOS and erases the device. If you already completed a DFU restore, check your existing backups and cloud-synced data first instead of assuming the erased device still contains recoverable files.
Choose the source where a copy may still exist: on an erased iPhone at the Hello screen, choose Transfer Your Apps & Data > From iCloud Backup during setup to restore an available backup. For a computer backup, select the device in Finder or Apple Devices, choose Restore Backup, select the appropriate date, and enter the encrypted-backup password if requested. Keep it connected until the restore and sync finish.
If you have no device backup, separately check data still synced to iCloud and files in iCloud Drive. They are not the same as an iCloud Backup snapshot. No software can promise to undo a completed erase when no recoverable copy remains. A direct scan also requires a device that can communicate with the computer; a black DFU screen is not proof that personal files are available to scan.
Apple can restore a full device backup from iCloud or a computer backup. If you want to preview and selectively extract supported data from iCloud Backup, iCloud-synced sources, iCloud Drive, or local/iTunes backups, Dr.Fone - Data Recovery (iOS) provides those recovery-source options. You can also review our guide on recovering iPhone data without an iTunes backup.
- Check supported data in available device, backup, or cloud sources.
- Preview supported photos, messages, contacts, and other data.
- Select available items instead of restoring an entire backup.
- Free scan and preview; a license is required to export or restore.
Illustration only. Preview the actual files available in your selected source before purchasing recovery or export.
Conclusion
Knowing how to put an iPhone in DFU mode is useful when a deeper restore is genuinely needed, but the correct method depends on the iPhone generation. Use the modern Volume Up/Volume Down/Side sequence for iPhone 8 and later, the Side + Volume Down sequence for iPhone 7, and the Home + Lock sequence for iPhone 6s, iPhone SE (1st generation), and earlier models. Try Recovery Mode first for most update or restore problems, remember that a DFU restore erases the device, and avoid relying on legacy buttonless-DFU tutorials for current iPhones. If you are already stuck in DFU mode, use the model-specific force restart or a verified Exit DFU Mode workflow before moving to a deeper system repair.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between DFU Mode and Recovery Mode?
Recovery Mode shows a cable-to-computer graphic on the phone; DFU keeps it black while the computer detects it. The desktop alert can call both states "recovery mode," so check the phone display too. Recovery is the supported first path for many update/restore problems; try Update before an erasing Restore when offered.
2. Does entering DFU mode erase everything on an iPhone?
No. Entering DFU mode alone does not erase your data. A DFU restore erases the iPhone and reinstalls authorized iOS. Back up first whenever possible, and use the exit steps if you did not intend to restore.
3. Can I put an iPhone in DFU mode without the Power, Home, or Volume buttons?
Some models do not use Home for DFU: iPhone 7 uses Side + Volume Down, and iPhone 8-and-later models, including SE 2nd/3rd generation, use the Volume/Side sequence. That does not bypass a broken required Side, Volume, or older-model Home button. Recovery software and AssistiveTouch are not automatic buttonless DFU-entry methods; seek service when the required key cannot work.
4. How do I exit DFU mode if I entered it by mistake?
If no restore is running, use the force-restart sequence for your model in Part 3. Dr.Fone also has a guided Exit DFU Mode workflow with model-specific button instructions. That guides an exit; it is not a guarantee of automatic exit with broken buttons. If the phone still cannot start, distinguish a software fault from charging or hardware trouble before a deeper repair.
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