How to Fix an iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode

Part 1. Why an iPhone Can Get Stuck in Recovery Mode

An iPhone can remain on the recovery screen after an interrupted iOS update, a failed restore, corrupted system software, or a hardware/button problem. The symptom matters more than guessing the cause: if a force restart works, you may only have needed to exit the temporary recovery state. If the phone immediately returns to the recovery screen, the underlying iOS installation or hardware still needs attention.

1. Interrupted Update or Restore

A power loss, unstable connection, or cable disconnection during an update or restore can leave the iPhone unable to start normally and return it to Recovery Mode.

2. iOS System Problem

Damaged or incomplete system files can prevent a normal startup. In that case, simply leaving Recovery Mode may not be enough, and the phone may return to the recovery screen.

3. Failed System Modification

Unsupported system modifications or a failed jailbreak can destabilize iOS and leave the device unable to complete its normal boot sequence.

4. Button, Cable, Port, or Hardware Problem

A stuck button, unreliable cable or USB port, or an internal hardware fault can interrupt recovery. If the phone cannot be updated or restored in Recovery Mode, or a required button does not work, Apple says service may be needed.

Part 2. How to Fix an iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode

Use the least destructive fix that matches the phone's current state. Start with a force restart, then try a Recovery Mode exit tool if you only need to leave the recovery screen. If the phone still cannot boot, use Apple's Update-first recovery path before considering Restore.

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Fix 1. Force Restart the iPhone

You can try this without a computer. A force restart does not erase the iPhone and can get it out of a temporary recovery state. Use the buttons for your model, releasing them when the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 8 and Later, Including iPhone SE (2nd Generation and Later)

This includes iPhone X, XR, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and newer models. If your iPhone 11 is stuck on the restore screen, use this sequence:

• Press and quickly release Volume Up.
• Press and quickly release Volume Down.
• Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

• Press and hold the Side and Volume Down buttons together until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6s and Earlier, Including iPhone SE (1st Generation)

• Press and hold the Home and Side/Top buttons together until the Apple logo appears.

If the iPhone boots normally, stop here and make a backup while you can access it. If it returns to the Connect to computer screen, a restart alone has not resolved the problem. You will need a computer for the next software options, or you can contact Apple service if you cannot access one.

Fix 2. One-Click Exit Recovery Mode with Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)

If the button sequence is difficult and you want to get off the recovery screen, Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) gives you an Exit Recovery Mode command on your computer. It sends the exit command without performing an erase-and-restore. If the phone keeps returning to Recovery Mode, choose a repair or Update path instead of repeatedly clicking Exit.

Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS)

Leave Recovery Mode with a guided exit tool, or repair iOS with data-preserving Standard Repair.

• Exit Recovery Mode without repeating the manual button sequence.
• Standard Repair is designed to fix iOS system problems while preserving personal data.
• Repair 150+ software-related iOS issues, including recovery-mode loops, a stuck Apple logo, and a black screen.
• Use guided firmware download, verification, and repair progress when a system repair is needed.

Available on: Windows Mac

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Connect your iPhone to a Windows PC or Mac using USB. Launch Dr.Fone, open Toolbox, and choose System Repair. The Mac interface may look different from the screenshots.

Step 1. Choose iPhone

On the System Repair screen, choose iPhone as the device type.

Step 2. Open Enter/Exit Recovery Mode

Select Enter/Exit Recovery Mode from the available repair tools.

Step 3. Exit Recovery Mode

Choose Exit, then confirm with OK. Check whether the iPhone starts normally.

When the completion screen appears, check whether the iPhone reaches its lock screen and stays there. If it boots, back it up. If it returns to Recovery Mode, the exit command has not resolved the underlying startup problem.

You can then choose Standard Mode to open the system-repair path, or try Apple's Update option. Standard Repair reinstalls firmware and is designed to preserve data, unlike the exit-only command. If you choose it, follow the Standard Repair instructions. Advanced Repair erases data, so do not switch to that mode just because an exit attempt failed.

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Fix 3. Use Apple Devices or Finder - Try Update Before Restore

Use Finder on macOS Catalina or later, or the latest Apple Devices app on Windows. Older Macs with macOS Mojave or earlier use iTunes. Update your computer's software, connect the iPhone directly with USB, and select it in the app.

Step 1. Keep the iPhone connected and enter Recovery Mode if needed

If the computer already offers Update or Restore, go to Step 2. Otherwise, use the following buttons while the phone remains connected. For recovery entry, keep holding past the Apple logo until the Connect to computer screen appears. This is different from the force restart above, where you release at the Apple logo.

• iPhone 8 and later, including SE (2nd generation and later): Quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears.
• iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Hold the Side and Volume Down buttons together until the recovery screen appears.
• iPhone 6s and earlier, including SE (1st generation): Hold the Home and Side/Top buttons together until the recovery screen appears.

Step 2. Choose Update first

When the computer offers Update or Restore, choose Update if you have not tried it yet. Update attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing personal data. Keep the iPhone connected while installation is in progress.

If the software download takes more than 15 minutes and the iPhone leaves the recovery screen, let the download finish on the computer first. Then repeat the connected Recovery Mode button sequence and select Update again. The screen disappearing during a long download does not by itself mean the download failed.

Step 3. Decide whether to Restore

If Update succeeds and the phone starts normally, stop and make a backup. If it fails, Restore will erase the iPhone and reinstall iOS. A backup can restore saved data afterward, but it does not contain changes made after that backup. If you have no backup and the files matter, pause before choosing Restore and discuss data preservation with Apple or a reputable repair specialist. Neither an exit tool nor a repair attempt can promise to recover files from an unbootable device.

If you accept the erase, choose Restore and keep the iPhone connected until the process completes. Then follow the setup screens and restore an available iCloud or computer backup when offered. If a repair shop is involved, tell them whether preserving data matters more than getting the phone working.

If the iPhone won't restore or the computer doesn't detect it

• No device or recovery prompt: Check the USB connection, try another Apple-certified cable and a different direct USB port, and avoid keyboard USB ports. Reopen Finder or Apple Devices and repeat the connected entry sequence. If needed, try another updated computer.
• Download error or corrupted-software message: Check the computer's internet connection and restart the download in the Apple app. If it says the update server cannot be contacted or the device is not eligible for the requested build, follow Apple's error-specific checks rather than forcing an older firmware file. Error 1671 means the download is still in progress.
• Update/Restore fails with an error number: Write down the exact code. Errors 9, 4005, 4013, and 4014 call for checking the connection and trying Update again. For a persistent 4013 message, use the iPhone error 4013 troubleshooting guide. A code alone does not identify a failed component.
• Still failing after these checks: Move to Apple service instead of cycling through Restore attempts. If data is irreplaceable, keep the no-backup stop point above.

You can use Apple's recovery support page to continue with device-specific support if these steps fail.

Fix 4. Get Apple Service When Recovery Mode Still Fails

Move to Apple service/support when the iPhone cannot be updated or restored in Recovery Mode, or when a required button is stuck or not working. At that point, repeated software attempts are less useful than checking for a hardware or connection problem.

Before requesting service, note the steps you already tried and any error message or code you saw. This makes it easier to continue troubleshooting without repeating destructive actions unnecessarily.

Tell the service provider about any drop, liquid exposure, or damaged button, and say whether you have a backup. Ask about data preservation before authorizing an erase or replacement. Do not try heating, opening, or board-level repairs to get out of Recovery Mode.

Conclusion

For an iPhone stuck in Recovery Mode, start with a force restart. If the screen returns, an exit tool is optional, and Apple's Update option is the next way to attempt an iOS reinstall without choosing an erase. Restore is a deliberate data-loss decision, not a required step before asking for help.

Dr.Fone - System Repair (iOS) offers a convenient button-free exit command and a Standard Repair path for software faults that need more than an exit. Choose the option that fits the phone's behavior, check whether it stays booted afterward, and stop escalating when you reach a working phone or a data-preservation decision.

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