How to Put iPhone or iPad on Recovery mode? (Step by Step Tutorial)

Summary: DFU or Recovery mode is a way to recover your iPhone or iPad using a computer in case of technical issues. Read this post for a step-by-step process of how to enter and exit Recovery Mode and DFU mode on iPhone.

When you run out of solutions to troubleshoot your iPhone, Recovery Mode or DFU Mode comes as a rescue. Whether iPhone stops booting or fails to restore, you can use the functions in iPhone and fix the issue.

But the method to bring an iPhone in DFU or Recovery Mode varies in each iPhone model and iPad.

This post will guide you on how to enter and exit Recovery and DFU Modes in different iPhone and iPad variants. But first, understand what these iPhone functions are and their uses.

What is Recovery Mode and its use?

Recovery Mode uses iBoot to upgrade or restore your iPhone. iBoot is a bootloader program for iOS devices. Recovery Mode helps install the same or above iOS firmware version already on your iPhone. The iPhone screen in Recovery Mode prompts to connect iPhone to iTunes, showing a computer image.

Recovery Mode helps fix iPhone updates or restore issues, such as iPhone stuck at the Apple logo , unable to open the locked iPhone or want to reset iPhone but forgot iPhone passcode .

What is DFU Mode and its use?

Device Firmware Update or DFU mode lets your iPhone connect with iTunes on the computer without iBoot. As DFU mode doesn’t use iBoot, you can make changes in the operating system of the iOS device. An iPhone in DFU mode has a completely black screen.

Putting iPhone into DFU mode is the solution when Recovery Mode doesn’t resolve the problem. DFU mode can restore or upgrade iPhone. This mode is also commonly used to downgrade or jailbreak iPhone s.

Caution — you may lose all your iPhone data!

If you are entering DFU mode, make sure to back up your iPhone data . DFU mode permanently erases iPhone data . So always back up your videos, photos, messages, chats, Notes, etc., either to iCloud or iTunes.

However, if you have lost iPhone data and don’t have a backup, then immediately download iPhone data recovery software — Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . The software helps to restore lost or deleted iPhone contacts, call logs, photos, videos, text, FaceTime, audio, chats, Calendar, Notes, Safari bookmarks, etc. It is quick to recover and extremely user-friendly.

What is required to perform Recovery and DFU modes in iPhone?

1. Windows or Mac system.
2. Lightning to USB cable.
3. iTunes updated to the latest version on your computer.

How to put iPhone 6 and earlier versions in Recovery Mode
Follow the below steps to enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5, iPhone 4s, and iPhone 4.

• Connect your iPhone to your PC using USB Lightning Cable and launch iTunes.
• Press and hold down the Home and Power button to turn the iPhone.

• Then connect the USB cable to iPhone and turn it on by holding the Home button.
• Continue to hold the Home button until a pop-up appears informing ‘an iPhone has been detected in recovery mode’ on your system.
• In Recovery mode, you can either restore the iPhone, set it up as new, or just recover your backups.

How to put iPhone 7 in Recovery Mode
It’s easy to enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus. Follow the below steps:

• Turn off your iPhone 7 and connect it to your Mac or Windows computer.
• Ensure iTunes or Finder is running on the system.
• Press and hold the Power and Volume down button for 10 seconds.
• While continuing to hold the Volume down button, release the Power button.

• Release the button if you see the iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode message on your system.

How to put iPhone 8 in Recovery Mode
If you want to enter the Recovery Mode on iPhone 8 and its variants, follow the below steps:

• Connect your iPhone 8 to your Mac or Windows system with a USB cable.
• Next, press and release the following buttons in a sequence Volume Up button, Volume Down, and Side button until your device reboots. Continue holding the Side button, even after seeing the Apple logo appear.
• Release the Side button once the Connect to iTunes logo appears on the iPhone’s display.

• Launch iTunes, and you should see a message stating, “There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.” You can choose to Update or Restore your iPhone’s software.

How to put iPhone 11 into Recovery Mode
To enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max, follow these steps:

• Connect your iPhone with your Mac or PC and launch iTunes.
• Force restart your iPhone with the following steps:
  • Press and release the Volume Up button.
  • Press and release the Volume Down button.
  • Press and hold the Side button.
• Make sure to release these buttons if you see the recovery mode screen with the “Connect to iTunes” screen.
• Then choose your iPhone in iTunes, and you will see a pop-up saying that your iPhone is in Recovery Mode. Here, you can either update or restore your iPhone.

How to put iPhone 12 into Recovery Mode
Follow the below steps to enter Recovery Mode on iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max:

• Update iTunes to the latest version.
• Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac via Lightning to a USB cable.
• Note: If you are connecting your iPhone to the computer for the first time, click on ‘Trust’ in the Trust This Computer dialog box and follow the prompts.
• Once your iPhone is paired with the computer, press the Volume up button followed by the Volume down button and release.
• Press and continue to hold the Side button until you see the ‘Connect to computer’ screen on your iPhone. While on your computer, you would see the iPhone Recovery Mode message in iTunes, confirming that your iPhone has entered into Recovery Mode. The computer asks you to either Update or Restore your iPhone**.** Click on any based on your requirement.

If you choose Update, iTunes will update your iPhone 12 to the latest iOS release. This won’t lead to any loss of data.

If you select Restore: It will erase iPhone data completely and renew your entire iPhone.

How to put Recovery Mode on iPhone 13
Entering Recovery Mode on iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro has the same steps as iPhone 12. To enter the Recovery Mode, connect your iPhone to your computer and do the following steps in quick succession.

• Press the Volume up button and release.
• Press the Volume down button and release.
• Press and continue to hold the side button until the ‘Connect to iTunes’ screen appears on iPhone.

How to put Recovery Mode on iPhone 14
To use recovery mode on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, follows these steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to your system with a Lightning cable.
2. Now on iPhone, press and quickly release the Volume up, Volume down, and side buttons until you see the recovery mode screen.
3. Select your iPhone in the Finder/iTunes window and choose to update or restore your iPhone.

How to exit Recovery Mode on iPhone
It’s easy to exit Recovery Mode on iPhone. Follow the below steps:

• Hold the Home button and Lock button to exit DFU mode on iPhone 6 and earlier versions until your device reboots.
• To exit DFU mode on iPhone 7/7 Plus, hold the Side and Volume Down buttons until the device reboots.
• To exit the Recovery Mode on iPhone 8 or later version, press and hold the Side button until the “Connect to iTunes” screen disappears, and then iPhone should reboot back into iOS.

How to put Recovery Mode on iPad
To enter Recovery Mode on the iPad, follow these steps:

• Connect your iPad to Windows or Mac system using a USB cable.
• For iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the Home button and the Top/Side button until your iPad enters recovery mode.
• For iPad without a Home button: Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, Volume Down button, and the Top button. Keep holding the Top button until the iPad enters recovery mode.

How to put iPhone into DFU mode ?
Follow the below steps to enter DFU Mode on iPhone and its various version:

1. Connect iPhone to PC or Mac via USB cable. Note: If the ‘Trust This Computer’ dialog box appears, follow the prompts.
2. Once your iPhone is paired with a computer, follow these steps:

How to Enter DFU Mode on an iPhone 8 and later versions

• Press the Volume up button, then Volume down button, and release.
• Quickly press and hold the Side button for about 5 seconds.
• Along with the Side button, press and hold the Volume down button.
• Release the Side button and continue to hold the Volume down button for about 10 seconds.
• Once you see the ‘Recovery Mode’ screen in iTunes on your computer, you have successfully entered the DFU mode. However, the iPhone screen remains black in DFU Mode.

How to Enter DFU Mode on an iPhone 7

• Press and hold the Power and the Volume down buttons for 8–10 seconds.
• Release the Power button and continue to hold the Volume down button.
• Release the Volume down button once your iPhone has entered recovery mode.

How to Enter DFU Mode on an iPhone 6S or Earlier Versions

• Press and hold the Power/Sleep and Home buttons together for 10 seconds.
• Release the Power/Sleep button, but continue holding the Home button.
• Release the Home button once you see iTunes/Finder has detected an iPhone in recovery mode message.

Note: If you see the Apple logo on your iPhone, try again and repeat the above steps carefully.

How to exit DFU Mode on iPhone ?
If you want to exit DFU Mode on iPhone and its variants, follow the below steps:

How to Exit DFU Mode on an iPhone 8 or Later versions

1. Press the Volume Up button and quickly release.
2. Press the Volume Down button and quickly release.
3. Now, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on iPhone. This indicates your iPhone has exited DFU Mode. Your iPhone would boot to the ‘Lock’ screen in a few seconds. Now, enter your passcode and continue to use your iPhone.

How to Exit DFU Mode on an iPhone 7
Press and hold the Power or Sleep button and the Volume down button until you see the Apple Logo.

How to Exit DFU Mode on iPhone 6 or Earlier versions
Hold the Home button and the Power button of the iPhone simultaneously until Apple’s logo appears on the screen.

Conclusion

Whenever your iPhone and its variants show problems like being stuck at the Apple logo, won’t upgrade, restore, or respond, you can use Recovery Mode and DFU Mode functions to resolve the problem. But don’t forget to back up your iPhone data before using these functions.

However, in any unfortunate incident of data loss while performing the functions, trust Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone – a software that brings back lost data on your iPhone securely.

FAQ

1. Does DFU Mode delete iPhone data?

If you use DFU mode to install something or restore your device, all your iPhone’s data will be erased.

2. Can you enter the recovery mode if your iPhone is disabled?

An iPhone is disabled when a user enters an incorrect password too many times on the lock screen. You should be able to enter the recovery mode using the same steps mentioned above and restore your iPhone to regain access.

3. How to put the iPhone in recovery mode without a computer?

A computer is not necessary to enter the recovery mode on an iPhone. You only need to press the right buttons, depending on your iPhone model, to enter the recovery mode. However, to restore your iPhone – you will need a computer.

How to Recover Files after iPhone Factory Reset?

If you detect anything anomalous on your iPhone, you may need to reset it to factory settings. However, after a factory reset, you will lose all the data stored in your device. You will not be able to access your contact list, call logs, or messages, be it your imessages, WhatsApp, etc. But, why restore your iPhone?

Sometimes, there are issues that cannot be handled and the only solution is to restore the device to factory settings. This is usually done when the device functions abnormally or the performance is extremely slow. If your iPhone is restored to factory settings, every single bit of personal information will be permanently deleted from the device, and this may prevent others from getting access to your personal information.

How to reset your iPhone to Factory Settings:

To reset your iPhone to factory settings, follow the steps below:

1. Click Settings and then select General
2. Select Reset and click on Erase all contents and settings. The interface will prompt you to key in your Apple ID and Passcode
3. Enter your Apple ID and Passcode to proceed. With this, the procedure to factory reset iPhone is complete

Important!

Before resetting the iPhone device to factory settings, it would be a good practice to back up your device on your system. If you have not created a backup, you will not be able to restore the data back to your device, and all you will lose all your data. You can use iCloud or iTunes to back up your iPhone data. If anything anomalous occurs, all the data can be restored from the most recent backup files right from anywhere.

How to recover deleted data from your iPhone:

Even if you have not backed up your iPhone data, there’s still a solution. You can now retrieve all your erased data from your iPhone with Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone . The tool is powered by sophisticated recovery algorithms that help restore all the data components back to your iPhone after a factory reset.

The tool provides the option to recover data through multiple channels. Since we need to recover data that has been erased after a factory reset, we need to select ‘Recover from iPhone’ option from the main interface of the tool.

Follow the steps below to restore your deleted data:

1. Connect your iPhone device to the system. The tool will then begin to analyze the device for detecting the previously existing files from the connected device. The tool will generate a preview for all the folders and incorporated contents within its panel.
2. You can then select single or multiple files for recovery that you have lost while resetting your iPhone.
3. The iPhone recovery tool will provide dual options to store data either on the hard drive on the computer or your connected iPhone device.

Not only the tool provides the benefit to recover data from iPhone device, but you will also be able to recover data from iTunes or iCloud backup files . Also, the iOS recovery tool can also be used to recover data from encrypted backup files. However, to utilize this feature, it is important to have a backup.

Important!

• Backup your data before performing any huge operation on the iPhone device such as restoring the device to factory settings.
• It is a good practice to store iPhone data on iCloud and perform a regular backup to prevent data loss.
• Saving iPhone data to iCloud offers an ease of accessing data contents from anywhere, even if the data is deleted from your device.
• In addition to online backups, it is beneficial to retain a replica of existing data on another device such as a system hard drive or external storage media.

How to Fix iPhone Storage Not Loading/Showing

The majority of smartphones require a certain amount of storage to operate properly. When you receive a low storage message, you may instinctively check your storage space but encounter the iPhone Storage Not Loading issue.

What could be the cause of such a bothersome problem? The bad news is that the root reason for this problem is unclear, but we’ve offered some fixes you can try to fix this issue.

There is yet another way to check the storage on your iPhone if you face the “iPhone Storage Not Showing” issue, and we’ll go over it in the following section.

How can I use a computer to check my storage?

You can check your iPhone’s storage using a computer with iTunes or Finder app installed.

• On a Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, launch the Finder or open iTunes on a PC or Mac running macOS Mojave 10.14 or an earlier version.
• You should use a cable to connect your phone and computer.
• Select your device in iTunes or Finder.
• You can see how much storage each type of content takes up by hovering your mouse over the storage bar.

How can I fix iPhone Storage Not Loading/Showing?

1. Wait a bit more

Some computing operations take a while to finish. Your phone’s storage may overflow with tons of app data, images, and other files if you’ve been using it for a while.

And each of them would have to load before reporting their combined size to the OS. Usually, loading takes about three minutes.

2. Update iOS

If your iOS version was outdated, your phone’s functionalities, including storage access, would not function properly. Additionally, updating the OS will get rid of any potential issues. Follow the procedures listed below to check and update your iOS version:

• Select General from the Settings menu.
• Click on Software Update. If any updates are available, download and install them.

3. Force Stops the App

The settings app itself can be the problem due to an app bug. Therefore, forcing the app to close is a valid option. This will make the software restart from scratch, wiping off part of the data and information it had in RAM.

• Access the app switcher (swipe up your finger from the bottom of the screen to bring up the menu or double-click the Home button on older iPhone models).

• Swipe up and drag the Settings card off the screen to force the app to close.
• Relaunch the Settings app to see if the problem persists.

4. Reconnect to iCloud

iOS has been designed in a way that it needs to be connected to iCloud to function flawlessly. Therefore, the storage loading error could also be linked to connectivity issues between these two. In this case, signing out of the service and then back in again might resolve the issue.

• Open the Settings application.
• Click your profile at the top. To sign out of the service, tap iCloud.

• Next, sign in once more using your iCloud password.

5. Fix the Issue Using Your PC

When you connect the cable, link your iPhone to your PC, and sync the storage, iTunes looks for any issues and either fixes them on its own or recommends methods to fix them by yourself. For any software-related issues with your phone, this is a great fix, and it may even repair your iPhone storage not updating problem.

• Connect your phone to computers that have iTunes installed on them with a lightning cord.
• The storage data should be able to sync with your smartphone automatically.
• If not, press the Sync button.

6. Factory Reset Your iPhone

You may fix any bugs that cause iPhone storage not to update by performing a factory reset. Furthermore, it would restore your OS version to its factory settings, resolving any problems that updates might have brought on.

The whole contents of your device will be deleted if you follow this method. You can either create a backup of your data or use a tool to restore it once your iPhone has been entirely deleted to prevent this.

• Go Settings app on your smartphone. Next, choose Reset after choosing General.
• Under Reset, among the few options, click Erase all Content and Settings.

• Next, choose Erase iPhone. After that, your smartphone will return to its factory default settings.

Recover your data using Stellar data recovery for iPhone:

Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone is a powerful program that can retrieve files that have been erased unintentionally or on purpose. To guarantee that Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone will recover your data, it offers a variety of data recovery techniques. Furthermore, you wouldn’t need to check manuals or other documentation to understand how to use the software because of its basic user interface, which makes the recovery process easy.

With Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone, your files, including voice recordings, notes, and Safari bookmarks, will be restored. What you should do is:

• Download and install Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone from the official website.
• Connect your iPhone to the PC through a cable.
• Launch the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone, choose the type of data you wish to recover from the list, and click Next.

• Preview the recovered data, then Select and Save it to the chosen destination.

Why isn’t my iPhone storage loading?

When trying to check your iPhone’s storage, you will notice a small spinning wheel going back and forth if your phone is having storage problems since it cannot accurately represent the amount of storage that is accessible.

Furthermore, the loading issue may show an incorrect amount of storage. Some users reported this and other minor issues throughout the iOS 15 beta testing phase. Other factors contributing to this issue include iCloud service problems and application bugs.

Wrap up! Stellar is your ultimate backup

It is hard to download content or install apps on an iPhone with insufficient storage. Therefore, a factory reset would resolve your issue and clear the storage, enabling you to scan your device with Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone and retrieve any desired files.

And if a factory reset doesn’t fix iPhone storage not loading and showing problem, look for professional assistance with your problem. You can never be certain whether a storage issue results from faulty hardware or software.

FAQ:

• How do I create backups before wiping my iPhone clean?

Simply connect your phone to your computer, open iTunes, and choose the backup option, and the program will create a copy of your data that can be used to restore lost or deleted contents.

• Does Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone require a backup for successful file recovery?

Because the software searches iTunes for files, having a backup, there might be useful. However, the software can and will effortlessly restore your content even without any backups.

• Do I install the Stellar Data Recovery Software for iPhone on my smartphone?

The software cannot be installed or used on an iPhone or an Android smartphone. Because the software is compatible with the widely used Windows and Mac operating systems, you must first install it on a device using one of those operating systems before connecting your phone to it.

Apple will delete your photos in July. Here’s what you should do

Apple has recently announced that it will permanently delete photos from its users’ ‘My Photo Stream’ this month. This news has come as a surprise to the Apple community, as users struggle to understand the implications of this announcement and what necessary precautions can be taken. In this blog post, we will get into the details of this new move by Apple, explore the reasons behind it, and provide tips on how iPhone/iPad/Mac users can safeguard their precious photos.

The Announcement

_”_My Photo Stream is scheduled to be shut down on July 26, 2023. As part of this transition, new photo uploads to My Photo Stream from your devices will stop one month before, on June 26, 2023.

The photos in My Photo Stream are already stored on at least one of your devices, so as long as you have the device with your originals, you won’t lose any photos as part of this process. If a photo you want isn’t already in your Library on a particular iPhone, iPad, or Mac, make sure that you save it to your Library on that device…” Read more

What is Apple’s My Photo Stream?

My Photo Stream, launched in 2011, was designed to sync photos across multiple Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

This feature automatically stores your most recent pictures (up to 1000) for approx. 30 days so you can view and download them easily from other Apple devices. After this period, photos are removed from My Photo Stream but remain in your device’s Photos app. However, this only shows photos and not your live images or videos.

How to Protect Your ‘My Photo Stream’ Pictures?

Apple, known for its commitment to user privacy and data security, has recommended several preventive measures to mitigate the risk of losing any important photo due to this update.

1. Move My Photo Stream images to your Library

Even if the pictures in My Photo Stream are already there on at least one of your Apple devices, you must save these pictures to your Photo Library to avoid losing them**.** Here’s how to copy My Photo Stream pictures to your Photo Library:

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch:

• Open the Photos app and tap Albums.
• Tap on My Photo Stream > Select.
• Select all the photos you want to save, then tap the Share button > Save Image.

On your Mac:

• Open the Photos app and then open the My Photo Stream
• Select the photos you want to save which aren’t currently in your photo library.
• Drag and drop them from the My Photo Stream album into your Library.

2. Move to iCloud Photos

To preserve your My Photo Stream images in their original and high-resolution version, you can transfer them to iCloud Photos.

If you already have an iCloud account, just enable iCloud Photos to automatically upload & sync every photo and video you capture on the device, making them accessible from anywhere.

To use the iCloud Photos service, you will require the following:

• iPhone running iOS 8.3 or later version.
• iPad with iPadOS 8.3 or later version.
• Mac running OS X Yosemite or later version.

How to set up iCloud Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings.
• Next, click on [Your Name] > iCloud.
• Tap on Photos and do the following:

For iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or later versions: Toggle on the ‘Sync this [device]‘ option.

For iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or earlier versions: Turn on the iCloud Photos

How to set up iCloud Photos on your Mac?

• On your Mac, go to Apple Menu and click on System Preferences.
• Click Apple ID and then select iCloud in the sidebar.
• Now, select Photos and turn on the switch next to Sync this Mac.

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Don’t want to use iCloud Photos?

While iCloud Photos is a convenient option for many Apple users, it’s important to acknowledge that it is not the best fit for everyone. Limited free storage of 5GB or lack of cross-platform compatibility can compel Apple users to look for other alternatives.

Storage options, such as Google Photos, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, external hard drives, etc., are available to ensure your iPhone Photos are safe and easily accessible.

The Bottom Line

Apple’s announcement of the potential discontinuation of My Photo Stream has understandably caused worry among its users. While a specific reason for this action remains undisclosed, they are actively addressing the issue to prevent data loss. In the meantime, iPhone users must take precautionary measures to safeguard their photos. They can simply move the My Photo Stream images to the Photo Library, iCloud Photos, or other backup folders.

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