iPhones and iPads are pretty good at recovering automatically when they experience issues. Still, there are times when they need a helping hand. We’ve talked before about some basic troubleshooting steps for when your device won’t power on—performing a hard reset and restoring iOS itself—but the final step on that troubleshooting journey, when nothing else works, is the Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode.
Whether you’re jailbreaking, dealing with an expired beta version of iOS, or have just fallen afoul of that latest software update, you might find yourself in a position where your iPhone or iPad refuses to respond. For those situations, getting your device into DFU mode and then performing an iOS update or restoration via iTunes might be your only recourse.
While it’s not a complicated procedure, it can seem daunting. For one thing, the method for entering a device into DFU mode changed when Apple launched the iPhone 7 and then changed yet again with the iPhone 8.
And we’d like to stress this once again: This procedure should be a last resort in your troubleshooting process. You’re going to wipe all the data on your device and then either start over or load a backup. You do have a backup, don’t you?
Step One: Connect Your Device to Your PC or Mac and Open iTunes
You’ll also need to make sure you’re using the latest version of iTunes on your PC or Mac and that you have a Lightning cable handy. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a Lightning cable and then open iTunes. This part will remain the same no matter which iPhone or iPad you are restoring.
Step Two: Mash Some Buttons
After connecting the device, you’ll perform a series of button presses to enter DFU mode. The buttons change depending on what version of iPhone you’re using (or if you’re using an iPad).
On iPhone 8, X, XR, XS, XS, and Newer Devices
Ensure your device is turned off. Press and hold the Side button for two seconds. Press and hold the Volume Down button while continuing to hold the Side button for 10 seconds before letting go of the Side button while continuing to hold the Volume Down button for a further 5 seconds. You should be left with an iPhone with a black screen. If you see the “Connect to iTunes” logo, you will need to retry.
At this point, iTunes will recognize a device is connected while in DFU mode. Follow the instructions to restore your device.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook
We welcome comments that add value to the discussion. We attempt to block comments that use offensive language or appear to be spam, and our editors frequently review the comments to ensure they are appropriate. As the comments are written and submitted by visitors of The Sheen Blog, they in no way represent the opinion of The Sheen Blog. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.