How to Restore the iPhone When Not Booting Up
By Avery Martin
When your iPhone gives you a Recovery Mode message or simply won't boot up, there are a few steps that should help resolve your issue. In many cases, the issue can be resolved by charging your iPhone properly. When charging doesn't work, you can attempt to restore your iPhone and update it to the latest version of iOS. Apple Support also provides a list of specific error codes that may help you diagnose and troubleshoot problems with your device if a restore operation doesn't work. If all else fails, the Apple Store can help you get your iPhone working again.
Charge iPhone
Step 1
Connect your iPhone to the battery charger that came with your device. Plug the charger directly into a wall outlet, not a computer.
Step 2
Charge your iPhone for at least 15 minutes.
Step 3
Turn your iPhone on by holding down the Home button until the device boots.
Restore iPhone
Step 1
Connect your iPhone to your computer using the provided charging cable.
Step 2
iTunes should launch automatically. If iTunes doesn't launch automatically, click the the Windows "Start" button, type "itunes" into the Search field and press "Enter." On a Mac, click the iTunes icon in the Dock.
Step 3
Click on your iPhone when it appears in the Devices section of iTunes. If it doesn't appear, try connecting the device with a different charging cable and make sure the your cable isn't damaged.
Step 4
Click "Summary" and choose "Restore."
Step 5
Slide the "Slide To Set Up" bar on your iPhone and follow the instructions to setup your iPhone.
References
Tips
- Sometimes an iPhone goes into a state of deep discharge. By connecting the charger to a wall outlet instead of a computer, you can sometimes get your iPhone working again.
- Make sure your iTunes installation is up to date. In Windows, select the "Help" menu and choose "Check for Updates." On a Mac, click the iTunes menu and select "Check for Updates."
- Make sure your Windows or Mac operating system is up to date.
- If your iPhone still won't start after attempting to restore the device, take it to an Apple Store to determine if the problem is hardware related.
Writer Bio
Avery Martin holds a Bachelor of Music in opera performance and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies. As a professional writer, she has written for Education.com, Samsung and IBM. Martin contributed English translations for a collection of Japanese poems by Misuzu Kaneko. She has worked as an educator in Japan, and she runs a private voice studio out of her home. She writes about education, music and travel.