If you can't update or restore your iPhone or iPod touch

You can put your iOS device in recovery mode, then restore it using your computer.

In these situations, you might need to use recovery mode to restore your device:

  • Your computer doesn't recognize your device or says it's in recovery mode.
  • If your screen is stuck on the Apple logo for several minutes with no progress bar.
  • You see the recovery mode screen.

Learn what to do if you see the progress bar on your screen for several minutes.

Put your device in recovery mode and set it up again

  1. Make sure that your Mac is up to date. If you're using iTunes, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes.
  2. On a Mac with macOS Catalina, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes. If iTunes is already open, close it, then open it again. Find out which macOS your Mac is using.
  3. Keep your device connected and wait until the recovery mode screen appears:
  4. Locate your device on your computer. When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Update. Your computer will try to reinstall the software without erasing your data. Wait while your computer downloads the software for your device. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your device exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then repeat step 3.
    A Finder window on a Mac showing options to restore or update your iPhone.
  5. After the Update or Restore completes, set up your device.

Get more help

  • If you see an error when you update or restore your iPhone or iPod, learn what to do.
  • If you can't update or restore your device with recovery mode, you can't use recovery mode because of broken buttons, or your device is stuck in Activation Lock, contact Apple Support.

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