iPhone Stuck On The Apple Logo? What To Try, Step By Step

Guide 1e · Restart & Recovery

Phone shows the Apple logo and never gets past it? Work through these steps in order. Most of them keep your data.

Works on: Every iPhone. iOS Recovery (Step 3) needs iOS 27, so iPhone 11 and newer or iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation).

Step 1: Plug It In And Wait

If a progress bar is under the logo, an update may be running. Plug in and wait up to an hour. Don't press anything.

Step 2: Force Restart

Use the guide for your phone: iPhone 8, SE (2nd/3rd gen) and Face ID models, iPhone 7, or iPhone 6s and older. If it starts up normally, you're done.

Step 3: iOS Recovery (iOS 27 Only)

Newer phones have a rescue menu that needs no computer. Follow our iOS Recovery guide. Try Recovery Assistant and Software Update first.

Step 4: Recovery Mode With A Computer, Choose Update

Follow the recovery mode guide for iPhone 8 and newer, iPhone 7, or iPhone 6s and older. When the computer asks, choose Update.

Update fails twice? Stop here and call or text me before you try anything that erases.

Last Resort: This Erases Your Phone

If you decide to go ahead, choose Restore on the computer instead of Update. Then set the phone up from your backup.

Source: If you can't update or restore your iPhone, How to start up from iOS Recovery, Restart an unresponsive iPhone (Apple Support, checked Oct 18, 2026).

Franchitti's Fix LLC is an independent repair shop, not affiliated with Apple.