How To Put iPhone 7 And 7 Plus In Recovery Mode

Guide 1h · Restart & Recovery

iPhone 7 stuck on the Apple logo? Recovery mode lets your computer fix iOS. Try Update first, which keeps your data.

Works on: iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Other iPhones use different buttons.

What You Need

• A Mac, or a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app
• A cable that charges your phone
• Internet, and up to an hour

How To Enter Recovery Mode

1. Plug the phone into the computer.
2. On a Mac, open Finder. On a PC, open the Apple Devices app.
3. Press and hold the side button and volume down at the same time.
4. Keep holding past the Apple logo. Let go when you see the computer-and-cable screen. If it starts up normally, start again.
5. On the computer, click Update (keeps your data). Wait for it to finish.
6. If the phone leaves recovery mode during a long download, repeat the button steps.

Last Resort: Restore (Deletes Everything)

Only do this if Update fails twice.

1. Put the phone back in recovery mode with the button steps above.
2. On the computer, click Restore instead of Update.
3. Wait. The phone restarts with a fresh copy of iOS, like a new phone.

Restore failed? Try DFU mode (it also erases everything).

Source: If you can't update or restore your iPhone, Restart an unresponsive iPhone (Apple Support, checked Oct 18, 2026).

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