How To Put iPhone 8, SE (2nd And 3rd Gen) And Face ID Models In Recovery Mode

Guide 1g · Restart & Recovery

Stuck on the Apple logo or seeing a picture of a computer? Recovery mode lets a computer repair iOS, often without erasing your phone.

Works on: iPhone 8, 8 Plus, SE (2nd and 3rd generation), and every Face ID iPhone from iPhone X through iPhone 18 Pro Max. Other iPhones use different buttons.

On iOS 27? Try iOS Recovery first. It runs on the phone, no computer needed: Fix A Stuck iPhone Without A Computer.

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 volume up and let go right away.
4. Press volume down and let go right away.
5. Press and hold the side button. Keep holding past the Apple logo.
6. Let go when you see the computer-and-cable screen. If it starts up normally, start again.
7. On the computer, click Update (keeps your data). Wait for it to finish.
8. 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.