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If your iPhone shows the cable-and-computer recovery screen or keeps returning to it, first try a force restart. If that does not work, connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC and choose Update in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes. Use Restore only if Update fails and you accept that Restore erases the iPhone.
These steps apply to iPhones that were running iOS 17, but Apple’s recovery process may install the latest compatible iOS available for your device—not necessarily iOS 17. Apple’s recovery-mode instructions cover iPhones generally.
Before you start: protect your data
A force restart does not factory-reset an iPhone. Recovery-mode Update is Apple’s first software-repair option because it attempts to reinstall iOS while keeping personal data. It is not an absolute guarantee: an underlying software or hardware problem can still lead to data loss.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsRestore is different: it erases the iPhone and reinstalls iOS. Before choosing it, consider whether you have a recent iCloud or computer backup and whether important items are already synced. A device appearing in iCloud does not prove every local file has been backed up. If you have irreplaceable data that is not backed up, stop before Restore and seek professional advice.
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Use a reliable USB cable, preferably one supplied with the iPhone or Apple-certified, and connect directly to the computer rather than through a hub. Keep the iPhone connected during the repair. Update your Mac or Windows software first if possible.
1. Force-restart the iPhone
Keep the phone connected to the computer if it is already connected. Follow the sequence for your model. A force restart is not the same as choosing Restore.
| iPhone model | Force-restart steps |
|---|---|
| iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later) | Quickly press and release Volume Up. Quickly press and release Volume Down. Then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. |
| iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus | Press and hold the Side (or Top) button and Volume Down together until the Apple logo appears. |
| iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation) | Press and hold the Home button and the Side (or Top) button together until the Apple logo appears. |
If the phone starts normally, you have exited recovery mode. If the Connect to computer screen returns, continue below. These are Apple’s model-specific force-restart steps.
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2. Connect to a computer and choose Update
Use the computer app appropriate to your system:
- Mac with macOS Catalina or later: Open Finder and select the iPhone under Locations.
- Windows: Open Apple Devices and select the iPhone. If Apple Devices is unavailable, use the current version of iTunes.
- Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier: Use iTunes.
If the iPhone is not already showing the recovery screen, reconnect it and enter recovery mode:
- iPhone 8 or later: Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down; press and hold the Side button until the Connect to computer screen appears.
- iPhone 7 or 7 Plus: Hold the Side (or Top) button and Volume Down together until the recovery screen appears.
- iPhone 6s or earlier: Hold the Home button and Side (or Top) button together until the recovery screen appears.
When the computer says the iPhone needs to be updated or restored, choose Update. Do not choose Restore as an interchangeable option. Update attempts to reinstall iOS while keeping your data; leave the phone connected and let the process finish. See Apple’s Update instructions.
If the download takes more than 15 minutes
A long download can take the iPhone out of the recovery screen before the computer finishes downloading the software. Let the download complete. Then put the iPhone back into recovery mode and repeat the Update prompt. The screen disappearing during the download does not, by itself, mean the attempt failed. Apple explains this recovery-mode behavior.
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3. If Update fails, decide whether to Restore
If Update cannot complete, you can try the Apple-supported Restore option. It reinstalls iOS, but it also erases all data on the iPhone. Proceed only if you accept that loss or have confirmed you can restore what you need from a backup.
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- Keep the iPhone connected and select it in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
- Choose Restore and confirm the erasure warning.
- Wait for the download and restore to finish without disconnecting the phone.
- When the Hello screen appears, set up the iPhone and restore from a backup if one is available.
Apple’s recovery instructions describe Restore as erasing the device. Recovery is not a way to select and reinstall iOS 17 specifically; the software offered is the compatible version available through Apple’s process.
Troubleshoot an update or restore error
Do not assume every numbered error has the same cause. Before retrying, check the connection and computer, then follow Apple’s instructions for the exact error if it continues.
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- Cable or USB connection: Try another certified cable and another USB port. Connect directly to the computer, not a keyboard port or unreliable hub. If available, try another computer. Apple associates errors including 13, 1600–1604, 1611, 1643–1650 and 2000–2009, as well as “invalid response,” with possible USB or communication problems. See Apple’s restore-error guidance.
- Computer software: Install available macOS updates, or update Apple Devices or iTunes on Windows. Use the current app supported by your system.
- Network or Apple-server communication: The computer needs to download iOS and communicate with Apple. Retry on a stable network; a captive portal, restricted connection, or VPN may interfere. See Apple’s guidance on restore errors and communication.
- Security software: Third-party antivirus, firewall, VPN, or other security software may interfere with some connections. Test whether it is involved, but do not leave protection disabled after troubleshooting. Apple includes security software among checks for certain errors.
- Specific or recurring error: Error 1015 or a message that a required resource cannot be found can involve unauthorized software modification or an attempted downgrade. Some errors may indicate a hardware problem. Use Apple’s error-specific guidance rather than repeatedly retrying Restore.
If the iPhone is on the Apple logo instead
The Apple logo alone is not the recovery screen. If a progress bar is present, do not interrupt it immediately: Apple advises waiting when it has been stationary for less than an hour in certain restore or migration situations. If it has not moved for more than an hour, use recovery mode and choose Update first. See Apple’s guidance for a frozen progress bar.
A repeated restart or boot loop is also different from a phone that simply displays the Connect to computer screen. If the phone continues looping after an Update, follow the recovery steps above; if recovery repeatedly fails, arrange service rather than assuming this is an iOS 17-specific bug.
If the computer does not recognize the iPhone
Try a different certified cable, a direct USB port, and another computer; make sure the computer software is current; then enter recovery mode again. If multiple known-good computers and cables still cannot detect it, hardware failure becomes more plausible, though that symptom alone cannot confirm a diagnosis.
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When to stop and seek service
Contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider if Update and Restore repeatedly fail, the iPhone is not detected by multiple computers, a required button is broken or stuck, or the phone has been dropped or exposed to liquid. Also stop before an erasing Restore if the data is valuable and unsynced. Apple’s service and repair page provides options by product and region; cost and coverage depend on the device, location, plan, and diagnosis.
Recovery Assistant repeatedly failing, recurring restore errors, or power/storage symptoms are further reasons to get the device assessed. Software recovery cannot repair a hardware fault.
DFU mode and third-party repair tools
DFU mode is a more advanced restore path than ordinary recovery mode. It is not the normal first fix, does not guarantee a repair, and generally leads toward a firmware restore that can erase data. Apple’s standard consumer guidance is to try recovery-mode Update, then consider Restore or service.
Paid third-party iOS repair apps are optional, not required. Some vendors claim that a standard repair mode preserves data, but that is not an independent guarantee; advanced modes may erase data. Consider cost and privacy, and try Apple’s free workflow first. If the problem may be hardware-related or unsynced data is important, service is a safer escalation than repeated repair attempts.
If the iPhone is disabled or you forgot its passcode
Update is not a way to remove a forgotten passcode. Erasing the iPhone is generally required to regain access, after which you can restore from a backup if available. Apple documents applicable erase options, including iCloud, in its passcode and disabled-device guidance.
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