How to Put iPhone X in Recovery Mode in 5 Easy Steps

BY Khamosh Pathak

Published 3 Nov 2017

iPhone X side view

When your iPhone is bricked, there’s usually no other option than to put it in recovery mode and try to update or restore it using iTunes. Because Apple has changed the steps for force rebooting the iPhone X, the steps for enabling recovery mode in this new iPhone are also different. Follow our guide below to find out the new steps.

You should know that if you restore your iPhone via iTunes when in recovery mode, it will wipe your entire device. So first simply try updating the software via iTunes.

The 5 steps to put iPhone X in recovery mode to restore your device are as follows:

Step 1: Update iTunes

First, update to the latest iTunes release. If iTunes is currently running on your Mac or PC, quit it.

Step 2: Connect iPhone X to Computer

Connect your iPhone X to your Mac or PC using the Lightning cable that can in the box with the iPhone X. Now we’ll have to force restart the iPhone X.

Step 3: Force Restart Sequence

To do that, press the Volume Up button, then quickly press the Volume Down button and then press and hold the Side button till the iPhone reboots and you see the iTunes recovery screen on the iPhone.

iPhone X Hard Reset Buttons

The iPhone is now in recovery mode (DFU mode). You can now open iTunes.

Step 4: Update from iTunes

iTunes will now give you a prompt asking if you want to Update or Restore. Click on Update and iTunes will try to update to the latest available software without wiping any data on your device. If the iPhone exits from recovery mode during the download, don’t worry, follow Step 4 to put it back in recovery mode.

Step 5: Set Up iPhone X

After the update is completed, use iTunes to set up your iPhone X.

Note: If you want to get out of the recovery mode, disconnect your iPhone X from the computer and press the Side button to boot up your iPhone X.

All New iPhone

As this is the first update to iPhone hardware that changes so many things, getting used to all the new interactions will take some time. What do you think of Face ID and the new Home bar? Share with us in the comments below.