When things go wrong on your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max, which is generally rare, you may need to put your iPhone in recovery mode so that you can restore it.
You may also want to put your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max in recovery mode for troubleshooting purposes. But whatever the reason, putting your iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in recovery mode, allows you to restore a bricked iPhone with the help of iTunes.
If you’ve upgraded to an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max from an iPhone with a Home button, then procedure to put your iPhone in Recovery mode is different due to the lack of the Home button.
So let’s dive:
1. Recovery Mode vs DFU Mode: What’s the Difference
But before we explain how to put your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max in Recovery mode, let us first understand the difference between DFU mode and Recovery mode.
DFU Mode
DFU mode is short for Device Firmware Update mode. It is a special mode that allows the iPhone to interface with the iTunes software on a Mac or PC, but without invoking the iBoot process. Since it bypasses the iBoot (the bootloader in iOS devices) process, DFU mode can be used in different situations including upgrading iOS firmware, downgrading iOS firmware, and even rebooting your tethered jailbroken device. When your iPhone is in DFU mode, the iPhone screen will be totally black.
Recovery Mode
Unlike the DFU mode, putting your iPhone in recovery mode invokes the iBoot process. It ensures that the user is actually attempting to install a signed firmware version that is equal to or greater than the one that’s already on the iPhone that’s in Recovery mode. When your iPhone is in Recovery mode, the iPhone screen will prompt you to connect to iTunes.
2. How to Enter Recovery Mode on iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
Follow these steps to put iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in recovery mode 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 XS or iPhone XS Max to Computer
Connect your iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max to your Mac or PC.
Step 3: Hard Reset
You then need to hard reset your iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max while it is connected to the computer.
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 connect to iPhone screen on your iPhone.
It means your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max has been successfully put in recovery mode.
Step 4: Restore or Update from iTunes
iTunes will now give you a prompt informing you that your iPhone is in recovery mode, and asking if you want to Update or Restore.
Choose Update. iTunes will try to reinstall iOS without erasing data.
Choosing Restore will wipe out all the existing data from your iPhone and install the latest iOS version.
Step 5: Set Up iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
After the update or restore is completed, use iTunes to set up your iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max.
3. How to Exit Recovery Mode on iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
If you want to exit recovery mode, disconnect your iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max from the computer and press the Side button to boot up your iPhone.
Let us know how it goes in the comments.
