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Fix: iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode after Failed Update

Apple is constantly releasing new iOS versions to introduce new features and fix bugs in old versions. While updating an iPhone is simple and has many benefits, there are occasional glitches, such as the iPhone getting stuck in recovery mode after a failed update.
Insufficient storage, conflicting files, or incorrect update procedures may cause an iPhone update to fail. A failed update can cause the iPhone to fail to boot properly and get stuck in recovery mode or the Apple logo (source: LaptopJudge).
So, what should you do if your iPhone is stuck in recovery mode after a failed update? This issue will be addressed in this article. We’ll show you how to get your iPhone out of recovery mode and update it without a hitch.
- Method 1: Force Restart your iPhone
- Method 2: Restore your iPhone using iTunes
- Method 3: Fix your iPhone with iSumsoft iOS Refixer
Method 1: Force Restart your iPhone
When your iPhone is stuck in recovery mode due to a failed update or other reasons, a normal restart may not work, so the first solution you can try is to force restart it. A forced restart is similar to a normal restart, except that you do not have to interact with the user interface. It is usually used as a quick fix for some iPhone issues and doesn’t delete any data or harm the iPhone in any way.
To force restart iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13 or later:
Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then press and quickly release the Volume Down button, and finally hold down the side button until the Apple logo appears.
To force restart iPhone 7:
Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
To force restart iPhone 6s or iPhone SE 1st generation:
Press and hold both the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
If your iPhone is still in recovery mode after a forced restart, move to the next solution. If your iPhone gets out of the recovery mode and starts normally after a forced restart, and you want to continue updating it, follow the steps below.
- Log in to your computer and make sure the latest version of iTunes is installed.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using a Lightning to USB cable, and back up the iPhone just in case.
- Open iTunes on the computer and click the phone icon to display your iPhone information.
- Click the Update button and follow the on-screen instructions to update your iPhone.
Method 2: Restore your iPhone using iTunes
If your iPhone is still stuck in recovery mode and can’t be updated via iTunes, you may have to restore it. Restoring the iPhone to factory settings will erase all data, including software failures and conflicts that may have caused the iPhone’s problems, leaving the iPhone to start from scratch. The iPhone will also be updated to the latest iOS version during this process.
- Connect the iPhone in recovery mode to your computer via a Lightning to USB cable.
- Open iTunes on your computer and it will automatically detect your iPhone in recovery mode and pop up a dialog box with the options to update or restore your iPhone. Choose Restore and follow the on-screen instructions to restore and update your iPhone.
If iTunes can’t detect your iPhone in recovery mode, or if it can detect it but can’t update or restore it, please go to the next fix method.
Method 3: Fix your iPhone with iSumsoft iOS Refixer
If none of the above methods work for you, you can try using a dedicated iOS recovery tool like iSumsoft iOS Refixer to fix your iPhone stuck in recovery mode after a failed update.
iSumsoft iOS Refixer is a powerful and yet easy-to-use iOS recovery tool that can fix various iPhone problems caused by iOS failures, such as update failure, stuck in recovery mode, white screen, black screen, blue screen, and so on.
The tool offers two iOS recovery options, Standard Mode and Advanced Mode. Both modes help get your iPhone out of recovery mode and update it to the latest iOS version. The distinction is that Standard Mode fix your device with no data loss, while Advanced Mode deletes your user data.
You can first try using standard mode to fix your iPhone stuck in recovery mode after a failed update. Just follow these steps.
Step 1: Download and install iSumsoft iOS Refixer on your PC. Also, make sure iTunes is installed on your PC, but you do not need to open it.
Step 2: Start iSumsoft iOS Refixer and choose Standard Mode on the software page.
Step 3: On the next page, a list of problems that the software can solve are listed. Simply click Start to proceed. Clicking Start doesn’t immediately start fixing your iPhone, though, as there are a few more steps to go.
Step 4: Make sure your iPhone in recovery mode is connected to your PC via a Lightning to USB cable, then click Next.
Step 5: The software will detect your iPhone right away and prompt you to download the firmware version required to repair it. All you need to do here is click the Download button, and the software will begin downloading the firmware automatically. Then, wait a few minutes for the firmware download to finish.
Step 6: The final step is to click the Repair button, and the software will begin repairing your iPhone. The repair process will get your iPhone out of recovery mode, fix other problems (if any), and update your iPhone to the newest iOS version.
Standard Mode can successfully resolve the majority of common iPhone issues, including the iPhone stuck in recovery mode after a failed update. In case the Standard Mode doesn’t work for you, the Advanced Mode will help.

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