Recovery Mode can be used to restore your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max when you are having a problem with your device. One of the most common times you would need to use Recovery Mode on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is when something goes wrong while attempting to update your device to the latest iOS. Some of the times when you may want to use Recovery Mode on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max include:
- You want to erase your device but can’t do so on the device itself – for example if the touch screen isn’t working.
- Your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max gets stuck. If your device is stuck showing the Apple logo screen (with no progress bar) you may need to use Recovery Mode to restore your device.
- If there is a problem with your device, it may show the “Connect to computer” screen on its own. When this appears, connect your iPhone to your computer and use Recovery Mode.
Start Recovery Assistant on iPhone 18 Pro
Apple says Recovery Assistant helps resolve startup issues by downloading a software package.
- Connect your iPhone 18 Pro to a computer or power source.
- Power the device off.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the connect to computer screen, then release the Side button.
- Double press the Side button.
- Click Continue.
- Review the information and choose to send or not send data to Apple. To help diagnose the problem, you can choose to share diagnostic and log files from this device with Apple.
The recovery process may take several minutes to complete and requires a Wi-Fi connection. Recovery Assistant doesn’t support networks that require a login page or 802.1X authentication.
After the recovery process completes, restart your device. If the startup issue continues, make sure your device is on the latest version of iOS. If it is already on the latest version, use recovery mode to restore your iPhone. If the issue persists, get service.
Put your iPhone 18 Pro in Recovery Mode using a computer
Note: This is different than macOS recovery mode.
Before you begin, if you are using a Mac, make sure your Mac is up to date. If you are using iTunes or the Apple Devices app on a PC, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes or the Apple Devices app.
Restart your iPhone 18 Pro in Recovery Mode
- Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later), iTunes (macOS Mojave or earlier, or a PC), or the Apple Devices app on a PC.
- Connect your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max to your computer via the USB-C cable.
- Put your iPhone 18 Pro in Recovery Mode:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button followed by the Volume Down button. Press and hold the Side button until you see the “Connect to computer” screen.
Find your Device in Finder, iTunes, or the Apple Devices app
- If necessary, locate your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max in the left-side pane of the Finder or iTunes window, or in the Apple Devices app.
Update your device
- You should see a pop-up telling you that there is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored.
- Select Update. This should reinstall the software without erasing your data.
- Follow the prompts to install iOS.
- If your iPhone 18 Pro exits recovery mode without finishing, wait a few minutes, then start over. Apple notes that if the download takes more than 15 minutes your device may leave the “Connect to computer” screen by itself — in that case let the download finish first, then put the iPhone back into recovery mode and try again.
Restore your device to Factory
If necessary, after updating the software on your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, you may follow the steps again to put your device into Recovery Mode, but this time choose Restore, instead of Update. This will wipe your device. You will want to do this step if:
- You are looking to erase your device because you are selling it or because you are sending it in for service.
- Updating in Recovery Mode failed.
How to Exit Recovery Mode on iPhone 18 Pro
If you have successfully used Recovery Mode to Update or Restore your iPhone 18 Pro, it will automatically exit Recovery Mode when it restarts. If you have entered Recovery Mode on your iPhone 18 Pro and want to, or need to, exit:
- Unplug your iPhone 18 Pro from the computer.
- Follow the steps to Force Restart your device. This will be the same button press sequence that you used to put your iPhone 18 Pro into Recovery Mode – you just won’t have your device connected to your computer.
If you are having trouble with your iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max that could not be fixed by resetting it in Recovery Mode, contact Apple Support.
