How to Put iPad in DFU Mode (All Models)

DFU mode is a way to recover your iPad using a computer.
To put an iPad into DFU mode, you’ll need to use Apple Devices, iTunes or Finder.
DFU mode works differently on iPads with Face ID, compared to models with a Home button.

Your iPad can sometimes run into technical issues, requiring the device to be reset or restored.

However, if it can’t be recovered through its settings, this can complicate efforts and require the use of Apple Devices, iTunes or Finder to restore iPadOS and firmware.

An Apple lead genius taught me how to put iPads into DFU mode, and as an Apple tech, I’ve done it hundreds of times.

Surprisingly, I’ve never seen another article explain how to enter DFU mode on an iPad the way I was trained. A lot of the information out there is just plain wrong. In this article, I’ll explain what DFU mode is, how firmware works on your iPad, and show you step-by-step how to DFU restore your iPad.

What is DFU mode?

Device Firmware Update mode — or DFU mode for short — is a state that an iPad can be put in to get your device back into working order.

DFU mode is similar to the BIOS on Windows computers or Recovery Mode on a Mac. It exists "below" the operating system level — iPadOS — but can still communicate with Windows Devices app, iTunes or Finder on a Windows or Mac computer.

In DFU mode, your iPad is accessible to Apple Devices app, iTunes or Finder at a more privileged level. This allows for more to be changed than normal. However, going into DFU mode on its own does not change anything on the iPad.

Quick tip: DFU mode can be useful for installing older versions of iPadOS if a beta release does not allow you to install an update.

What You Need To Know Before We Begin

The Home Button is the circular button below your iPad’s display.
The Top Button is Apple’s name for the power button.
You’ll need a timer to count to 8 seconds (or you can do it in your head).
If you can, back up your iPad to iCloud, iTunes, or Finder before put your iPad in DFU mode.
Macs running macOS Catalina 10.15 or newer use Finder to DFU restore an iPad.

How To Put An iPad In DFU Mode )Models With a Home Button)

Plug your iPad into your computer and open the Finder on your Mac, or open the Apple Devices app on your PC. If your PC doesn’t have the Apple Devices app, or your Mac is using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes instead. It doesn’t matter if your iPad is on or off.
Press and hold the Top Button and Home Button together for 8 seconds.
After 8 seconds, release the Top Button but continue to hold the Home Button until your iPad appears in Apple Devices app, iTunes or Finder.
Release the Home button. Your iPad’s display will be completely black if you’ve successfully entered DFU mode. If it’s not, try again from the beginning.
Restore your iPad using Apple Devices app, iTunes or Finder.

How To Put An iPad In DFU Mode (Models With a Face ID)

A lot of other websites give false, misleading, or overcomplicated steps when telling you how to DFU restore an iPad. They’ll tell you to turn off your iPad first, which is completely unnecessary. Your iPad does not have to be off before you put it in DFU Mode. The process is actually a lot easier than they make it out to be! Putting your iPad in DFU mode starts off just like a hard reset.

Quickly press and release the volume up button, then quickly press and release the volume down button, and then press and hold the Top button until the screen goes black.
As soon as the screen turns black, press and hold the volume down button while continuing to hold the Top button.
After 5 seconds, release the Top button while continuing to hold the volume down button until your iPad shows up in Apple Devices, iTunes or Finder.
As soon as it appears in Apple Devices, iTunes or Finder, release the volume button. Ta-da! Your iPad is in DFU mode.

Note: If the Apple logo is appearing on the screen, you held down the volume down button for too long. Start the process over from the beginning and try again.

A Word Of Warning

When you DFU restore your iPad, your computer erases and reloads every bit of code that controls the software and hardware on your iPad. There’s the potential for something to go wrong.

If your iPad is damaged in any way, and especially if it’s water-damaged, a DFU restore may break your iPad. I’ve worked with readers who tried to restore their iPads to fix a minor problem, but water had damaged another component that prevented the restore from completing. A useable iPad with minor problems can become completely unusable if a DFU restore fails because of water-damage.

What’s Firmware? What Does It Do?

Firmware is the programming that controls the hardware of your device. Software changes all the time (you install apps and download new email), hardware never changes (hopefully, you don’t open your iPad and rearrange its components), and firmware almost never changes — unless it has to.

What Other Electronic Devices Have Firmware?

All of them! Think about it: Your washing machine, dryer, TV remote, and microwave all use firmware to control buttons, timers, and other basic functions. You can’t change what the Popcorn setting does on your microwave, so it’s not software — it’s firmware.

DFU Restores: All Day, Every Day.

Apple employees restore a lot of iPads. Given the option, I’d always choose a DFU restore over a regular or recovery mode restore. This isn’t official Apple policy and some techs would say it’s overkill, but if an iPad has a problem that can be resolved with a restore, a DFU restore stands the best chance of fixing it.

Thanks for reading and I hope this article clarifies some of the misinformation on the internet about how to enter DFU mode on iPad and why you’d want to use it. I encourage you to embrace your inner geekiness. You should be proud! Now you can tell your friends (and kids), "Yeah, I know how to DFU restore my iPad."