iOS iPhone Frozen Black Screen and Recovery Mode¶

An iPhone that displays a black screen, freezes on the Apple logo, or refuses to respond to touch input can often be recovered using hardware button combinations without taking the device to an Apple Store.

Step 1: Force Restarting an iPhone (Model-Specific Buttons)¶

For iPhone 8, iPhone SE (2^nd/3^rd Gen), iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Series¶

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side (Power) Button continuously for 10 to 15 seconds.
Do not release the Side button when the slider appears. Continue holding until the white Apple logo appears on screen.

For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus¶

Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake (Side) button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6s, SE (1^st Gen), or Earlier¶

Press and hold both the Home Button and the Top (or Side) button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.

Step 2: Placing iPhone in Recovery Mode¶

If the iPhone remains stuck on the Apple logo or displays a restore computer icon: 1. Connect the iPhone to a Mac (via Finder) or Windows PC (via iTunes or Apple Devices app) using a Lightning or USB-C cable. 2. Perform the force restart button sequence for your model, but continue holding the Side button even after the Apple logo appears. 3. Keep holding until the Connect to Computer / Recovery Mode screen appears on the iPhone. 4. On your computer, select Update. Finder or iTunes will attempt to reinstall iOS without erasing personal user data.

Step 3: DFU Mode (Device Firmware Update)¶

If Recovery Mode fails, Device Firmware Update (DFU) mode restores the lowest level firmware. Connect the iPhone to a computer, press Volume Up, Volume Down, hold Side button for 10 seconds, then hold Volume Down while holding Side for 5 seconds, release Side and hold Volume Down for 10 seconds until the screen remains blank while computer detects a device in recovery. Select Restore.