How to put the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch into Recovery Mode

You may need to restore your iOS device using the recovery-mode feature if iTunes can’t recognize your device.

IMPORTANT: You will lose all data on your iPhone, iPad or iPod when you restore it. Unless you have a back-up of your device in iTunes or the iCloud you should consider other options. This guide should only be used as a final resort.

To perform a recovery-mode restore:

1. Turn off your device using the ‘Sleep/Wake’ button as normal. If you cannot turn your device off because it is ‘frozen’ or ‘stuck’, press and hold the ‘Sleep/Wake’ button and ‘Home button’ at the same time. When the device is off, release all buttons.
2. Press and hold the ‘Home’ button and then connect your device via USB to your PC or Mac, keep holding the ‘Home’ button.
3. When the ‘Connect to iTunes’ screen appears on your device, release the ‘Home button.’
4. After 2 minutes iTunes will automatically launch. If iTunes doesn’t automatically open after this time please manually open it.
5. A message will appear informing you that your iPhone, iPad or iPod is in Recovery Mode. Please click the ‘OK’ button.
6. You will now have the option to restore your iOS device (you will lose all data on your iPhone, iPad or iPod), click the ‘Restore’ button to begin the restore process.
7. After the device has been restored, please follow the set up instructions on the device or restore from backup (if you have one).