Quick answer: put iPhone into DFU Mode

To put iPhone into DFU Mode, connect it to a Mac or PC, press Volume Up, press Volume Down, hold the Side button until the screen goes black, hold Side + Volume Down for 5 seconds, then release Side and keep holding Volume Down until your computer detects the iPhone.

The screen must stay black. If you see the Apple logo or a cable-to-computer icon, you are not in iPhone DFU Mode. You are in a restart loop or Recovery Mode.

DFU Mode is the deep restore state for firmware-level fixes. Use it when Recovery Mode fails, when an update breaks the device, or when the iPhone is stuck in a boot loop and your computer can still detect it.

DFU Mode vs Recovery Mode: which one should you use?

DFU Mode and Recovery Mode both help restore an iPhone or iPad, but they are not the same repair path.

Recovery Mode loads the device into a restore screen. Your iPhone shows a cable-to-computer icon, and Finder or iTunes can update or restore iOS. Start here for most failed updates because the Update option may keep your data.

DFU Mode goes deeper. The screen stays black while the computer talks to the device at a lower firmware level. Use DFU when Recovery Mode fails or the device needs a clean restore.

Apple's official restore path starts with Recovery Mode. Use Apple's support pages for the current restore flow on iPhone and iPad. Use DFU Mode only when the safer route does not work.

Before you put iPhone into DFU Mode

Do the boring checks first. They save you from turning a fixable update problem into a wiped phone.

• Back up the iPhone or iPad if the device still boots.
• Charge the device to at least 20%.
• Use a cable you trust. Cheap cables cause weird restore failures.
• Use Finder on macOS Catalina or newer.
• Use iTunes or Apple Devices on Windows if you follow Apple's default route.
• Keep the computer online because restore files can be large.
• Set aside enough time. Do not unplug the device mid-restore.

If you are on Windows and want a cleaner way to manage iPhone backups and exports before recovery work, AltTunes can help with iPhone data management. Keep the product role clear: AltTunes helps with backup and file management. DFU button timing still depends on the device model.

If your device still works, back it up before you touch DFU. This Softorino guide on how to back up and restore iPhone is the safer stop before a deep restore.

How to put iPhone 8 or later into DFU Mode

Use this method for iPhone 8 and newer models, including iPhone X, XS, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and the latest iPhones that keep the same button layout.

1. Connect the iPhone to your Mac or PC with a USB cable.
2. Open Finder on Mac, or iTunes/Apple Devices on Windows.
3. Quickly press and release Volume Up.
4. Quickly press and release Volume Down.
5. Hold the Side button until the screen goes black.
6. As soon as the screen goes black, hold Side + Volume Down together for 5 seconds.
7. After 5 seconds, release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down.
8. Keep holding Volume Down until Finder, iTunes, Apple Devices, or your iPhone manager detects a device in recovery state.

The iPhone screen should stay completely black. That black screen is the sign you put iPhone into DFU Mode correctly.

If the Apple logo appears, you held the Side button too long. Start over. If the cable-to-computer screen appears, you entered Recovery Mode instead of DFU Mode.

How to put iPhone 7 into DFU Mode

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus use a different button combo because they do not use the same force-restart sequence as newer models.

1. Connect the iPhone 7 to your computer.
2. Open Finder, iTunes, Apple Devices, or the iPhone manager you use.
3. Hold Side + Volume Down together for 8 seconds.
4. After 8 seconds, release the Side button.
5. Keep holding Volume Down until the computer detects the iPhone.

The screen should stay black. If the Apple logo shows up, start again and release the Side button sooner.

How to put iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, or Home-button iPad into DFU Mode

Use this method for iPhone 6s, older iPhones, older iPhone SE models with a Home button, and iPads with a physical Home button.

1. Connect the device to your computer.
2. Open Finder, iTunes, Apple Devices, or your iPhone manager.
3. Hold Home + Top or Side button together for 8 seconds.
4. After 8 seconds, release the Top or Side button.
5. Keep holding Home until the computer detects the device.

Again, the screen must stay black. A visible Apple logo means the timing missed DFU Mode.

How to put an iPad without a Home button into DFU Mode

Face ID iPads and newer iPads without a Home button follow the same idea as modern iPhones. The button names change, but the timing matters in the same way.

1. Connect the iPad to your computer.
2. Open Finder on Mac, or iTunes/Apple Devices on Windows.
3. Quickly press and release the Volume button closest to the Top button.
4. Quickly press and release the Volume button farthest from the Top button.
5. Hold the Top button until the screen goes black.
6. Hold Top + the Volume button farthest from the Top button for 5 seconds.
7. Release the Top button and keep holding the Volume button.
8. Stop when the computer detects the iPad.

If the iPad shows the cable-to-computer screen, you landed in Recovery Mode. That is not always bad. Recovery Mode is safer to try first if your goal is to update iPadOS without wiping the device.

How to exit DFU Mode

You can exit DFU Mode with a force restart if you entered it by mistake and have not started a restore.

For iPhone 8 or later and iPads without a Home button:

1. Press and release Volume Up.
2. Press and release Volume Down.
3. Hold the Side or Top button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus:

1. Hold Side + Volume Down.
2. Release when the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 6s, older iPhones, and Home-button iPads:

1. Hold Home + Top or Side button.
2. Release when the Apple logo appears.

Do not force restart while Finder, iTunes, Apple Devices, or another restore tool is already writing software to the device. Interrupting a restore can make the problem worse.

What to do after your computer detects DFU Mode

Once the computer detects the iPhone or iPad in DFU Mode, choose your next step carefully.

If the device still has data you need and Recovery Mode has not been tried yet, cancel and try Recovery Mode first. Recovery Mode may offer Update, which attempts to reinstall iOS or iPadOS without erasing the device.

If Recovery Mode failed, use Restore. A DFU restore usually downloads the current signed iOS or iPadOS version, wipes the device, and installs a clean copy. Apple controls which versions can be restored because unsigned versions cannot be installed normally.

Windows users can use AltTunes around this workflow for iPhone backup and data management. For example, you may want to export photos before a restore if the phone is still readable. This guide on transferring photos from iPhone to computer covers that safer pre-restore step.

How to enter Recovery Mode instead

Recovery Mode is the better first move for many iPhone problems. It is easier to enter, easier to recognize, and may give you a chance to update without wiping the device.

For iPhone 8 or later:

1. Connect the iPhone to your computer.
2. Press and release Volume Up.
3. Press and release Volume Down.
4. Hold the Side button until the recovery screen appears.

For iPhone 7:

1. Connect the iPhone to your computer.
2. Hold Side + Volume Down.
3. Keep holding until the recovery screen appears.

For iPhone 6s, older iPhones, and Home-button iPads:

1. Connect the device to your computer.
2. Hold Home + Top or Side button.
3. Keep holding until the recovery screen appears.

For iPads without a Home button:

1. Connect the iPad to your computer.
2. Press and release the Volume button closest to the Top button.
3. Press and release the Volume button farthest from the Top button.
4. Hold the Top button until the recovery screen appears.

Use Recovery Mode when the device can show the recovery screen and the computer offers Update. Move to DFU only if Recovery Mode fails.

Troubleshooting iPhone DFU Mode

DFU Mode is timing-sensitive. If it fails, the fix is usually boring: cable, timing, or the wrong button combo.

Apple logo appears

You held the Side, Top, or Home button too long. Restart the sequence and release the first button earlier.

Cable-to-computer icon appears

You entered Recovery Mode. This can still help if you need to update or restore the device. If you need DFU Mode, restart and tighten the timing.

Screen is black, but the computer does not detect the device

Try a different USB port, a different cable, and a direct connection instead of a hub. On Windows, update Apple device drivers or reinstall Apple Devices/iTunes.

iPhone keeps leaving DFU Mode

Check the cable and avoid touching the buttons after the computer detects the device. If the device disconnects during restore, use another cable before trying again.

Buttons are broken

Do not trust random “one-click DFU without buttons” claims unless you can verify the tool and understand the risk. If a button is physically broken and the device cannot enter Recovery or DFU, contact Apple Support or a repair shop.

You need to move data before trying DFU

If the iPhone still boots, export what matters before a restore. Softorino has guides for moving data to a new iPhone and transferring contacts to a new iPhone before you wipe anything.

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