Obsolete Pre Iphone 7 7Th Gen Touch How To Access Recovery Mode Repair Guide

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

                          25 minutes - 2 hours

Sections

OBSOLETE Pre iPhone 7/7th Gen Touch How to access Recovery Mode
6 steps

Flags

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

BackiPod
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications

Introduction

Guide notes

(iPhone only) This method only works up to the iPhone 6s. The current method varies by device on newer models.iCloud warning: Devices running iOS 7 or newer will have an iCloud activation lock. If you restore a device with unknown credentials, you will no longer be able to use the device. Furthermore, devices with an unofficial iCloud unlock will no longer work.With iOS 8 and up, the device data is encrypted. If you need your data, you must guess the password.WARNING: ALL DATA ON THE DEVICE WILL BE ERASED! IF POSSIBLE, GUESS THE PASSWORD.

If you purchased a used iDevice or forgot the password on your current device, this guide will show you how to restore the device so you can use it again. If you did not forget the password but are having problems that prevent a normal recovery, this method can also be used for this purpose.

Step 1

              Plug the device into a computer

Clearing a unknown password while keeping the data intact is beyond the scope of this guide.
Plug your device into your computer. Use the correct cable for your device.

Clearing a unknown password while keeping the data intact is beyond the scope of this guide.

Plug your device into your computer. Use the correct cable for your device.

1024

Step 2

              Mount the device in iTunes

Some devices and firmware do not show up in iTunes while locked with a password. This is expected.
Since this is a used device, the previous owner’s name has been blurred.
Once the device is plugged in, verify it shows up in iTunes. The device will not sync while it is locked, but this is expected.

Some devices and firmware do not show up in iTunes while locked with a password. This is expected.

Since this is a used device, the previous owner’s name has been blurred.

Once the device is plugged in, verify it shows up in iTunes. The device will not sync while it is locked, but this is expected.

Step 3

              Reset the device

Reset the device. Hold both the power and home buttons down at the same time. Do this until the device screen turns black.
This is the power button.
This is the home button.

Reset the device. Hold both the power and home buttons down at the same time. Do this until the device screen turns black.

This is the power button.

This is the home button.

Step 4

              Put the device in recovery mode

This screen may vary based on the version of iOS and device model. Some show the iTunes icon, while others show a computer.
Once the Apple logo shows up on the screen, let go of the power button. Hold the home button until the recovery mode screen comes up.

This screen may vary based on the version of iOS and device model. Some show the iTunes icon, while others show a computer.

Once the Apple logo shows up on the screen, let go of the power button. Hold the home button until the recovery mode screen comes up.

Step 5

              Restore the device

If you have done the previous steps correctly, the device will show in iTunes, but prompt it is in recovery mode.
Click Restore iPod/iPhone/iPad and then Restore and Update. Agree to the EULA.
Once you agree to the EULA (not shown), iTunes will download the latest firmware. Your device will be restored once this is finished.

If you have done the previous steps correctly, the device will show in iTunes, but prompt it is in recovery mode.

Click Restore iPod/iPhone/iPad and then Restore and Update. Agree to the EULA.

Once you agree to the EULA (not shown), iTunes will download the latest firmware. Your device will be restored once this is finished.

Step 6

              Set up the device

Restoring from a backup is NOT recommended. These backups may contain also contain a password, which will force you to repeat this procedure. Delete all existing backups known to have the passcode once restored.
Once the device is restored, set it up as a new device. Make a new backup to use moving forward.

Restoring from a backup is NOT recommended. These backups may contain also contain a password, which will force you to repeat this procedure. Delete all existing backups known to have the passcode once restored.

Once the device is restored, set it up as a new device. Make a new backup to use moving forward.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      35 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 2 other contributors

                    Nick

Member since: 11/10/2009

80,540 Reputation

                                      41 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       55







                                                        +52 more badges

Team

                       Master Techs                        

                                                  Member of Master Techs 



                    Community                     


                                            310 Members                     


                                            1,168 Guides authored

Ashanti Lewis - Dec 10, 2015

So what happens when this dosen’t work?

laranishino - Jun 21, 2016

you are a life saver!!!! thank you so much!

Ross Kellman - Mar 26, 2017

This worked. You must continue to hold the home and power button until the apple logo shows up. Once it shows up, hold the home key. Your iTunes will then have a couple prompts.

G.D. Warner - Feb 20, 2018

A couple days ago, I bought myself a used iPhone 3G for $25. It didn’t have a SIM card, but I was able to connect it to my MacBook Pro, fire up iTunes, and basically load the same songs that are on my iPod on it. I was even able to download and install an app I had downloaded from the programmer’s website a few years ago I was sure hadn’t been updated.

All good so far … until I decided to add a password, and then decided that maybe updating the phone’s OS might be a good idea. The password was the same as that of my iPod … but after the update, suddenly I “typed in the wrong pass code.”

After fighting with that for a few hours, I did the restore bit … but now, since there is no SIM card (did I mention I have three phones? No need for another), I can’t get back to where I was before the stupid software update and now I have a phone I can’t use for the purpose for which I bought it.

Thanks, Apple.

That said, any ideas on how to get past that SIM card issue?

G.D. Warner - Feb 20, 2018

Okay, so I got on eBay and bought a SIM card “for testing purposes” for about three bucks. It may or may not work, but it should at least get me past the “Dude. You Need a SIM Card” error.

We’ll see how that goes.

Member-Contributed Guide#

Introduction#

Team#

Member-Contributed Guide

Introduction

Team