iPhone 8 Plus Stuck on Recovery Mode and Won’t Restore? Here’s How to Fix It

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If your iPhone 8 Plus is stuck on the recovery mode screen and fails to restore through iTunes, you’re not alone. This issue can be triggered by failed iOS updates, app glitches, memory corruption, or even faulty cables or software. Fortunately, there are several ways to troubleshoot and resolve it without immediately running to a repair shop.

Try the solutions below in order—from the easiest to the most advanced—to get your iPhone out of recovery mode and working again.

1. Force Restart Your iPhone 8 Plus

Before anything else, unplug your iPhone from your computer and perform a force restart.

  • Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  • Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  • Press and hold the Side (Power) button until the Apple logo appears.

Once your iPhone reboots, plug it back into your computer and retry the restore. Also reboot your computer and close all other apps before trying again.

2. Retry Recovery Mode Restore in iTunes

If the force restart didn’t work, try the full recovery mode restore again.

Steps:

  1. Connect your iPhone 8 Plus to your computer using the original Lightning cable.
  2. Force restart your iPhone as above—but keep holding the Side button even after the Apple logo appears.
  3. Release the button when the “Connect to iTunes” screen appears.
  4. On your computer, open iTunes or Finder and choose Restore when prompted.

This erases the device and installs a clean version of iOS.

3. Try a DFU Mode Restore (Advanced)

If recovery mode doesn’t work, try DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode, which bypasses the bootloader entirely.

Steps to enter DFU mode:

  1. Plug your iPhone into your computer.
  2. Quickly press and release Volume Up.
  3. Quickly press and release Volume Down.
  4. Press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black.
  5. When black, continue holding the Side button, then press and hold the Volume Down for 5 seconds.
  6. Release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down until iTunes or Finder shows a message saying it has detected a device in recovery mode.

⚠️ If you see the Apple logo, try again. You’ve likely held the Side button too long.

Follow the onscreen prompts in iTunes/Finder to Restore your device.

4. Use Third-Party iOS Recovery Tools

If iTunes fails again, consider using trusted third-party software such as:

  • ReiBoot by Tenorshare
  • Dr.Fone – Repair by Wondershare
  • iMyFone Fixppo
  • PhoneRescue by iMobie

These tools often offer one-click exits from recovery mode or allow iOS repair without data loss (in Standard Mode). Be sure to research the tool and follow the instructions carefully.

5. Still Stuck? Contact Apple Support

If none of the above methods work:

  • There may be a hardware issue with your iPhone (logic board, connector, etc.).
  • Visit an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider.
  • If you’re still under warranty, a free replacement or repair might be possible.

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