If your iPhone started rebooting on its own or froze on the Apple logo or a black screen after updating to iOS 13 (or any version), you’re not the only one. It’s a common post-update glitch that can be incredibly frustrating—but usually fixable. This guide will walk you through all the proven solutions to get your iPhone back to normal.
1. Force Restart Your iPhone
If your iPhone is frozen or stuck in a boot loop, a force restart might get it out of the jam.
On iPhone 8, SE (2nd gen), and newer:
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
On iPhone 7 and 7 Plus:
- Press and hold both the Volume Down and Side (Power) buttons at the same time.
- Keep holding until the Apple logo appears.
On iPhone 6s and earlier:
- Press and hold the Home and Power buttons together.
- Release both when you see the Apple logo.
If your phone successfully boots up, move on to the next few steps to prevent the issue from recurring.
2. Update All Your Apps
Outdated apps can cause system instability—especially after a major iOS update.
To update your apps:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right.
- Scroll down to see pending updates.
- Tap Update All, or update apps individually.
Once done, restart your iPhone again.
3. Reset All Settings
Post-update bugs often mess with your system settings. A quick reset can clear them up without deleting your data.
Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
This will reset Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and system settings to factory defaults, but won’t erase your files.
4. Restore Your iPhone in Recovery Mode (Via Computer)
If your iPhone is still stuck on the Apple logo or keeps restarting, you may need to restore it using iTunes or Finder in Recovery Mode.
Steps:
- Connect your iPhone to a Mac or PC using a USB cable.
- Launch iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later).
- Force restart your iPhone, but don’t release the buttons when the Apple logo appears—wait until you see the Recovery Mode screen.
- On your computer, choose Restore.
This will erase your iPhone and install a fresh version of iOS. If you have a backup, you can restore it after setup.
5. Use DFU Mode as a Last Resort
DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode goes deeper than Recovery Mode. It can fix even the most severe iOS issues—but it also wipes your data.
For iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, SE 2nd gen and newer:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the screen turns black.
- While holding the Side button, also press and hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds.
- Release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button for another 5 seconds.
If the screen stays black and your computer detects your iPhone in DFU mode, you’re good to go. Follow the on-screen prompts in iTunes/Finder to restore your device.
If anything shows on the iPhone screen, try again—it means you didn’t enter DFU mode properly.
6. Try a Third-Party iOS Repair Tool
If DFU mode isn’t working—or you’d rather not wipe your phone—third-party tools like ReiBoot, iMyFone Fixppo, or Dr.Fone – Repair may be able to help. These apps can often fix iOS issues without erasing your data.
Just install the software on your Mac or PC, connect your iPhone, and follow the guided steps.
7. Still Stuck? Get It Checked by Apple
If nothing works and your iPhone still won’t boot or keeps restarting, it could be hardware-related—especially if your device was dropped or exposed to moisture recently.
- Contact Apple Support
- Visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider