If your iPhone is frozen on the Apple logo and won’t boot up, low storage might be to blame — especially if your device was nearly full before the issue started. It’s a common problem that can happen after an update, installing a large app, or even just regular use. Fortunately, you’ve got several ways to fix this at home, no tech skills needed.
Here’s how to get your iPhone unstuck and working again.
Force Restart Your iPhone
A quick force restart can clear out minor glitches and cached files that might be preventing your iPhone from finishing its boot process.
For iPhone 8 and later:
- Press and release Volume Up.
- Press and release Volume Down.
- Hold the Side button until the Apple logo reappears.
For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus:
- Hold Volume Down + Power until you see the Apple logo.
For iPhone 6s, SE, or earlier:
- Hold Home + Power until the Apple logo shows up.
If your iPhone finishes booting, great — go delete apps, photos, or videos to free up space immediately.
Delete Problematic Apps (If You Get Back In)
If your phone successfully boots, try identifying the app that might’ve triggered the issue.
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Look for any unusually large or recently added apps.
- Tap the app, then tap Delete App.
You can also press and hold an app icon from the Home screen and tap the “X” to remove it.
Update iOS (Once You’re Back In)
If your iPhone isn’t up to date, a software bug might be making things worse — especially on a nearly full device.
- Connect to Wi-Fi.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Download and Install if an update is available.
Make sure you have at least 2–3 GB of free space to install updates.
Reset All Settings
Sometimes your iPhone can get stuck because of a bad system setting. Resetting all settings won’t delete your data — just your preferences.
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset > Reset All Settings.
- Enter your passcode and confirm.
Your phone will reboot. If it makes it past the Apple logo, free up space and watch for future glitches.
Use Recovery Mode
If a force restart didn’t work, recovery mode can help you reinstall or update iOS without losing your data — in some cases.
Here’s how:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer using a Lightning cable.
- On your iPhone:
- iPhone 8 or newer: Press Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side until the recovery screen shows.
- iPhone 7/7 Plus: Hold Volume Down + Side.
- iPhone 6s or earlier: Hold Home + Power.
- Once the “Connect to iTunes/Finder” screen appears, your computer will prompt you to Update or Restore.
- Try Update first to keep your data.
- If that fails, choose Restore (this erases everything, but you can recover from a backup later).
Try a DFU Restore (If Recovery Mode Fails)
DFU mode is the most advanced restore method — it completely rewrites your iPhone’s firmware. Only use it if nothing else works.
To enter DFU mode (iPhone 8 or newer):
- Connect to your computer.
- Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down.
- Hold Side until the screen turns black.
- Hold Side + Volume Down for 5 seconds.
- Release Side, keep holding Volume Down until the screen stays black and iTunes/Finder detects your iPhone.
From there, click Restore in iTunes/Finder.
⚠️ Don’t try DFU mode if your iPhone has liquid or physical damage — it can make things worse.
Use Third-Party iOS Repair Tools
Still stuck? There are trustworthy iOS repair tools that can fix Apple logo loops without wiping your data.
Popular options include:
- ReiBoot by Tenorshare
- iMyFone Fixppo
- Dr.Fone – Repair
Just download one to your computer, connect your iPhone, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Still Stuck? It Might Be a Hardware Issue
If you’ve tried everything and your iPhone still won’t move past the Apple logo, it could be a hardware problem — like a failing NAND chip or storage controller.
At this point, your best move is to:
- Book an appointment at the Apple Store or an authorized repair center
- Or contact Apple Support online