iPhone X Stuck on Apple Logo After Factory Reset? Here’s How to Fix It
Tried wiping your iPhone X but now it’s stuck on the Apple logo with no progress? Whether it happened during a factory reset, iTunes sync, or software update — don’t panic. Here’s how to fix an iPhone X that’s frozen on the Apple logo after a reset.
Force Restart Your iPhone X
First thing to try: a force restart. This won’t delete any data — it just forces the phone to reboot.
Here’s how:
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
If that doesn’t work, move on to the next step.
Use Recovery Mode and Update via iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina+)
If your iPhone still won’t boot, you’ll need to use recovery mode to reinstall iOS. This won’t erase your data (unless the update fails and you have to restore).
Steps:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac or PC using a Lightning cable.
- Open iTunes (or Finder if you’re on macOS Catalina or later).
- While your iPhone is connected, do the following:
- Press and quickly release Volume Up
- Press and quickly release Volume Down
- Then press and hold the Side button until the recovery mode screen appears (you’ll see a cable and laptop icon or a computer symbol).
- Once your computer detects the device in recovery mode, it will prompt you with options. Choose Update (not Restore).
This will attempt to reinstall iOS without wiping your data.
⚠️ If the update takes longer than 15 minutes, your phone may exit recovery mode. If that happens, repeat the steps to enter recovery mode again.
If Update Fails, Use Restore (This Will Erase Your iPhone)
If the update doesn’t work and your iPhone remains stuck, you’ll need to do a full restore.
- Follow the same recovery mode steps above.
- But this time, when prompted, choose Restore instead of Update.
Important: This will erase all data on the device, so only use this if you have a backup — or if you’re out of other options.
Still Stuck? Try DFU Mode
DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is the deepest restore level available — and it often works when recovery mode doesn’t.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
- Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button until the screen goes black.
- Once the screen is black, hold the Volume Down button while still holding the Side button for about 5 seconds.
- Then release the Side button but keep holding the Volume Down button for another 5–10 seconds.
If done right, your iPhone screen will stay black and iTunes/Finder will detect a device in DFU mode. You can then proceed to restore the device.
Still Not Working? Time to Visit Apple
If nothing else works, your iPhone may have a deeper software corruption or even a hardware issue. Book an appointment at an Apple Store or authorized service provider to have it checked out.