How to fix an iPhone X that is stuck on Recovery Mode [Troubleshooting Guide]

There are many possible reasons as to why your iPhone gets stuck on the Connect to iTunes or recovery mode screen due to a failed iOS update, incomplete iOS restore, or failed jailbreak. All these are attributed to software problems. On the other hand, if your iPhone can get stuck due to hardware damage. This is usually the case if you’ve accidentally dropped your iPhone X, got it wet or overheated. But for an iPhone X that gets stuck on recovery mode, hardware issues aren’t likely to blame unless if there were prior incidents of dropping or liquid exposure.

First solution: Force restart your iPhone X.

A force restart is an alternative way to soft reset/restart a frozen iPhone. This works the same as the usual restart does when it comes to getting rid of minor app errors and software issues. And like a soft reset, a force restart does not affect any information stored on the iPhone’s internal memory, thus you won’t lose any data in the process. If you haven’t done this yet, then give it a try. Here’s how to force restart an iPhone X:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Finally, press and hold the Power/Side button until the Apple logo appears.

If your iPhone is able to boot up successfully after a force restart, then retry to restore iOS in iTunes. Ending up being stuck in recovery mode at first doesn’t always mean that it’ll end up the same in the next attempt. Before you do so, remove any other external devices from your computer. Also close or quit all programs that are running on your computer system to prevent any of them from causing conflict. Once you’ve got all those done, connect your iPhone X to your computer using the original Lightning cable then open iTunes. Wait until the phone is recognized in iTunes and then instigate iOS restore with these steps:

Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
Then press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
Finally, press and hold the Power/Side button until the Recovery Mode screen appears. Do not release the button when the Apple logo appears because you need to access recovery mode.
Once you see the recovery mode screen or Connect to iTunes screen, wait for the Restore or Update prompt to show up. Then select the option to Restore.

Follow the rest of the onscreen iTunes commands to complete the entire restore process.

Second solution: Use iTunes to restore your iPhone X in DFU mode.

If the second recovery mode restore attempt failed, then you may consider opting for a Device Firmware Update or DFU mode restore. This is the deepest type of system restore you can do on an iPhone. It puts your device in a state where it’s able to communicate with iTunes on a computer even without activating the iOS or bootloader. This gives you a higher chance of fixing your device even when the operating system is totally borked. A DFU mode restore however results to data loss as it will delete everything from your phone system including saved information. On the positive note, you’ll have a higher chance to get your iPhone X back up and running smoothly afterwards. Should you wish to give it a try, get your computer ready and then follow these steps:

Connect your iPhone X to your computer using the supplied USB cable or Lightning cable that came with it. Once connected, open iTunes on your computer and then continue to the next steps.
Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side/Power button until the screen goes black.
As soon as the screen turns black, press and hold the Volume Down button while keep holding down the Side/Power button.
After 5 seconds, release the Side/Power button but keep holding down the Volume Down button until your iPhone X shows up in iTunes.
Release the Volume Down button as soon as your iPhone shows in iTunes.
Follow the onscreen instructions to restore your iPhone X in DFU mode through iTunes commands.

If performing a DFU mode restore doesn’t get your iPhone X fixed either, then you can resort to using other alternative software solutions.

Third solution: Use alternative iOS recovery/repair software to fix your iPhone X.

Aside from iTunes, there are also other iOS recovery/repair tools you can use to solve major iOS problems affecting various iPhone models including the latest iPhone X. These are third-party software that can be downloaded to a Windows or Mac computer. That said, you will also need to use a computer to run and make use of the software. Third-party iOS recovery/repair tools like Reiboot may have more advanced features that aren’t found in iTunes. This makes them deemed among the alternative solutions to major iOS problems that could not be rectified in iTunes.
Should you wish to try these tools, just search for iOS recovery/repair software on your computer’s browser and then find the software that’s compatible with your computer and supports the current iOS version of your iPhone X. Reading previews reviews and the entire software description can also help you gain more information on how the software actually works. Once you’ve decided on which software to use, download and install the desired software on your computer. As soon as it’s successfully installed, you can go ahead and try using it to repair your iPhone X. Usually you would need to connect your iPhone to your computer through USB or Lightning cable. Once your device is connected, open the software on your computer, wait for it to recognize your iPhone, and then follow the onscreen commands to instigate iOS repair. The iOS recovery and repair process may vary depending on the software you are using.

Other options

If none of the aforementioned workarounds is able to solve the problem and your iPhone X remains stuck on recovery mode, then you’re most likely dealing with hardware problem. This is when service is necessary. That said, you can make an appointment with Apple and have your iPhone X hardware checked at an Apple-authorized service center. For other possible options, contact your carrier or Apple Support for further assistance.
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If you need more help with the use of certain functions and features of the Apple iPhone X smartphone, feel free to visit our Tutorial Page. There you can find a list of how-to contents, step-by-step tutorials, as well as answers to FAQs regarding iPhone X. If you have other concerns or encountered some troubles while using the phone, you can reach us through this form. Just be sure to tell us more details of the problem or device issue(s) you may have and we will be more than happy to assist you further.