DFU mode is the last step on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad troubleshooting ladder.
Whether you want to jailbreak, un-jailbreak, update from an expired beta, or need a solution when nothing else is working, Apple has a solution for you: Putting you iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad into DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode can be your last, best hope for success.
As opposed to Recovery Mode, DFU mode puts the device into a state where it can still communicate with iTunes on Windows or Mac, but it hasn't activated the boot loader or iOS. This allows your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to be restored from any state. DFU mode requires a bit of timing and can take practice to get right, so if at first you don't succeed, don't be afraid to try and try again.
How to put your iPhone or iPad into DFU mode
- Plug in your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to your Mac or Windows PC.
- Make sure iTunes is running.
- Turn Off your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad if it isn't already.
- Press and hold down the On/Off button on the right side (iPhone 6 or later) or top (all other iPhones, iPods, and iPads) of the device for 3 seconds.
- Swipe the slide to power off slider to the right.
- Press and hold down the On/Off button on the right side (iPhone 6 or later) or top (all other iPhones, iPods, and iPads) of your device for 3 seconds.
- Press and hold down the Home button on the front of your device while still holding down the On/Off button.
- Keep holding both buttons down for 10 seconds. (If you see the Apple logo, you've held them too long and will need to start again.)
- Let go of the On/Off Button but keep holding the Home button for about 5 seconds. (If you see the "Plug into iTunes" screen, then you've held it too long and will need to start again.)
- If the screen stays black, that's it! Your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad should now be in DFU mode.
At this point, iTunes should show you an alert saying it's detected your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, and will allow it to be restored.
Reminder: If you see any logos on your device, you might be in Recovery Mode, but you're not in DFU mode. If Recovery Mode works, great. If not, try for DFU Mode again.
Reader comments
How to put your iPhone or iPad into DFU mode
Geez. Learn something new every day. I thought DFU stood for "done f'ed up".
A great post guys! Very helpful especially for those looking to downgrade their iOS version.. Cheers!
You should also mention in the post, that in DFU mode, the screen will be black.
If you see the iTunes logo and cable, then you're NOT in DFU mode, as I've seen a lot of people confused about this.
I really thought this post was going to be from georgia ;)
How about when the power button is not working? Tried several options, for example RecBoot, but my iPhone 3G still gets stuck at the apple logo. iTunes won't recognize it either. Bummer.
There is an app called LAST DFY r5[beta 5] that will automaticly put ur iOS in DFY mode flair you. Im pretty sure it's for Mac only but it's pretty old so u never know If they updated and added a wiinsmdows version. If not and u still have problems manually getting in dfu mode google dfu apps for windows and there is most likely a version for windows. Also if it jbing or downgrading fw's and get an error code at the end of the process u can use tiny umbrella to kick ur device out of recovery mode( or if ur on Mac 10.5x get "reboot" it works flwalessly and has come in handy many times(especially 2day lol.) any question feel free to contact. I'm really good with iOS/iPhone tweaks/troubleshooting. Hope this helps.
Sent from my iPhone
Hi I have 8gb iPhone 4s and the other day the sound on it stopped working. I could only listen to music if there were headphones plugged in, sometimes it won't ring when someone calls, but mainly it is the issue of not being able to listen to music without headphones, but once I plug headphones in sometimes when I unplug them the music will work for a minute then go silent again.... Is there anything you could tell me that would help me fix it please.
@BrianHardwick - Did you ever get this figured out? I have very similar issues all of a sudden on my 16gb 4s - sound will only play when I plug in headphones, doesn't always seem to ring, is totally hit or miss on text tones, sometimes even cutting them off if it plays them at all. Driving me crazy...can't trade it in for six months yet. Don't really want to be doing anything to brick the thing, or do any hardware replacing!
" sry for the spelling mistakes lol. But it's called "recboot" ( get the enter and exit one. GL. And enjoy! Also by the way my buddy has a iPhone 3G 4.2.1 can sone1 in my situation tell me what's the best option( or what worked the best for them? Thanks in advance. Im not a noob and have been hacking 4 yrs now(havent been keeping up with 3g) but short cuts r always appreciated &
welcomed.
Sent from my iPhone!
just follow the instructions on installing the redsnow
make sure it is off
press the sleep button 1st for 2-3sec
then without releasing the sleep button
press and hold the home button for several sec
then without releasing the home button
release the sleep button
fiz o jailbreak da 4.3.3 e não ta amarrado, ta funcionando normalmente.
Observação: fiz com Redsnow 9.06 rc17
I did the jailbreak of 4.3.3 and not tied ta, ta functioning normally.
Note: I made Redsnow 9.6 RC17
Falo de Manaus- Amazonas Brasil, me ajudaram muito obrigado.
Talk of Manaus, Amazonas Brazil, helped me very much.
Aprendi direito com tantas dicas.
Useless, does not work with latest release of IOS.
Useless, does not work with latest release of IOS.
Any guys know how can jailbrake or downgrade (without SHAH) ipad 2 (A5) wifi with ios 5.1 ?
what can I do to restore my iphone3 when my top button does not work at all??
thanks so much for this :)
was about to order parts for phone thanks guys easy quick fix
My home button does not work so then what do I do... Get a new phone??
how do i put my phone in DFU mode if i tried to download ios7 and it tells me the device isnt registered?
Does your phone have to start out with the power off or does that not matter in this instance?
the website: http://www.imore.com/how-update-ios-7-beta-or-gm-official-release-version brought me here :-). Thanks man! downloaded a couple of ispw files and all saided version wasnt compatible... with the DFU mode it is updating to the new version! :-)!!!
Hi guys! I'm newbie here. I currently downloading the update for my ipad. I just wanna ask if, is it ok if suddenly my ipad is disconnected to itunes? But it is still downloading the update.. Hope for your reply...
Joemari Dela Cruz...have you gotten a response about this yet? I too had the same issue and when I go to restore everything to my phone, I also get a message saying the phone has disconnected from iTunes and it will not fully restore everything. None of my music, photos, apps, anything. I did not back up to the iCloud feature, straight to the computer.
I am using a different computer than the one my phone was initially set up on a few years ago (it's an iPhone 4) so I wonder if this has anything to do with it.
I hope someone has some suggestions. I'd really like to at least be able to get some of my photos of my kid back on there.
Joemari Dela Cruz...have you gotten a response about this yet? I too had the same issue and when I go to restore everything to my phone, I also get a message saying the phone has disconnected from iTunes and it will not fully restore everything. None of my music, photos, apps, anything. I did not back up to the iCloud feature, straight to the computer.
I am using a different computer than the one my phone was initially set up on a few years ago (it's an iPhone 4) so I wonder if this has anything to do with it.
I hope someone has some suggestions. I'd really like to at least be able to get some of my photos of my kid back on there.
my lock button is broken. So how do I put it in DFU mode like that?
My IPhone is now in dfu mode but when it starts restoring, it still won't let me. It says the same error thing. Now my IPhone is stuck in dfu mode and won't let me restore
i put my cell on charging last night. it was at 0% but it displayed the charging icon though so i let it charge for 2 hours. after i came back to see it, the cell was dead. the screen was all black. on pressing the power button it displayed none. i tried everything to fix it. the hard reset too, but it didnt respond. itune is also not recognizing it so i can not restore it from there. i also toggle the ringer button up and down along with that hard reset. i also cant put in DFU as my iphone is totally unresponsive. please tell what is this? what should i do?
iphone5: ios7.1.2 (jailbrokewn)
Thanks for the info!
Thanks for this guide very help me much
Thanks for the article. Netflix, Hulu and BBC App is great on iPhone. If live outside USA, you can use tools like UnoTelly to getNetflix, Hulu and BBC on your iPad.
What do you do if your iPad won't even turn off?!?
iOS 9.3 - tried restore mode, then DFU mode but iTunes tries to restore 9.1 to an iPad 2 which fails. Now trying direct update of IPSW files via OSXDAILY advice
This works on latest ios 9
Entering DFU Mode on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
1. Plug your device into your computer with a USB cable.
2. Turn off the device.
3. Hold the Power button for 3 seconds.
4. Hold the Home and Power buttons for 10 seconds.
5. Release the Power button but keep holding the Home button.
6. After about 15 seconds you will be alerted by iTunes saying that it has detected a device in Recovery Mode.
:)
For my iPhone 6+, for step 3 it's more like a second and a half. When I hold it longer I get into a regular boot mode.
I tried this and it recognized my device, started recovery mode, but then got an error message saying it is not eligable to build. I checked the error message and it said to download the latest itunes which i did. I also tried another computer but it won't work!! Please help
i am a little confused about the difference between recovery mode and DFU mode...
I followed directions completely got it into dfu mode but Itunes does not start or recognize my device. Please help. I have 3 Iphones i'm trying to un-jailbreak!