iPhone Stuck on Apple Logo How to Fix It

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iPhone Stuck on Apple Logo How to Fix It

Your iPhone shows the Apple logo and never gets to the Lock Screen, or it restarts over and over (a "boot loop"). This usually happens after an update, a restore, or when the storage is almost full - and in most cases you can fix it at home, often without losing anything.

Work through the steps in order. The early steps don't touch your data; the step that can erase it is clearly marked.

Step 1: Is It Really Stuck?

If you see the Apple logo with a progress bar, the iPhone is still installing an update or restoring. That can take a long time. Leave it on a charger and wait - Apple notes updates can take a while. Only move on if the bar hasn't moved for about an hour, or if there is no progress bar at all.

Step 2: Force Restart the iPhone

A force restart doesn't erase anything. Use the buttons for your model (from Apple Support):

iPhone 8 and later, iPhone SE (2nd generation and later), and all Face ID models:

Press and quickly release the volume up button.
Press and quickly release the volume down button.
Press and hold the side button. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears again - it can take more than 10 seconds.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: press and hold the side button and the volume down button together until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 6s and earlier, iPhone SE (1st generation): press and hold the Home button and the side (or top) button together until you see the Apple logo.

Tip: do the first two presses quickly. If you pause too long, the iPhone just changes volume.

Step 3: Charge It for an Hour

A nearly empty battery can make an iPhone start and stop. Apple advises charging for an hour and trying again.

Use an Apple cable and a wall adapter, not a laptop USB port.
If you see a low-battery icon, let it charge longer before you retry the force restart.
If nothing changes, try a different cable and adapter.

Step 4: Back Up If You Can

If the iPhone starts at any point, back it up straight away: Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now, or connect it to a computer. If you already have an iCloud backup, you are safer for the next steps.

Step 5: Use Recovery Mode and Choose Update

Recovery mode lets a computer reinstall iOS. You need:

A Mac (Finder on macOS Catalina or later, or iTunes on older macOS), or
A Windows PC with the Apple Devices app (or iTunes on older Windows versions), from the Microsoft Store.

Steps:

Connect the iPhone to the computer with a cable and open Finder, Apple Devices or iTunes.
With the cable connected, use the same button sequence as the force restart for your model (Step 2), but keep holding the last button past the Apple logo. Let go only when you see the recovery mode screen - a computer and a cable. (Apple's support page "If you can't update or restore your iPhone" lists the current button steps for each model if this doesn't work.)
On the computer, a message says there is a problem with the iPhone and offers Update or Restore.
Choose Update. The computer reinstalls iOS and tries to keep your data.
The download can take a while. If it takes more than 15 minutes, the iPhone may leave recovery mode on its own - repeat step 2 to go back in.

If the computer doesn't see the iPhone at all, see our guide to an iPhone not showing up on a Windows PC for cable, trust and driver checks.

Step 6: Restore (Erases the iPhone) - Last Resort

Back up first if you possibly can - Restore deletes everything on the iPhone. After a Restore you can set it up again from an iCloud or computer backup. Anything not in a backup (photos, messages, notes that weren't synced) is lost.

Go into recovery mode again (Step 5).
Choose Restore and follow the prompts.
When it finishes, set up the iPhone and choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac or PC.

Why It Happens

An update or restore was interrupted - for example the battery died or the cable came out.
Storage almost full - iOS needs free space to start and update. Once it's working, free up space (see Settings > General > iPhone Storage).
A hardware problem - after liquid contact, a drop, or a non-genuine battery or screen repair.

If the iPhone gets stuck again soon after an Update, it may be low on storage or have a failing battery. Our guide to iPhone battery draining fast shows how to check battery health once the phone is working.

Still Stuck?

If Update and Restore both fail, or the iPhone won't enter recovery mode, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or authorised service provider - the phone probably needs a repair. Don't pay for "unlock" or "repair" software from unknown websites; the steps above use only Apple's own tools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I force restart an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo?

On iPhone 8 and later (including all Face ID models): press and quickly release volume up, press and quickly release volume down, then press and hold the side button. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears again, which can take more than 10 seconds.

Will recovery mode delete my data?

Choosing Update in recovery mode reinstalls iOS and tries to keep your data. Choosing Restore erases the iPhone. Always try Update first.

How long should I wait on the Apple logo?

After an iOS update or restore, the logo with a progress bar can stay for a long time. If there is no progress bar and nothing changes for about an hour, treat it as stuck.

What if recovery mode doesn't work?

If the computer can't finish the update or restore, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store or authorised service provider. The iPhone may have a hardware fault.