How to Put an iPad Into Recovery Mode and Restore It

This guide is for anyone whose iPad is frozen on the Apple logo, stuck on a black screen, or showing a cable-and-computer icon and won’t respond to a normal restart. By the end, you’ll know how to put your iPad into iPad recovery mode and restore it using a Mac or Windows PC, so you can get the device working again even when nothing else helps.

Before you start

• A Mac or Windows PC with an internet connection.
• A USB cable that can charge your iPad (ideally the one that came with it).
• On Mac, make sure macOS is up to date. If your Mac runs macOS Mojave or earlier, you’ll use iTunes instead of Finder.
• On a PC, install the latest version of the Apple Devices app, or iTunes if that’s not available.
• Set aside up to 60 minutes.
• Important: restoring an iPad erases all of its data. If you can still access your iPad normally, back it up first, or consider performing a factory reset only once you’re sure a backup exists. If you’re low on iCloud space, you may need to free up iCloud storage before backing up.

When you actually need recovery mode

Recovery mode is the right tool when your computer doesn’t recognize the iPad, your iPad shows the Apple logo for several minutes with no progress bar, you already see a recovery mode screen, or you simply can’t update or restore the iPad the normal way.

How to put your iPad into recovery mode

1. Make sure your Mac is up to date, or that your PC has the latest Apple Devices app or iTunes installed.
2. Turn off your iPad. Without a Home button: press and hold the top button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears. With a Home button: press and hold the top button until the slider appears. Drag the slider, then wait a minute so the iPad turns off completely.
3. Connect your iPad to the computer using a USB cable.
4. Open Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a PC. If your PC doesn’t have that app, or your Mac runs macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes instead.
5. Follow the button sequence for your iPad model (see below).
6. Keep the iPad connected and wait for the recovery mode screen to appear.
7. Locate your iPad in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes on the computer.

iPads without a Home button (newer models)

1. Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. Keep holding it while the Apple logo appears. Don’t let go until you see an image of a computer and a cable, then release.

iPads with a Home button (older models)

1. Press and hold the Home button and the top (or side) button at the same time.
2. Keep holding both buttons while the Apple logo appears. Don’t release them until you see an image of a computer and a cable.

How to restore your iPad

1. Locate your iPad in Finder or the Apple Devices app on the connected computer.
2. When you see the option to Restore or Update, choose Restore. This reinstalls iPadOS and erases everything on the device.
3. Let the computer download the software and begin the restore process.
4. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your iPad exits the recovery mode screen, let the download finish, then turn off the iPad and start the recovery mode steps again.
5. Once the restore finishes, go through setup on your iPad as if it were new.

If you’re troubleshooting a problem and haven’t already tried a normal software update, try that first. Updating keeps your data intact, while a full restore wipes it.

If it still doesn’t work

• Connection problems: Plug the iPad directly into a USB port on your computer, not into a keyboard or hub. Try a different Apple USB cable and a different USB port if you see an error.
• Network errors (17, 1639, 3000-3020, 3194, 3100-3999): Check your internet connection, confirm your firewall allows access to Apple’s update servers, and try restoring on a different network or computer to rule out a local block.
• USB or hardware errors (9, 4005, 4013, 4014): Try another USB cable or another computer. For 4005, 4013, or 4014, try updating the device again rather than restoring.
• Security software conflicts: Update, change, or temporarily uninstall security software that might be blocking the Apple Devices app or iTunes.
• Passcode screen appears mid-process: Turn off the iPad and start the recovery mode steps from the beginning.
• Broken buttons or repeated failures: If you can’t trigger recovery mode because a button is broken, or the restore keeps failing, Apple recommends contacting service.

FAQ

Will recovery mode erase my iPad?

Entering recovery mode itself doesn’t erase anything. Data loss only happens if you then choose Restore. If an Update option is available instead, that keeps your data.

What’s the difference between recovery mode and DFU mode?

Recovery mode is the standard Apple-supported method for restoring a device that won’t respond normally. It’s meant to be the first thing you try before any deeper, device-specific recovery method.

Why does my iPad keep exiting recovery mode during the download?

If the software download takes longer than about 15 minutes, the iPad may drop out of the recovery screen on its own. Let the download finish, power down the iPad, then redo the recovery mode button sequence and try again.

Can I use recovery mode without a computer?

No. Official Apple steps require a Mac or Windows PC with Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes, plus a cable that can charge the iPad.

The bottom line

Recovery mode is Apple’s built-in safety net for an iPad that won’t start up properly. The button sequence differs depending on whether your iPad has a Home button, but the overall process is the same: connect, trigger recovery mode, then choose Restore or Update from your computer. Just remember that a full restore wipes your data, so back up beforehand whenever your iPad is still responsive enough to allow it.

Source: Apple Support