Restoring an iPhone can be a daunting task if you don’t have the right software. The good news is that there are a few key pieces of software that make restoring your iPhone seamless. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about iPhone restore software.
Why Would I Need to Restore My iPhone?
There are a few common reasons you may need to restore your iPhone:
- You’re experiencing bugs, glitches, or other software issues
- You want to wipe your iPhone and start fresh
- You need to remove the passcode from a locked iPhone
- Your iPhone won’t turn on or is stuck on the Apple logo
- You forgot your passcode and want to reset it
- You want to sell or give away your iPhone and need to wipe your personal data
Restoring your iPhone essentially reverts it back to factory settings, giving you a clean slate. It’s the best way to fix many iPhone issues.
Using iTunes to Restore your iPhone
One of the simplest ways to restore your iPhone is to use Apple’s own software, iTunes. iTunes is available for free on Mac and PC.
To restore with iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using the lightning cable.
- Open iTunes on your computer and select your iPhone.
- In iTunes, click “Restore iPhone” to start the restore process.
- iTunes will download the latest iOS software and install it on your iPhone.
- Once complete, your iPhone will be restored to factory settings.
Pros of using iTunes:
- Simple and straightforward process
- Restores your device and installs latest iOS version
- Free software from Apple
Cons of using iTunes:
- Requires a computer with iTunes
- Can be time consuming waiting for latest iOS to download
- Doesn’t work if you can’t turn iPhone on or connect it to computer
Using Finder to Restore your iPhone (macOS Catalina or later)
If you’re using a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, you can also use Finder to restore your iPhone. The process is very similar to iTunes:
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using the lightning cable.
- Open Finder and select your iPhone under Locations in the sidebar.
- Select “Restore iPhone” and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Finder will install the latest iOS and restore to factory settings.
The pros and cons of using Finder are very similar to iTunes. It’s simple and effective, but requires a computer with the latest macOS.
Using iCloud to Restore your iPhone
You can also restore your iPhone remotely using your iCloud account. This is handy if you can’t physically connect your iPhone to a computer.
To restore with iCloud:
- Make sure your iPhone is connected to the internet via WiFi.
- On your iPhone, open the Settings app and tap on your account name at the top.
- Tap iCloud > Backup > Back Up Now to back up your device.
- Once backed up, go to Settings > General > Reset and tap “Erase All Content and Settings.”
- Your iPhone will reboot and restore from your latest iCloud backup.
Pros of using iCloud:
- No computer required
- Restores from your latest iCloud backup
- Quick and easy process
Cons of using iCloud:
- Requires a recent iCloud backup
- Data can be lost if latest backup is outdated
- iPhone must be able to turn on and connect to internet
Using Third-Party Software to Restore your iPhone
There are also third-party programs you can use to restore your iPhone. Two of the most popular are:
1. Dr.Fone – iOS System Recovery
Dr.Fone from Wondershare is one of the most robust iPhone restore programs available. Key features include:
- Advanced system repair to fix over 150 iOS system issues
- Restore iPhone without data loss
- Fix iPhone stuck in recovery mode
- Get iPhone out of crash loops or black screens
- Available for both Mac and PC
Dr.Fone provides an “Exit Recovery Mode” feature that can force restore frozen iPhones even if they won’t connect to iTunes or iCloud. This makes it more effective than Apple’s tools in some situations.
2. iMyFone Fixppo
Fixppo from iMyFone is designed specifically to get iPhones out of recovery mode so you can restore them. Key features include:
- Fix iPhone stuck in recovery mode
- Fix frozen iPhone screen
- Force restore iPhone without data loss
- Compatible with all iPhone models
- Also available for Mac and PC
Like Dr.Fone, iMyFone Fixppo can force restore unresponsive iPhones that won’t connect to iTunes or iCloud. This makes it a helpful last resort option.
Third-party tools like these give you more options to restore your iPhone in tricky situations where Apple’s own software fails. The downside is they cost money, unlike the free iTunes and iCloud tools.
Choosing the Best iPhone Restore Software
So which iPhone restore software should you use? Here are some guidelines:
- Try iTunes or Finder first if you can connect your iPhone – it’s simple and free.
- Use iCloud if you can’t connect to computer – works seamlessly.
- Get Dr.Fone or iMyFone Fixppo if iPhone is totally unresponsive – force restore.
- Always back up iPhone before restoring to avoid data loss.
- Research third-party tools – many offer free trials to test them out.
The right restore software depends on your specific situation. For minor software issues, iTunes or iCloud usually does the trick. But for completely frozen or unresponsive iPhones, a dedicated third-party tool is often the best solution.
Step-by-Step Guide to Restore your iPhone with iTunes
Here is a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough on how to restore your iPhone using iTunes – one of the most common restore methods:
1. Install the latest version of iTunes
- On your computer, open the Apple App Store (Mac) or iTunes Store (Windows).
- Search for iTunes and click to open the iTunes product page.
- Click the Download or Get button to download the latest version of iTunes.
- Once downloaded, run the iTunes installer and follow prompts to install.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer
- Using the lightning cable that came with your iPhone, connect your iPhone to your computer’s USB port.
- Be sure to connect directly to a USB port on the computer rather than a keyboard or hub.
3. Open iTunes and select your iPhone
- Launch iTunes on your computer.
- An icon for your connected iPhone should appear in the top left corner of iTunes. Click on it.
4. Backup your iPhone data (optional)
- While not required, it’s highly recommended to back up your iPhone before restoring.
- In iTunes, click on your connected iPhone, then on Back Up Now button.
- This will back up your data to iCloud and/or your computer.
5. Click Restore iPhone
- In iTunes, click on your iPhone icon.
- Hold down the Option key (Mac) or Shift key (Windows).
- Click the Restore iPhone button that appears.
6. Confirm restore
- A confirmation popup will appear – click Restore to confirm.
- iTunes will download the latest iOS software file needed to restore.
7. Wait for restore to complete
- Your iPhone screen will go black as the restore process begins.
- Let the restore complete – this can take up to 10 minutes.
- Do not disconnect your iPhone during the restore!
8. Set up your iPhone
- Once the restore completes, your iPhone will reboot.
- Follow the onscreen setup prompts to set up your freshly restored iPhone!
And that’s it – your iPhone is now restored to factory settings using iTunes! Be sure to restore your apps and data from backup after setting up the restored iPhone.
Common iTunes Restore Problems and Fixes
Despite being fairly straightforward, there are a few common issues that can occur when trying to restore an iPhone with iTunes. Here are some potential problems and their solutions.
iTunes doesn’t recognize your iPhone
- Be sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB cable.
- If possible, try connecting to another USB port.
- On Windows, check iTunes is set as an allowed app in firewall/antivirus.
- On Mac, try a different lightning cable.
Error 9 – “The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (9).”
- Disconnect all other USB devices except keyboard and mouse.
- Try connecting iPhone to another computer.
- Force restart your iPhone and retry restore.
- Update to the latest version of iTunes.
Error 4005 – “iTunes could not restore the iPhone … because the firmware file was corrupt.”
- Check internet connection and retry.
- Restart your computer and iPhone and retry.
- Download iOS firmware file manually and restore using that.
Error 4013 – “There was a problem downloading the software for the iPhone.”
- Check internet connection and retry restore.
- Use a different USB port on your computer.
- Verify date and time are set correctly on your computer.
iPhone stuck on Connect to iTunes screen
- Force restart your iPhone – hold Power + Home until Apple logo appears.
- Put iPhone in DFU mode – hold Power + Home + Volume Down for 10 sec.
- Try a different lighting cable.
- Update to latest iTunes version.
Getting errors in iTunes while restoring? Don’t panic. The fixes above should help you successfully restore your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is restoring my iPhone the same as resetting it?
Yes, restoring your iPhone is essentially resetting it back to its original factory settings. Everything will be wiped clean.
2. Will I lose all my data if I restore my iPhone?
You will lose everything on your iPhone unless you back it up prior to restoring. Be sure to back up your data and settings using iTunes or iCloud.
3. Is restoring my iPhone safe?
Restoring an iPhone is a safe process and can fix many issues. However, any unsaved data will be deleted. So backup first.
4. How long does an iPhone restore take?
Restore times vary, but expect full restores to take 5-15 minutes. Quicker for small iOS updates. Use a fast internet connection and USB 3.0 port to speed it up.
5. Why is my iPhone stuck on the Apple logo after restoring?
If your iPhone shows the Apple logo for a long time after restoring, try force restarting it (Home + Power buttons). If that doesn’t work, you may need to attempt the restore process again.
6. Can I restore my iPhone without a computer?
Yes, you can restore an iPhone remotely using iCloud on the iPhone itself. Just make sure you have a recent iCloud backup.
7. Will restoring delete everything on my iPhone permanently?
The data is permanently deleted from your iPhone. But you can retrieve the data from your iTunes or iCloud backup after the restore to get it back.
8. How can I tell if my iPhone is restored successfully?
After a successful restore, your iPhone will boot up like new. Follow the setup prompts and sign in with your Apple ID to confirm it completed properly.
9. Is it better to use iTunes or iCloud to restore?
iTunes and iCloud are generally equally good. iTunes gives you more control but requires a computer. iCloud is more convenient if you just want a quick restore.
10. What should I do if I forgot my iPhone passcode and it’s disabled?
You’ll need to erase your iPhone using iTunes or iCloud to remove the passcode lock. Be sure to back it up first! Then restore the data after erasing.
Conclusion
Restoring your iPhone can breathe new life into it when things go wrong. The key is using the right software. iTunes offers a quick wired restore. iCloud lets you restore wirelessly. And advanced tools like Dr.Fone give you more options to fix severely stuck iPhones.
The most important thing is to always back up your iPhone before restoring! This lets you restore your data and prevent permanent data loss. With the proper precautions, restoring your iPhone is a safe and effective fix for all kinds of issues.