What Is DFU Mode, and How Is It Different From Recovery Mode?
Do you have an iPhone or other Apple device with severe issues? If the device reboots continuously or can’t get past the Apple logo, you might need to restore its firmware. Device Firmware Update Mode is known as DFU Mode for short, and it can help revive devices that seem like they’re past hope.
While DFU Mode can be a powerful tool, it also has the potential to delete important data, and it’s not a catch-all solution for iPhone repairs. By better understanding DFU Mode (and how it differs from Recovery Mode), you can determine whether to use it on your iPhone.
DFU Mode is unsupported and undocumented for end users. It allows an iOS device to connect to iTunes, the Apple Devices app on Windows, or Finder on macOS Catalina or later, without loading the bootloader or iOS. Unlike Recovery Mode, which can be updated via a software update, DFU Mode is burned directly into the hardware and cannot be altered.
When entering DFU Mode on newer iPhones (iPhone 8 and later, including all Face ID iPhones and the 2nd/3rd-generation iPhone SE), after the screen goes completely black, you must hold the Side button while pressing the Volume Down button for five seconds. The Side button applies to every iPhone 6 and later. For iPhone 7 Series or earlier models, iTunes must be used instead of Finder to interact with DFU Mode.
Before performing a DFU restore, it’s important to back up your device first. Backups can be made to macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later using Finder, the Apple Devices app on Windows 10 or 11, or iTunes on macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or earlier.
The Important Basics of Apple’s Device Firmware Update Mode
Before we begin, we’ll note that you can use DFU Mode with a variety of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch, Mac laptops, Apple Watches, and even Apple TVs. That said, in this guide, we’ll focus on using DFU Mode on iPhones, as these are the most frequently used devices in DFU Mode.
DFU Mode allows your iPhone to communicate directly with Finder on macOS Catalina or later, the Apple Devices app on Windows 10/11, or iTunes on macOS 10.14 or earlier. This is important because this direct communication doesn’t require loading iOS or the iPhone’s iBoot bootloader - nothing but DFU Mode is running. If there are issues with your operating system or the boot process, DFU Mode can bypass them and restore the iPhone.
It’s also worth noting that unlike Recovery Mode, which can be updated via a software update, DFU is burned directly into the hardware and cannot be altered. This makes it a uniquely reliable last resort, regardless of what state your software is in.
In other words, DFU Mode enables you to reinstall iOS from scratch, fix iPhones stuck in boot mode, restore bricked iPhones, and resolve other software issues. It’s a deeper restore tool than Recovery Mode, as it can fix problems Recovery Mode can’t, but it’s important to know what you’re doing before using it.
What’s the Difference Between DFU Mode and Recovery Mode?
The key difference between these two modes is that Recovery Mode starts the iPhone’s boot process, otherwise known as iBoot. With DFU Mode, you bypass this step to directly reinstall the device’s firmware. In short, if there are problems with the boot process itself, DFU Mode skips over them and allows you to address the root cause. That said, DFU Mode can be less intuitive than Recovery Mode, so you should try Recovery Mode first to see if it works.
It’s also worth noting that DFU Mode is officially unsupported and undocumented by Apple for end users - it exists as a low-level tool primarily used by developers and advanced users. Before performing a DFU restore, make sure you have a backup saved through Finder (macOS 10.15 or later), the Apple Devices app (Windows 10/11), or iTunes (macOS 10.14 or earlier). If DFU Mode doesn’t resolve your issue, you may want to explore additional steps for fixing a disabled iPhone.
When You Should Use DFU Mode
DFU Mode (sometimes referred to as Device Firmware Upgrade Mode) is an iPhone feature that the vast majority of users will never need to try. You can use Recovery Mode, a forced reboot, or even just a simple restart to resolve the vast majority of iPhone problems. However, there are times when DFU Mode is the only option to fix some serious issues.
It’s worth noting that DFU Mode is officially unsupported and undocumented by Apple for end users. Unlike Recovery Mode, which can be updated via a software update, DFU is burned directly into the hardware and cannot be altered - making it a powerful last resort when all else fails.
When in DFU Mode, your device connects to iTunes, the Apple Devices app (on Windows 10/11), or Finder (on macOS Catalina or later) without loading the bootloader or iOS. Note that for iPhone 7 or earlier models, iTunes must be used instead of Finder or the Apple Devices app.
As always, when using DFU Mode, remember that it will erase everything from your device, including your photos, videos, app data, settings, and more. Never use DFU Mode without first backing up your data. Backups can be made through Finder on macOS 10.15 or later, the Apple Devices app on Windows 10/11, or iTunes on macOS 10.14 or earlier.
Restoring a Bricked iPhone
Is your phone stuck on the Apple logo? Does it continuously reboot itself without ever actually finishing the boot process? Is it entirely unresponsive to your commands? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, DFU Mode provides you with a way to restore the firmware and get your iPhone back in working order.
Downgrading iOS
Sometimes, the latest iOS version doesn’t work properly with a device, especially if it’s an older iPhone without sufficient processing power. Updating to the newest iOS can cause compatibility issues, bugs, glitches, and more. If you want to downgrade to a previous version of iOS, Device Firmware Update Mode is your best bet. Keep in mind that you can only downgrade iOS if Apple still recognizes the old version, and they typically stop doing this shortly after a new release. To learn more about what happens when iOS updates stop for your iPhone, check out our dedicated guide.
Troubleshooting Software Issues
Sometimes, Recovery Mode can’t fix certain bugs, and they’ll continue to pop up even after you complete the restore process. In these situations, DFU Mode might be able to perform a cleaner restoration, since it bypasses the bootloader entirely and works at a deeper level than a standard recovery restore.
Installing Custom Firmware Packages
If you’re highly tech-savvy and want to use custom firmware packages to install a specific operating system version, you can use DFU Mode to do that. This is only for very advanced users. If you don’t know what we’re talking about, it’s safe to say that this does not apply to you!
Entering DFU Mode
To enter DFU Mode, you’ll need your iPhone and a computer with Finder (macOS Catalina or later), the Apple Devices app (Windows 10/11), or iTunes (macOS 10.14 or earlier). For iPhone 7 Series or earlier models, you must use iTunes instead of Finder or the Apple Devices app. Here’s how it works:
- Connect your iPhone to a computer. You can use either a Mac or Windows computer.
- Press and release the “Volume Up” button, then press and release the “Volume Down” button.
- Press and hold the Side button.
- When the screen goes black, continue holding the Side button while pressing and holding the Volume Down button for five seconds.
- (If the Recovery Mode screen appears instead of a plain black screen, start over from Step 1.)
- Let go of the Side button and keep holding the Volume Down button for an additional 10 seconds.
At this point, your computer should acknowledge that your iPhone is in DFU Mode. You can now restore or update your device.
Note: The Side button applies to iPhone 6 and later, including all Face ID iPhones and the 2nd and 3rd generation iPhone SE models.
Entering DFU Mode on an Apple Watch
If you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, you may need to use DFU Mode on it as well. To do so, hold the Digital Crown and the Side button simultaneously. Once the screen goes black, wait three seconds, then release the Side button. Continue holding the Digital Crown for five more seconds, and your Apple Watch will enter DFU Mode.
Exiting DFU Mode
Sometimes, it’s possible to accidentally enter DFU Mode. Or maybe the process gets a bit overwhelming, and you decide to take your iPhone to a professional instead of trying to fix the firmware yourself.
Thankfully, you can get out of DFU Mode without performing a full restoration. The steps to exit vary depending on your iPhone model:
iPhone 8 and later (including all Face ID iPhones and the 2nd/3rd-gen iPhone SE): Press and release “Volume Up,” then press and release “Volume Down.” Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo reappears.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold both the Side button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold both the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously until the Apple logo appears.
Once you see the Apple logo, you are safely out of DFU Mode.
It’s worth noting that DFU Mode is burned directly into the hardware, meaning - unlike Recovery Mode - it cannot be altered or patched through a software update. This also means the exit steps above will remain consistent regardless of which version of iOS your device is running.
Final Thoughts About Using DFU Mode on Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
DFU Mode is a feature that we hope you’ll never need. That said, it’s important to know how it works and what it can do - it can be a real lifesaver if troublesome issues persist on your Apple device. Unlike Recovery Mode, which restores your device via a software update, DFU Mode is burned directly into the hardware and cannot be altered, giving it a deeper level of access to your device. If Recovery Mode doesn’t fix a software glitch, looping boot process, or other issue, DFU Mode provides that extra layer of troubleshooting power. Just make sure you back up your data before using it!
Keep in mind that DFU Mode is unsupported and undocumented for end users - it works by allowing an iOS device to connect to iTunes, the Apple Devices app on Windows 10/11, or Finder on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later, without loading the bootloader or iOS. If you’re on macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or earlier, you’ll need iTunes. For iPhone 7 models or earlier, iTunes is also required regardless of your operating system.
If DFU Mode can’t fix your device, it might be time to sell your broken iPhone at an ecoATM kiosk. We buy many different kinds of Apple devices, and we’ll even offer cash for some broken iPhones and iPads!
Even if we can’t resell your device to a new owner, we’ll recycle it for free. We’re committed to protecting our environment, and we happily recycle used electronics even when we can’t make any money off of them. Join our responsible recycling revolution by visiting your nearest ecoATM kiosk today!
