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How to Put iPhone in DFU Mode (Step-by-Step)

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Herby has a healthy obsession with all things technology, especially smartphones. He loves to rip things apart to see how they work. He is responsible for the editorial direction, strategy, and growth of Gotechtor.

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This is a step-by-step guide on how to put an iPhone in DFU mode.

People who have problems with their iPhones tend to do two things:

  • First, they’ll do a hard reset that can fix problems like the iPhone’s frozen screen.
  • Second, if they’re tech-savvy, they’ll perform a DFU restore on their iPhones to update or change the firmware and iOS.

But you’re probably wondering:

“How do I put my iPhone into DFU mode?”

Whether you want to jailbreak, restore from firmware, or troubleshoot an iOS device from DFU, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the steps.

What is DFU Mode?

DFU mode, which stands for Device Firmware Update, is the last step to troubleshooting any problems your iPhone may have—from your iPhone charging issues to when your iPhone won’t turn on or reset your iPhone without a password, etc.

iPhone detected in recovery mode
Screenshot: Herby Jasmin/Gotechtor

DFU mode is available on any iOS device, which includes the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Look, you can’t change the firmware or operating system on the device while it’s running. That’s where DFU mode comes in handy because the OS is not booted on the device even though it’s powered on.

You should note that this process may vary depending on what version of iPhone you’re using. iPhones have evolved over the years. Some have a Home button, others don’t.

Whether the iPhone has a Home button will determine what route you should take to enter your iPhone into DFU mode the right way.

Caution: A DFU mode will erase all the data on your device. That’s why it’s critical to back up your iPhone to iCloud or Finder/iTunes before you start with this procedure. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

How to Put iPhone in DFU Mode

iPhone SE connected to Mac via lightning cable

You’ll need a few things before you can put your iPhone into DFU mode:

  • Mac or Windows PC with iTunes installed on it
  • Lightning to USB cable
  • Your iPhone

Now connect your iPhone to your computer using your lightning to USB cable and open Finder or iTunes if you’re using a Windows PC.

Make sure you’re using the latest version of iTunes on your PC. It’s not necessary to turn off your iPhone.

How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone SE, 6s, and Earlier

Apple iPhone 6s
  1. Connect the iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
  2. Press and hold the Power button for at least 3 seconds.
  3. Then, swipe the slider to turn off your iPhone completely.
  4. Press and hold the Power button for about 3 seconds.
  5. While holding the Power button, press and hold the Home button and keep holding the buttons for about 10 seconds.
  6. Release the Power button, but continue holding the Home button for another 5 seconds.
  7. If, after 5 seconds, the screen is still black, the device is successfully in DFU mode.

How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

Apple iPhone 7
  1. Connect the iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
  2. Turn off your iPhone. (To do that, press and hold the side button for at least 3 seconds and drag the “power off” slider to the right).
  3. Next, press and hold the Power button for at least 3 seconds.
  4. While holding the Power button, press and hold the Volume Down button. Hold both buttons for at least 10 seconds. 
  5. If the screen remains black, you have entered DFU mode successfully.

How to Enter DFU Mode on iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, and Newer Devices

Apple iPhone 11 Pro
  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and open Finder for Mac or iTunes for Windows computer.
  2. Press the Volume Up and then Volume Down quickly and respectively. 
  3. Next, press and hold the Side/Power button and drag the slide to power off the device. 
  4. After that, press and hold the Side/Power button for 3 seconds. 
  5. While holding the Power button, press and hold the Volume Down button. Hold both buttons for at least 10 seconds. 
  6. Release the Power button and hold the Volume Down button for 5 seconds.
  7. When the screen goes black, you have entered DFU mode successfully. 

How to Exit DFU Mode

To exit DFU mode, you only need to force restart your iPhone. For step-by-step instructions, here’s how to force restart an iPhone (all models included).

Wrap-Up: DFU Mode

Note that, in every step of this process, if the Apple logo appears or you see a picture of a laptop with a charging cable, you have held buttons too long, and your iPhone has entered Recovery Mode instead of DFU mode. You’ll need to start the process all over again.

At the end of this process, your iPhone screen should be completely black. A black screen is how you’ll know your iPhone is in DFU mode.

If you have any questions or concerns, use the comment section below.

Founder & Editor-in-Chief

Herby has a healthy obsession with all things technology, especially smartphones. He loves to rip things apart to see how they work. He is responsible for the editorial direction, strategy, and growth of Gotechtor.

Herby Jasmin

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