There might come a time when you need to restore your iPhone 16 or access recovery mode. At some point, you’ll likely need to force restart your device when it becomes unresponsive. Additionally, we introduce a lesser-known function called wireless restore, allowing you to restore a nearby iPhone 16 Pro or iPad mini 7 wirelessly through another iPhone running iOS 18.
This hands-on video details the steps necessary to maintain your iPhone 16. Don’t forget to subscribe to DMN on YouTube for more iPhone how-tos.
Preparation Before You Begin
This guide is applicable to every model in the iPhone 16 series: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Before starting, it’s beneficial to familiarize yourself with the physical buttons on your iPhone, especially since two new buttons have been introduced over the years.
The two Volume buttons are situated on the left side of the iPhone 16, while the Side button is located on the right side. This tutorial won’t cover the Action button and Camera Control button.
How to Force Restart iPhone 16, Recovery and DFU Modes Video
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Turning Off Your iPhone 16
The iPhone 16 models offer multiple ways to power down.
Method 1: Access Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner, long-press the power button in the upper-right corner, and then slide to power off.
Method 2: Long-press the Side button in conjunction with either Volume button, then slide to power off.
Method 3: Navigate to Settings → General, tap Shut Down at the bottom, and slide to power off.
Turning On Your iPhone 16
Press and hold the Side button on your iPhone 16 until you see the Apple logo. If the logo fails to appear, it may indicate that your iPhone’s battery is fully depleted. Charge your device and attempt again.
A black screen may also suggest that your iPhone has entered DFU mode, although this is less likely. To exit DFU mode, follow the instructions found in the corresponding DFU section below.
Force Restarting Your iPhone 16
If your iPhone 16 is unresponsive, press the following buttons in rapid succession to force a restart.
Step 1: Quickly press and release the Volume up button.
Step 2: Quickly press and release the Volume down button.
Step 3: Long-press the Side button until your iPhone 16 switches off.
If successful, your iPhone 16 will reboot, displaying the Apple logo. After a short period, it will return to the iOS Lock Screen.
Entering Recovery Mode on iPhone 16
Putting your iPhone 16 into recovery mode involves a similar method as the force restart, with slight variations. Connect a USB-C cable from your iPhone 16 to your Mac. You can utilize the included USB-C cable, a Thunderbolt cable, etc.
If you are connecting your iPhone 16 to your Mac for the first time, you’ll need to tap the Trust button that appears on your iPhone and enter your passcode to create a pairing between the two devices. You’ll also need to permit the USB connection to your Mac by selecting the “Allow” prompt that appears on macOS. Then, open Finder and select your iPhone 16 found under the Locations heading in the Finder Sidebar. Click the Trust button that appears to fully establish the connection.
