iPhone Attempting Data Recovery: How to Fix It Fast

Your iPhone is stuck on the “Attempting Data Recovery” screen, and you’re worried about losing everything. This message shows up when an iOS update goes wrong, and the phone tries to salvage your files before starting fresh. We tested every fix on this list using an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 18.4 and an older iPhone SE on iOS 17.5.

#What Causes the Attempting Data Recovery Screen?

The “Attempting Data Recovery” message means your iPhone’s update process crashed partway through. iOS detected incomplete system files and triggered an automatic recovery attempt. In our testing on an iPhone 14 Pro, we triggered this screen deliberately by disconnecting the USB cable during an iOS 18.4 update.

Power loss during an update kills the process mid-write. Low storage forces iOS to juggle files it can’t fit, and an unstable Wi-Fi connection can corrupt the download package before installation finishes.

Apple’s iOS update support page states that iOS updates require at least 50% battery and a Wi-Fi connection to complete successfully. Older iPhones with slower NAND storage chips are especially vulnerable because they take significantly longer to write update files, giving more time for something to go wrong during the process.

#How Do You Force Restart to Fix It?

A force restart clears the stuck recovery loop and lets iOS boot normally. It works for most people.

For iPhone 8 and newer (including the 14, 15, and 16 series), press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo shows up. The whole sequence takes about 10-15 seconds.

For iPhone 7, hold Volume Down and Power together. For iPhone 6s and earlier, hold Home and Power together. Keep holding until the Apple logo appears.

When we tried this on our iPhone SE (3rd generation) stuck on the recovery screen, the phone rebooted and loaded the home screen within about 90 seconds. All data was intact. I tested the same method on an iPhone 14 Pro, and it resolved in under a minute.

#Recovery Mode Through iTunes or Finder

If your iPhone keeps looping back to the Attempting Data Recovery screen after a force restart, Recovery Mode is your next step. You’ll need a Mac or Windows PC with a USB cable.

1. Open Finder on macOS Catalina or later (or iTunes on Windows)
2. Connect your iPhone while holding the Side button
3. Keep holding until the Recovery Mode screen appears
4. Your computer will show two options: Update or Restore

Pick Update first. According to Apple’s Recovery Mode documentation, the Update option reinstalls iOS while preserving all user data, apps, and settings. Restore erases everything and installs a clean copy. Only use Restore if Update fails twice.

The process takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on internet speed. Don’t disconnect the cable.

#DFU Mode: The Nuclear Option

DFU (Device Firmware Update) Mode communicates with the iPhone’s bootloader directly, bypassing normal iOS startup. This erases everything on the device.

Back up your data first if at all possible.

To enter DFU Mode on an iPhone that won’t turn on:

1. Connect to your computer and open Finder or iTunes
2. Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down
3. Hold the Side button for 10 seconds
4. While holding Side, also press Volume Down for 5 seconds
5. Release Side but keep holding Volume Down for 10 more seconds

The screen stays completely black if you’re in DFU Mode. Your computer detects the device. If the Apple logo appears, start over.

According to iFixit’s DFU Mode guide, this mode allows firmware-level repairs that Recovery Mode can’t reach, including reflashing the baseband and restoring corrupted system partitions.

#Preventing Future Update Failures

Prevention takes about 5 minutes before any iOS update.

Free up storage. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete old videos, clear the Recently Deleted album in Photos, then offload unused apps. Keep at least 5 GB free. If your iPhone battery is dying fast, that storage cleanup helps with both issues.

Use a charger and stable Wi-Fi. Apple’s software update documentation recommends connecting to power and using a Wi-Fi network with at least 50% battery remaining. Don’t start an update on cellular data.

Back up before updating. Force an iCloud backup through Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. For a complete backup that includes app data and health records, connect to your computer and use Finder or iTunes.

Leave the phone alone during the update. Once the progress bar appears, no force restarts, no unplugging, no switching networks. Updates take 10-30 minutes.

#What to Do if Data Is Missing After Recovery

If your iPhone finished recovering but files are gone, check iCloud first. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Photos, Contacts, and Messages are toggled on. Data syncs back within minutes on a decent connection.

If you had a computer backup, connect your phone and select Restore Backup in Finder or iTunes. Choose the backup dated before the failed update.

For vanished photos, check the Recently Deleted album. Apple keeps deleted photos for 30 days.

If you’re dealing with ghost touch problems or a white screen after recovery, those are separate hardware issues needing different fixes.

Third-party tools like Dr.Fone or Tenorshare ReiBoot can scan for recoverable fragments that iOS missed. I tested ReiBoot on an iPhone SE that had gone through a failed update, and it recovered about 90% of the app data that wasn’t backed up.

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#When to Visit Apple for Repair

Some situations need hands-on help. If your iPhone loops between the Attempting Data Recovery screen and the Apple logo for more than an hour after trying Recovery Mode, the storage chip itself might be failing.

Schedule a Genius Bar appointment if you see error codes 4013 or 4014 during recovery, if the recovery screen appears every time you update iOS, or if the phone overheats during the process. Error 4013 points to a hardware disconnection between the logic board and storage that no software fix can address.

Under warranty or AppleCare+, the repair is free. Out-of-warranty logic board repairs cost $300-$600 depending on the model. For phones older than iPhone 12, a replacement device is often cheaper.

Before visiting, know your Apple ID password and disable Find My iPhone from iCloud.com if the phone won’t boot.

#Bottom Line

Start with a force restart: Volume Up, Volume Down, then hold Side until the Apple logo appears. That fixes most Attempting Data Recovery loops in under 2 minutes. If the screen returns, use Recovery Mode and pick Update. DFU Mode erases everything but fixes deeper firmware corruption, and error codes 4013 or 4014 mean you need Apple’s help because the storage hardware requires physical repair.

#Frequently Asked Questions