If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo and just won’t move past that screen… I feel you. It’s one of those moments that instantly triggers panic because your brain goes straight to: “Did my phone just die?” or “Am I about to lose everything?”
The good news? Most of the time, this is fixable — and you can usually get your iPhone working again without being a tech expert.
I’m writing this because I’ve seen this issue happen to so many people (and yes… it’s happened to me too). One minute your iPhone is fine, the next minute it’s frozen on the Apple logo like it’s trapped in a loop. Super annoying. But the fixes are pretty straightforward once you know the right order to try things.
So let’s walk through it like we’re sitting together and troubleshooting step-by-step. No confusing jargon. No fluff. Just real solutions you can try right now.
Why Your iPhone Gets Stuck on the Apple Logo (In Plain English)
When your iPhone shows the Apple logo, it’s basically trying to start iOS normally. If it gets stuck there, it means your phone can’t finish booting up.
That can happen for a bunch of reasons, including:
- A recent iOS update didn’t install correctly
- The phone ran out of storage during an update or reboot
- A software crash happened while restarting
- A restore or transfer got interrupted
- A hardware issue (less common, but possible)
And sometimes? It happens for no obvious reason at all. Like… you didn’t drop the phone, you didn’t mess with settings, you didn’t do anything weird — it just freezes. So frustrating.
Key takeaway: An iPhone stuck on Apple logo is usually a software problem, not a “your phone is permanently broken” problem.
First: How to Tell If Your iPhone Is Truly Frozen
Before we start fixing things, let’s make sure it’s actually stuck.
Here are the most common signs:
- The Apple logo stays on the screen for more than 5–10 minutes
- The screen doesn’t change, even after you wait
- Your phone feels warm, like it’s working hard
- It restarts and goes right back to the Apple logo (boot loop)
Quick tip: If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo but still responds when you plug it into a charger, that’s a good sign. It means it’s not “dead,” it’s just stuck.
Fix #1: Charge Your iPhone for 20–30 Minutes (Seriously)
This sounds too simple, but don’t skip it.
Sometimes your iPhone gets stuck during boot because the battery is too low to complete startup. It may show the Apple logo but never fully power on.
Here’s what to do:
- Plug your iPhone into a wall charger (not a laptop USB port)
- Use a good cable (preferably Apple or MFi-certified)
- Leave it alone for 20–30 minutes
- Then try a force restart (next section)
Bold truth: A weak battery + startup process = Apple logo freeze is surprisingly common.
Fix #2: Force Restart Your iPhone (The Fastest Working Fix)
If your iPhone is frozen on the Apple logo, a force restart is usually the first real fix you should try.
This doesn’t erase anything. It’s basically a “hard reboot.”
How to Force Restart iPhone 8, X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 (Most Newer iPhones)
- Press and quickly release Volume Up
- Press and quickly release Volume Down
- Press and hold the Side button
- Keep holding until the Apple logo disappears and comes back again
Yes, keep holding it even when the screen stays stuck. It can take 10–20 seconds.
How to Force Restart iPhone 7 / 7 Plus
- Press and hold Volume Down + Power button
- Hold them for about 10–15 seconds
- Release when you see the Apple logo restart
How to Force Restart iPhone 6s, SE (1st gen), or Older
- Press and hold Home + Power button
- Keep holding for 10–15 seconds
- Release when the Apple logo restarts
If it boots normally after this: Congrats — you’re done!
If it goes back to the Apple logo again: Don’t stress. Keep going.
Fix #3: Disconnect Accessories (Yes, Even That One Dongle)
Okay, weird one… but it works more often than you’d expect.
If your iPhone is connected to:
- Lightning headphones
- A USB adapter
- A CarPlay cable
- External storage
- A damaged charger
…your phone might freeze during startup.
What to do:
- Unplug everything
- Remove the case if the power button is stuck (rare but possible)
- Then try another force restart
FYI, a faulty cable can seriously cause messy boot behavior. IMO, it’s one of the sneaky reasons this problem happens.
Fix #4: Use Recovery Mode (Best Fix Without Erasing Data)
If your iPhone is still stuck on the Apple logo after force restart, it’s time for a stronger fix: Recovery Mode.
This method lets your computer reinstall iOS without deleting your data (in most cases). It’s like repairing the system.
What You Need
- A Mac or Windows PC
- A Lightning cable (or USB-C cable depending on model)
- Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows / older macOS)
Step-by-Step: Put iPhone in Recovery Mode
For iPhone 8 and newer:
- Plug your iPhone into your computer
- Press and release Volume Up
- Press and release Volume Down
- Press and hold the Side button
- Keep holding until you see the Recovery Mode screen
(It looks like a cable pointing to a computer)
For iPhone 7 / 7 Plus:
- Plug into computer
- Press and hold Volume Down + Power button
- Keep holding until Recovery Mode appears
For iPhone 6s and older:
- Plug into computer
- Press and hold Home + Power button
- Keep holding until Recovery Mode appears
What to Click On Your Computer
Once Recovery Mode is detected, you’ll see a message:
- Update
- Restore
Choose Update first.
✅ Update = tries to reinstall iOS without erasing your stuff
❌ Restore = wipes the phone (last resort)
Let it download and install. This can take a while — especially if your internet is slow.
Important: If the download takes more than 15 minutes, your iPhone might exit Recovery Mode. If that happens, just repeat the steps.
Fix #5: Try DFU Mode (More Powerful, More Risky)
If Recovery Mode doesn’t work, DFU mode is your next option.
DFU stands for Device Firmware Update. It’s a deeper restore that can fix stubborn software problems.
But here’s the catch:
- DFU mode usually requires a full restore
- You may lose data if you don’t have a backup
Still, if your phone is totally stuck, DFU can be the “it finally worked!” moment.
When DFU Mode Makes Sense
Try DFU mode if:
- Your iPhone keeps boot looping
- Recovery Mode update fails repeatedly
- Your iPhone won’t restore normally
- iTunes/Finder throws errors again and again
DFU Mode Steps (iPhone 8 and Newer)
- Plug iPhone into computer
- Press Volume Up (quick)
- Press Volume Down (quick)
- Hold Side button until screen goes black
- Immediately hold Volume Down + Side button together for 5 seconds
- Release Side button but keep holding Volume Down for 10 seconds
If you did it right:
- Screen stays black
- Your computer detects an iPhone in recovery/DFU mode
Then follow restore steps in Finder/iTunes.
Tip: DFU is picky. If you see the Apple logo, you held the buttons too long.
Fix #6: Free Up Storage (If Your iPhone Finally Turns On)
If you got your phone working again — amazing. But now we need to prevent this from happening again.
A very common cause of an iPhone stuck on Apple logo is low storage.
When your iPhone is almost full, iOS can glitch during updates or restarts.
What to Do Immediately
Once your phone is back on:
- Go to Settings → General → iPhone Storage
- Check what’s taking up space
- Delete things you don’t need
Start with:
- Old videos (they’re storage killers)
- Huge apps you don’t use
- Duplicate photos
- Unused downloads
- Old iMessage attachments
Try to keep at least 5–10GB free.
Bold reminder: An iPhone with almost no storage is way more likely to crash, lag, and freeze.
Fix #7: Check for iOS Updates (After It’s Working)
This might sound funny since updates can cause this issue… but updates can also fix it.
Once your iPhone boots normally, check for updates:
- Go to Settings → General → Software Update
- Install the latest stable update
If you’re running an older iOS version, it may have bugs that cause boot looping.
Fix #8: Use a Different Cable, Port, or Computer (Underrated Fix)
If Finder/iTunes can’t restore your phone, sometimes the issue isn’t your iPhone.
It can be:
- A bad cable
- A loose USB port
- A flaky computer connection
- An outdated iTunes version
Try this:
- Switch to a different cable
- Use a different USB port
- Restart your computer
- Update iTunes (on Windows)
- If possible, try another computer entirely
This can fix random errors like restore failures and disconnections mid-update.
What If Your iPhone Keeps Restarting on the Apple Logo (Boot Loop)?
If your iPhone flashes the Apple logo, turns off, then shows it again… you’re in a boot loop.
That usually means:
- Corrupt system files
- A failed update
- Storage issues
- Hardware problems in rare cases
The best solution order is:
- Force restart
- Recovery Mode (Update)
- Recovery Mode (Restore)
- DFU Mode restore
If none of those work, skip to the Apple Support section.
Common iPhone Stuck on Apple Logo Errors (And What They Mean)
Sometimes you’ll see restore errors like:
- Error 4013
- Error 9
- Error 14
These can mean:
- Connection issue
- Software corruption
- Sometimes hardware issue (especially Error 4013)
Try:
- Different cable
- Different USB port
- Different computer
- DFU restore
If Error 4013 keeps showing up even after changing everything… that’s a big clue your phone may need repair.
When It’s Time to Contact Apple Support (Or Visit a Repair Shop)
Most of the time, your iPhone stuck on Apple logo is fixable at home.
But you should get help if:
- Your phone was dropped recently
- It got exposed to water
- It overheats badly
- DFU restore fails multiple times
- You see repeated errors like 4013
At that point, the issue may be physical — like a battery, logic board, or connector issue.
And look, I know it’s annoying to hear “get it checked”… but sometimes it’s the fastest way to stop wasting hours.
How to Avoid This Problem Happening Again
Once your phone is working again, here’s how to protect it.
Keep Storage Free
Try to always keep 10% storage free, especially before updates.
Update iOS Carefully
Before installing an update:
- Plug into a charger
- Use Wi-Fi
- Don’t shut it down midway
- Don’t start the update with 500MB storage left 😅
Back Up Regularly
This is your safety net.
Use one (or both):
- iCloud Backup
- Computer backup (Finder/iTunes)
Because if you ever have to restore, a backup means you’re not starting from zero.
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist (If You Want the Fast Version)
If you’re in a hurry, try this order:
- Charge iPhone 20–30 minutes
- Force restart
- Disconnect accessories + force restart again
- Recovery Mode → Update
- Recovery Mode → Restore (if Update fails)
- DFU Mode restore
- Contact Apple Support / repair shop
Simple, organized, and it works for most people.
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Fix This
If your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo, don’t panic. It feels scary, but it’s usually just your phone getting stuck during startup — not a total disaster.
Start with the simple fixes (charge + force restart), then move to Recovery Mode, and only use DFU if you truly need to. Step-by-step, you’ll either get it working again or you’ll know exactly what to do next.
And hey — if you made it through this guide, you’re already doing the right thing. You didn’t give up, you didn’t randomly press buttons, and you didn’t assume the worst.
Now go try the first fix, and let’s get your iPhone back to normal.
