How to put an Apple iPhone XS Max in DFU mode?

What is DFU mode, what is recovery mode

DFU stands for Device Firmware Update, and means the same as recovery mode. It means that the Apple iPhone XS Max, connected to the computer with iTunes, will boot but will not load the operating system iOS, allowing to  backup and restore   the device after a big crash, or to update the firmware if necessary.

A computer with iTunes installed is necessary to put the Apple iPhone XS Max in recovery mode, and the iPhone must be connected with a USB cable.

How to put Apple iPhone XS Max in recovery mode

After the Apple iPhone XS Max has been plugged to the computer using an Apple lightning cable, start iTunes on the computer.

The button combination power and volume down must be pressed simultaneously and hold, until the Apple iPhone XS Max turns off.

Keep pressing the buttons, power button and volume down, and keep doing it when the Apple logo is shown on the Apple iPhone XS Max screen.

Only when the Connect to iTunes information is displayed on Apple iPhone XS Max screen, the buttons can be released.

How to put Apple iPhone XS Max in DFU mode

The message There is a problem with the iPhone that requires it to be updated or restored. should appear on iTunes, as the Apple iPhone XS Max suffered a huge software error, or the  backup and restore   might have failed.

In that mode, there are two possibilities, to  backup and restore   the Apple iPhone XS Max or the update the iOS operating system, depending on the exact problem with the phone.

Once the firmware has either been restored or updated, the Apple iPhone XS Max will reboot by itself, and exit that recovery mode.

Exit recovery mode Apple iPhone XS Max

To exit the recovery mode, for example when experiencing an Apple iPhone XS Max stuck in recovery mode, there is a way to force the iPhone to exit the DFU mode.

To achieve it, press and hold the power and the volume down button at the same time. After a while, the Apple logo should appear on the Apple iPhone XS Max screen, and the Connect to iTunes message should disappear.

After that, the Apple iPhone XS Max will reboot, as the errors should have been solved by iTunes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What options are there in iPhone DFU mode?

In this mode, there are two options: backup and restore Apple iPhone or update the iOS operating system, depending on the specific problem with the phone.

What are the advantages of iPhone DFU mode?

DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode on an iPhone offers several advantages: Recovery from severe software issues. Complete firmware restoration. Jailbreak and firmware modification. Device troubleshooting. Security and data protection. It's important to note that entering DFU mode should be done with caution and as a last resort for troubleshooting.