Everything was fine until your iPhone rebooted and got stuck on the Apple logo. You thought, “Maybe it’s just taking longer this time,” but quickly realized something was wrong. You’ve tried resetting you iPhone, plugging it into your computer, and nothing works. In this article, I’ll explain why your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo and exactly how to fix it.
I’m A Former Apple Tech. Here’s The Truth:
There’s a lot of information about this topic out there, and that’s because it’s a very common problem. All of the other articles I’ve seen are either incorrect or incomplete.
As an Apple tech, I have first-hand experience working with hundreds of iPhones, and I know that iPhones get stuck on the Apple logo for a variety of reasons. Knowing why your iPhone got stuck on the Apple logo in the first place will help you prevent it from happening again.
Click here if you’d like to skip right to the fixes. Keep reading if you’d like to learn what your iPhone is really doing when it shows the Apple logo on the screen so you understand what went wrong.
Next, I’ll help you identify what caused the problem in the first place. Sometimes it’s obvious, but a lot of the time it’s not. After we know what caused the problem, I’ll recommend the best way to fix it.
What Really Happens When Your iPhone Turns On
Think about all the things that need to happen before you’re ready to get going in the morning. You might think of things like making coffee, taking a shower, or packing a lunch for work, but those are high-level tasks — kind of like apps on your iPhone.
We usually don’t think about the basic things that happen first, because they seem to happen automatically. Even before we get out of bed, we stretch, pull down the covers, sit up, and set our feet on the floor.
Your iPhone isn’t much different. When your iPhone starts up, it has to turn on its processor, check its memory, and set up a slew of internal components before it can do anything complex, like check your email or run your apps. These startup functions happen automatically in the background as your iPhone displays the Apple logo.
Why Is My iPhone Stuck On The Apple Logo?
Your iPhone is stuck on the Apple logo because something went wrong during its startup routine. Unlike a person, your iPhone can’t ask for help, so it just stops. Dead. Apple logo, forever.
Diagnose The Problem
Now that you understand why the Apple logo is stuck on your iPhone, it’s helpful to state the problem a different way: Something changed in your iPhone’s startup routine and it doesn’t work anymore. But what changed it? Apps don’t have access to your iPhone’s startup routine, so it’s not their fault. Here are the possibilities:
- iOS updates, restores, and data transfers from your computer to your iPhone have access to its core functionality, so they can cause a problem. Security software, defective USB cables, and faulty USB ports can all interfere with the data transfer process and cause software corruption that can cause the Apple logo to get stuck on your iPhone.
- Jailbreaking: A lot of other websites (and some Apple employees) cry, “Jailbreaker! Serves you right!” whenever they see this problem, but jailbreaking is not the only thing that can cause your iPhone to get stuck on the Apple Logo. That being said, the potential for problems is high when you jailbreak your iPhone. Not only does the jailbreaking process require a complete restore, but its name comes from the fact that it breaks apps “out of jail”, bypassing Apple’s safeguards and allowing them access to your iPhone’s basic functionality. This is the only scenario where an app can cause your iPhone to get stuck on the Apple logo. Psst: I’ve jailbroken my iPhone in the past.
- Hardware problems: We mentioned before that your iPhone checks in with its hardware as part of its startup routine. Let’s use Wi-Fi as an example: Your iPhone says, “Hey, Wi-Fi card, turn on your antenna!” and waits for a response. Your Wi-Fi card, having recently drowned in water, doesn’t say anything back. Your iPhone waits, and waits, and waits… and stays stuck on the Apple logo, forever.
Why Is My iPhone Stuck Or Frozen On The Apple Logo?
I’m writing this article because all the others I’ve seen offer one or two solutions (a hard reset and a DFU restore) and a lot of readers won’t be helped by either. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem. The solution depends on what caused your iPhone to get stuck in the first place.
1. Hard Reset Your iPhone (But It Won’t Work 99% Of The Time)
Maybe you’re in the 1 percent, but in this case it doesn’t hurt to try. A hard reset forces your iPhone to quickly turn off and back on, which can sometimes fix a minor software glitch.
To do a hard reset on an iPhone 6S and earlier models, press and hold the Home button (circular button below the display) and power button together until you see the Apple logo disappear and reappear on the screen, and then let go.
If you’re using an iPhone 7, press and hold the power button and volume down button until the Apple logo disappears and reappears on the screen.
If you have an iPhone 8 or newer, press and release the volume up button, then press and release the volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo disappears and reappears.
2. iOS Update, Restore, and Data Transfer Problems Between Your iPhone And Computer
A lot can go wrong when data gets sent from your computer to your iPhone, especially if you’re using a PC. Your iPhone is just another external device to your computer, and lots of other software can butt in and interfere during critical moments of an iOS update or restore.
Let’s say you’re using iTunes to update your iPhone’s software. Your iPhone reboots (meaning it turns off and quickly back on) during the update, but to your computer it looks like you unplugged it and plugged it back in.
Your antivirus software steps in and says, “Stop! I’ve got to scan you!” and interrupts the data transfer. iTunes aborts the update, and your iPhone is left half-updated and totally unusable. Usually, your iPhone kicks into recovery mode and displays “Connect to iTunes”, but sometimes it gets stuck on the Apple logo.
If your iPhone got stuck on the Apple logo after you used iTunes to update, restore, or transfer data to your iPhone, you’ll need to temporarily disable the software that caused the problem before you continue. To learn more about problems that can occur between iTunes and other software, check out Apple’s article about how to resolve issues between iTunes and third-party security software. The problem typically occurs on PCs, but data transfer issues can occur on Macs as well.
3. Check Your USB Cable and USB Port
Defective USB cables and USB ports on PCs and Macs can interfere with the data transfer process and corrupt your iPhone’s software. If you’ve had problems in the past, try a different cable or connect your iPhone to a different USB port. If you can’t figure out what’s wrong with your PC, sometimes it’s easier to use a friend’s computer when you need to restore your iPhone.
4. Back Up Your iPhone, If You Can
Before we continue, it’s important to have a backup of your iPhone in iCloud, iTunes, or Finder. If you don’t, you won’t be able to retrieve your data. I prefer to use iCloud to back up my iPhone, especially because I’ve learned how to back up my iPhone to iCloud without paying for extra storage. If you’re interested, check out my article about what to do when your iCloud storage is full.
5. DFU Restore Your iPhone
A DFU (device firmware update) restore is the deepest type of iPhone restore. What makes a DFU restore different from other a regular restore and recovery mode restore is that it completely reloads your iPhone’s firmware, not just the software. Firmware is the programming that controls how the hardware works on your iPhone.
Apple’s website doesn’t have instructions on how to do a DFU restore, because most of time it’s overkill. I’ve written an article that describes exactly how to put your iPhone into DFU mode and do a DFU restore. If that doesn’t fix the problem, come back to this article to learn what your options are.
About Hardware Problems
Like we’ve discussed, your iPhone is getting stuck somewhere in the startup process. When you turn on your iPhone, one of the first things it does is a quick check of your hardware. Essentially, your iPhone is asking, “Processor, are you there? Good! Memory, are you there? Good!”
Your iPhone won’t turn on if a major hardware component fails to initialize, because it can’t turn on. If your iPhone is water-damaged, there’s a good chance you’ll need to have it repaired to fix this problem.
6. Repair Options
If you’ve taken all the suggestions above and the Apple logo is still stuck on your iPhone’s screen, it’s time to get it repaired. If you’re under warranty, Apple might cover the repair if there’s no other damage. Unfortunately, if you’ve taken my suggestions above and your iPhone still doesn’t work, some form of liquid or physical damage is probably to blame.
If you choose to repair your iPhone through Apple, they’ll probably need to replace your it to solve this problem. Usually, the Apple logo gets stuck on the screen because of a problem with your iPhone’s logic board, and that’s not something Apple can swap out for a new part.
iPhone: No Longer Stuck On The Apple Logo
Hopefully, by this point your iPhone is as good as new and you’ll never have to deal with this problem again. We’ve discussed a number of reasons why the Apple logo can get stuck on the screen of your iPhone, and the different solutions that apply for each one.
This is a problem that typically doesn’t come back after it’s fixed — unless there’s a hardware problem. I’m interested to hear how the Apple logo got stuck on your iPhone in the first place and how you fixed it in the comments section below.
Geez! All these problems, over & over, again & again. Android phones aren’t sounded so bad now!
What if it iPhone 6 boots to apple then turns off. I tried dfu on itunes and got error 4013
Initially, my phone was stuck on the apple logo, looping but never turning on. I tried to ‘Update’ while in Recovery Mode, and it “worked” I thought and I was able to turn my phone on at first, although there were weird glitches- I could only see the most recent text message in each conversation in my text message history, it kept prompting me to enter my Apple ID password & it would accept it then ask for it again seconds later, I couldn’t send text messages bc iChat was disabled (and couldn’t enable it because of the previous Apple… Read more »
I have tried using DFU mode bt it still didnt work it says i had an error nine on i tunes
iPhone 7 my iPhones home button doesn’t work and the apple logo still reappears again and again till battery is over before that a notification appeared to my phone that the home button may need service I restored and update my phone from iTunes but didn’t worked too so I need help a lot help
I have a iPhone 6plus and before the screen was shattered like on it the LCD and screen was gone cause it won’t display anything there was what it look like ink spots on the phone so I oredered a screen for the phone and I changed it my self so then I did that so after I was done I plugged it in but the phone was dead didn’t surprise me cause the phone has been sitting in a desk for months since the screen got damanged so when I plug it in it will go to the starting… Read more »
Device: sim locked iphone 4 ios 7.1.2
Cause: Changed folders in the root folder ( exactly in Applications/Setup.app )
When the following folder is deleted, my phone starts normally but most functions are still locked that’s why i was messing up with the Setup.app, when i change something, it automatically stucks on the apple logo after reboot.
i tried to Reset all Setting and then my iphone six stucked in the apple logo , , before I had a little problem with the port of charging , please help
I was on snapchat and low battery then the white screen with apple logo come up. Nothing seems to work
My Iphone 5s got stucks on apple logo after restoring and upadting my iOS into newer. After using some moments it was automatically powered off & get stuck on apple logo. Now it is not passing the apple logo, I am looking for solution here, please anyone help me to fix the problem properly…
mine is stuck on the apple logo, then it go off and the i have a death battery logo, if i place it on charge the apple logo apears again, and then the death battery shows again..
This is very useful! thank you so much! from philippines!
I leave my iphone 4s about 1 week, in power mode off. Then yesterday i try to turn on my iphone but it just stuck on apple logo, then repeatly die and stuck again on apple logo more and more till the battery goes out. Any idea? What a possible causes with my iphone? Thx..
(So sorry for poor english)
my iphone 6 wont let me log into it and the apple logo comes on and the dissappears, how do i fix this
my power button isnt functioning to do hard reset can you give some alternative way?
Worked for me! I had to put it in DFU Mode then restore, thankfully I had a fairly recent backup. I was downloading an app, my phone (6s) froze on an error screen saying that my download was unsucessful. I tried to do a hard reset and it got stuck on the white screen with black apple logo.
Thanks for the help!
Thank you so much for writing this article! My iPhone 5 shut down and displayed that screen for longer than normal and i had no idea what was happening, i started to get worried after 15 minutes as the screen hadn’t changed. I tried other sites for information till I came to this one. After trying the hard reset option it was back to normal in a short time.
Payette you are a lifesaver!
Won’t work
didn’t work for me for my iPhone6s Plush! when follow ur detail, it’s still rebooting with apple logo.
Hello. My uncle’s iPhone 5c was stuck in our home today as he asked me if I could do anything to fix it. The problem is, I am not an Apple user so I was completely clueless on what to do. I also know little and basic things about phones. This is what happened. Yesterday, he asked me if I could download a Messenger app and a Facebook App for his iPhone. So I fixed his Apple Account so that he could download Messenger, and installed Messenger. It was still working good after that. Moving on, I then tried to… Read more »
My sons Phoebus stuck on he apple screen after we plugged it in to charge when it was completely dead. Once it charged enough to come back on, it’s been stuck on the Apple screen. The resets haven’t worked, so I guess I will have to restore it? We are on vacation with no meant to get to a compluter or iTunes, however we do share iCloud and I, unfortunately, pay for extra storage. If I DFU restrore the phone, will I loose the pictures on the cloud? I don’t know what else to do, but there are TONS of… Read more »
iphone 6s
i have it plugged into my computer im signed into itunes and wont give me the option to restore or anything on itunes and my phone will not change from the apple logo
it hasnt been near any water, it died and i went to plug it in and this happened
Please help me. My iPhone 5S is stuck on the apple logo and I’ve tried everything and it’s still stuck on that logo. It won’t even sign into my iTunes account.
i’m connecting onto a bluetooth speaker, then when I try to connect, iphone says that it can’t pair, so i turn on and off my bluetooth, still can’t pair and then I restarted my Iphone 4S and as soon as it restarts, it got stucked in the apple logo part and it turns off after, I rebooted, hard reset, nothing happened i also want to restore it with my itunes in PC but my cord now is faulty. I don’t know what caused this “stuck on apple logo” problem. Please help thank you in advance
I have a question….I did the new update on my iPhone 6s when my phone restarted it got stuck on the apple logo..it’s been like this for about 4 hours now nothing will work I’ve tried hard re setting it and it just goes back to the apple screen. What should I do
thank you so much for this information.. but it didn`t work to my phone ..it is almost a month since the logo of my iphone 7 get stuck.
Please help!!!! my iphone 6s is stuck on apple screen and i havent backed it up..ever (i know). Is there any hope for me? Thousands of pics of my baby boy ill be devastated if i lose them. Should i take it to Apple store?
I have a windows laptop. Have never logged in to itunes from this pc, not sure if that matters….
Device Iphone 7. Dropped it and the screen went black but phone still worked. would ring if called and still connected to radio in car via bluetooth, i just couldnt see anything. took it to the apple store where after they fixed the display but as they gaveit back it got stuck on te apple screen coming on and off. phone has no back up and i really dont want to lose some really important pictures that are on the phone. any advice on what i should do to be able o get the pictures? is Reiboot that was mentioned… Read more »
Great fix!!!
my iphone 6 get struck in apple logo and didnt open the home page, from morning i m facing this problem, so Please do something for me to get the home page without rebooting the datas
my iphone 6 will not turn on. Everytime i put it in the charger, the apple logo appears and disappears for 5 seconds. That pretty much how far it will go. What do I do?
My i phone 5 just had a new screen and is stuck in the apple logo loop and wont find on iTunes
I have the 7 and that worked! Thanks!
Didn’t work for me…I can’t get it to even go into restore mode…changed screen and home button wasn’t working changed all that and now apple logo stuck?
I have reset my iPhone 5 then this means this will never happen again?
before giving up, be sure to try it on a differant computer, i went around in circles until i decided to try to get itunes to recognize it on my other laptop. my wifes was stuck on the logo , but when i downloaded itunes fresh to my other laptop and plugged in phone to computer, held the buttons in until i got the error message it finally gave me the option to update and restore. at first update didnt work so i restored it. fortunatly we use icloud and had everything backed up. so dont give up so easily
My home button doesn’t work so is there an alternative to fix this problem
Mine works just fine, until suddenly, it turns off and displays apple logo. It won’t turn back on unless is press power button and home button at the same time, it happens a lot. How do i fix it?
Hard reset worked. Thanks!
My iPhone 5s is stuck at the hello screen and I forgot the password so what shall I do
Device: iPhone 6 Plus.
Cause: Facebook app dropped off phone 3 weeks ago and I tried to reopen/redownload and no success. Used settings to redownload the app and phone hung and when I attempted the reset it failed. Apple logo stays constant on screen.
Resolution: unknown, still trying everything
i read some article and watched a video to put the phone(iPhone 5S) in DFU mode and restore it. Do the hard reset and then keep pressing the home button. A sign appears on the screen to plug the phone to itunes. Opened itunes on my win laptop, then restored it. But it takes a hell lot of time if the internet connection is slow. your itunes sw shd be updated.
didn’t work for me
My iPhone 6s Plus has been rebooting itself since I purchased it. They did the reset among some other test. After months of this they basically tell me I’d have to pay them to fix it or to receive another phone.
My iPhone 6s Plus was in perfect condition. I had jailbroken it a month ago, and everything was working fine. But a few days ago i noticed something was wrong when i was no longer able to connect to my wifi. The phone didn’t recognize mine so i had to re-enter to passcode for the wifi, yet when i did it would not connect and would just ask for the passcode again. My camera had also stopped working, i knew it wasn’t damaged since it could detect my face and would realize when it needed to use flash. But the… Read more »
I guess I was in that 1% because a hard reset worked!
HI i just got a used iphone 6 plus and it only been 2 month or even less and since a day ago it been stuck on 1%.Then the next day, it just was litterally stuck on the apple logo it appears and dissappears in 3 seconds when it is plugged in to my PC or and outlet. I have tried to do everything but since i have the iTunes updated 12.4.1 and it just doesnt detect my iphone 6 plus
what do i do????!!!?
I think my iPhone overheated and attempted to restart, leaving it on the apple logo screen. Unfortunately I’ve never backed up phone (i know i know i know). I have yet to try any of these options; please tell me their is hope for the stuff on my phone or I will jump off a cliff.
What happened was I tried to delete an app and it froze so i did a reset (home button and power button) but as you mention it just loaded and loaded then goes blank screen and will only pop up with the apple logo again when i try to turn it on. I have not factory reset it as i can not lose all my photos of family members. That program i will try when i get a computer. Is there anything else i can try ? Email me at [email protected]
My iPhone was just fixed at the Apple Store cause it had a cracked screen and I wanted to gift it to my cousin for his birthday so I went to factory reset it in settings (as in clearing everything on the phone) and now it is stuck on the apple logo and doesn’t go past it I let the battery die and charged it and it still won’t go past the apple logo, any feedback to fix this problem would be greatly appreciated!