Apple iPhone gets mode to fix software issues automatically

If an iPhone or iPad can no longer be switched on due to a critical software error, it can be restored using the so-called recovery mode. Until now, the device had to be connected to a PC or Mac in order to be reset either via the Finder in macOS or via the Apple Devices app on Windows computers.

This will change with iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, as the next major operating system versions, which are expected to be released in the fall, will include a macOS-style recovery mode. If a device such as the Apple iPhone 17 ($757 on Amazon) is booted in this mode, a menu with a range of options appears. The iPhone automatically connects to a known Wi-Fi network, if available, and displays the remaining battery charge in the status bar. Buttons at the top of the screen allow you to set the language and restart the iPhone.

The recovery options also make it possible to install a software update, delete all data from the iPhone, activate the older, PC-supported recovery mode or start a diagnostic mode via which Apple Support can access the device remotely. The so-called "Recovery Assistant" is designed to automatically detect known software errors and attempt to rectify them. To boot an iPhone in recovery mode, it must be switched on using the power button, whereby the button is held down instead of releasing it as usual as soon as the Apple logo appears.