iPhone DFU: Put the smartphone into maintenance mode

Maintenance mode is used to reinstall the iPhone or even the iPad when it no longer starts. Via a reinstallation using DFU mode, the whole operating system is set up from scratch and all settings made are deleted. This mode is also necessary for jailbreaks.

How to put your iPhone into DFU mode

To put your iPhone into DFU mode, you will need iTunes and a cable to connect your smartphone to your computer.

1. First, turn off your iPhone and connect it to your computer with a USB cable.
2. Now start iTunes.
3. If you have an iPhone 6 or older, press and hold the "Home Button" as well as the "Power Button" for about ten seconds. After ten seconds, release the off switch and hold the home button for another ten seconds.
4. If you are using an iPhone 7, press the "Volume Down Button" and the "Side Button" simultaneously instead until the maintenance mode screen appears.
5. To put your iPhone 8 or newer in maintenance mode, first briefly press the "Volume Down Button", release it directly and then press and hold the "Side Button".
6. If you have done everything correctly, your screen will not light up again. Instead, you will get a message from iTunes saying "iTunes has detected an iPhone in maintenance state".
7. If you don't get this message, remove the cable from the iPhone and repeat all the steps until it works.
8. Now you can restore the device via iTunes.