Fixed! iPad (Pro/Mini/Air) Stuck in Recovery Mode

You may go as far as putting the iPad into recovery mode to restore it to factory settings or reinstall the operating system to troubleshoot any iPad issue, like black screen, boot loop, etc. Indeed, it helps, but your iPad may get stuck in recovery mode and won’t restore. That’s why you come to this guide.

Here in this guide, we will dive into the reason why your iPad can’t exit recovery mode, as well as effective solutions to fix iPad stuck in recovery mode. Let’s get started.

Why can’t your iPad exit recovery mode?

You may have your iPad stuck in recovery mode for a variety of reasons with the device or some unknown external damage. And the following are some common causes for this issue:
• A broken USB cable.
• An error with a firmware upgrade.
• Outdated iTunes.
• Mistaken buttons operation.
• Incorrect iPad jailbreak process.

3 fixes to iPad stuck in recovery mode

To use your iPad again, you have to get out of recovery mode regardless of data loss. It may take some time for you to fix iPad mini/Pro/Air stuck in recovery mode. Follow the instructions below to know how.

1# Force restart iPad

It is easy to fix iPad stuck in recovery mode without iTunes by force restarting iPad. Depending on the models of iPad you are using, follow the steps below to force restart it.

Force restart iPad with Face ID
Quickly press and release the Volume Up button > Quickly press and release the Volume Down button > Press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo pops up.

Force restart iPad with the Home button
Long press the Power and Home button at the same time > Release both buttons when you see the Apple logo.

2# Put iPad in DFU mode to restore it

You can also try to restore your iPad in DFU mode to fix iPad stuck in recovery mode. Once your iPad enters the DFU mode, you can restore it using iTunes. Here are the steps.

Step 1. Connect your iPad to computer and launch iTunes > Use the steps below to put the iPad in DFU mode.

• For iPad with Face ID
>> Quickly press and release Volume Up button > Repeat the same step using the Volume Down button and then press the Power button.

>> Hold both button for 10 seconds and release the Power button > Release the Volume Down button after 5 seconds, and iTunes will notify you that a device in recovery mode is detected.

• For iPad with Home button
>> Hold the Power button and the Home button for 10 seconds > Release the Power button only and keep holding the Home button for 3-5 seconds.

>> Release the Home button until iTunes notify you that the device in recovery mode is detected.

Step 2. In the notification, you will see the option to restore your iPad. Confirm the action and wait for your iPad is restored.

3# Use Recboot to exit recovery mode

If iTunes doesn’t help, you may need a third-party tool to get out of the issue - iPad stuck in recovery mode. Recboot provides you with a simple way to exit your iPad out of recovery mode in a few clicks. Follow the steps below to know how to fix iPad stuck in recovery mode with it.

Step 1. Download Recboot from its official website and connect your iPad to the computer via USB.

Step 2. After the software detects your iPad, click Exit Recovery Mode > Wait for it to help iPad to exit recovery mode.

Bonus: Easily recover lost iPad data without backup

Does getting out of recovery mode erase iPad data? Generally speaking, recovery mode doesn’t erase data on your iPhone directly. However, considering that your iPad will be restored to its previous condition when in recovery mode, the amount of data you lose is determined by how frequently you backup iPad.

In other words, you will definitely lose iPad data more or less after getting out of recovery mode. Therefore, a powerful data recovery tool for iPad is urgently needed. Here, we highly recommended FoneTool.

With advanced scan techniques, FoneTool helps recover missing files on iPhone, iPad, and iPod, including contacts, photos, videos, notes, media files in apps, etc. without overwriting previous iPad data.

Free download FoneTool on your computer. Follow the step-by-step guide to recover missing files from iPad.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to PC via USB. Run FoneTool, and go to Toolbox, and click iOS Data Recovery to continue.

Step 2. Check the box next to the file types you'd like to recover, and tap Start Scan to begin the scanning process.

Step 4. Choose the lost files you'd like to recover, and tap Recover to PC to save them to your computer.

💡 Warm Tip: FoneTool is also a professional iOS data backup tool, which you can utilize to fully or selectively backup iPhone to prevent unexpected data loss. 

Conclusion

That’s all for the solutions to iPad stuck in recovery mode. Hope your iPad can be back to normal after trying one of the solutions in this guide. If you find anything lost from your iPad, just try AOMEI Data Recovery for iOS to retrieve them.

It is also suggested to full backup iPad before any troubleshoot or before doing any operation that will lose data. If this guide helps you, please share it with others.