Apple's iOS 27 recovery screen offers iPhone and iPad users a better first step when a device won't start, especially without a computer nearby. Here's how to open it, which repair option to try first, and when computer-based recovery is still safer.
A failed startup is one of those iPhone problems that immediately feels worse than it may actually be. The device can sit on the Apple logo, restart in a loop or refuse to finish booting after an update.
Before iOS 27, most users eventually ended up connecting the device to a computer and working through Recovery Mode. The iOS 27 and iPadOS 27 public betas add a recovery screen that puts several troubleshooting tools directly on the affected device.
The new recovery screen matters most for people who use an iPhone or iPad as their main computer. Recovery Assistant and Software Update may get the device running again without immediately erasing it, while Diagnostics Mode can show whether software recovery is worth attempting.
The screen also includes Recovery Mode, Erase All Content and Settings and, on supported hardware, Nearby Device Recovery. It's not a magic repair menu, but it gives users a clearer order of operations before they reach for the most destructive option.
Recovery Assistant itself isn't entirely new. Earlier versions of iOS could launch it automatically after certain startup failures, but iOS 27 also lets users open the recovery environment manually instead of waiting for the device to decide something has gone wrong.
The feature remains part of prerelease software as of July 20. Anyone testing iOS 27 or iPadOS 27 on a primary device should already have a current backup, particularly before using any option that reinstalls software or removes data.
How to open the iOS 27 recovery screen
The process is similar to starting an Apple Silicon Mac in macOS Recovery. The important difference from a normal startup is that you keep holding the button after the Apple logo appears.
The iPhone or iPad must already be running iOS 27 or iPadOS 27.
- Turn off the device and wait about 30 seconds.
- Press and hold the Side button on iPhone or Top button on iPad.
- Keep holding after the Apple logo appears.
- Release the button when "Loading recovery options" appears.
The timing is easy to miss the first time. Releasing the button at the Apple logo starts the device normally, so keep holding until the recovery message appears.
The new recovery screen matters most for people who use an iPhone or iPad as their main computer.Once loaded, the recovery screen shows the remaining battery level and provides an on-screen power control. It can also reconnect to a Wi-Fi network the device already knows, which saves some frustration when the touchscreen and network hardware are still working normally.
Plugging the device into power is still a sensible precaution. Software downloads and recovery attempts can take time, and a low battery is the last complication you need while trying to repair an iPhone that already won't boot.
Which iPhone recovery option to choose first
The choices on the recovery screen aren't equally risky. Start with the option that changes the least, then move toward computer recovery or erasure only when the safer tools fail.
Recovery Assistant is the most reasonable first choice for an unexplained startup failure or a device that repeatedly crashes during boot. Apple says it downloads a software package and attempts to resolve the problem without requiring a Mac or Windows PC.
It works best when the device can still connect to an ordinary home Wi-Fi network. Networks that require a browser sign-in and enterprise or school networks using 802.1X authentication aren't supported, which may make the feature less useful in hotels, airports, offices or campuses.
Recovery Assistant may also ask whether you want to send diagnostic information to Apple. Sharing is optional, and Apple says the package can include device details, stability logs, recent system activity, file names and the device's serial number.
Software Update is the next option to try when the failure started during or shortly after an iOS update. The recovery screen says it installs the latest software available for the device, giving users a chance to repair a damaged installation before moving to a full restore.
Diagnostics Mode is useful when the symptoms point toward hardware rather than iOS. It can help identify potential hardware and software problems, but it doesn't repair a failed battery, display, charging system or internal component.
Recovery Mode opens the familiar Connect to computer screen without making you perform the usual sequence of pressing Volume Up, Volume Down and then holding the Side button on recent iPhones. From there, connect the device to Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows.
Computer-based recovery remains the better fallback when the on-device tools can't finish the repair. Apple generally recommends trying Update before Restore because Restore reinstalls iOS and erases the device's information and settings.
Move toward computer recovery or erasure only when the safer tools fail.Erase All Content and Settings should stay at the bottom of the list. It removes the data and settings stored on the device, leaving it ready to be set up again or restored from a backup.
How to recover an iPhone with another Apple device
Nearby Device Recovery is the most useful option for someone who doesn't keep a computer nearby. It lets a compatible iPhone or iPad in recovery mode use another unlocked Apple device to get online and continue the restoration process.
Apple supports the feature on iPhone 15 Pro models, the iPhone 16 lineup, iPhone 16e, the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air and selected iPad models. Older devices may still show the recovery screen without offering this option.
Connect the malfunctioning device to power and place it near an unlocked iPhone or iPad running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later. The working device must already be connected to Wi-Fi.
Tap Continue on the assisting device, then enter the six-digit code displayed on the device being recovered. The working iPhone or iPad shares its network connection so the recovery process can proceed.
The feature is especially helpful while traveling or for users who rely on an iPad instead of a laptop. It doesn't replace wired recovery in every situation because it still depends on compatible hardware, working wireless components and a supported Wi-Fi connection.
How to exit the iOS 27 recovery screen
Opening the recovery environment doesn't commit you to a repair. Tap the power control in the upper-right corner and confirm that you want to restart the device.
You can also press and hold the Side or Top button, then choose Restart or Shut Down. Neither option erases data or starts a recovery process.
If the device still refuses to boot, try Recovery Assistant first and Software Update second. Move to computer-based Recovery Mode only after those options fail, and treat Erase All Content and Settings as the final step rather than a troubleshooting experiment.
