Q: IPad and IPhone stuck in recovery mode after trying to update to ios 6

I am having the same problem, however I cannot get it out of recovery mode.  I was updating on iTunes, then it game me an error message, and my device (ipad 3rd gen verizon) will not get out of recovery mode.  iTunes won't detect it when I plug it into my computer, even when I tried powering it off and holding the home button to plug it in, as suggested.  I've tried every thing I can think of, but I can't get it out of recovery mode, and iTunes will not recognize the device.  I also have the latest version of iTunes installed.  Any Ideas???

Exact same problem as lowrider17.

I am in the process of restoring my iPad. Do I set it up as a new iPad or restore from iCloud or iTunes backup? Thanks.

I have a 3gs. Downloaded the update to ios 6 on my phone via wifi as it said and it took forever but it started to reboot. That took at least 30-35 minutes to get done and then.... The connect to itunes screen. I get home and connect to itunes, immediately said I was in recovery mode.. Only option to click was restore. Did it. Took a couple of hours and kept getting the recovery mode message and same screen (connect to itunes). Powered off and on and into the DFU mode, followed Apples instructions, youtube, various forums, uninstalled itunes, re-installed itunes, tried a MaC (i used windows initially) and have gotten nowhere... When can i slam the phone against the wall? Worked fine on my ipad... I hate my iphone AND apple right now... Why are you so complicated sometimes? I should have never clicked the download button in the first place... Have found no answer to get my phone into any state other than the one it is in right now.

I'm not sure if I got lucky or if this really was the fix.  Yesterday I finally got my phone to update. Turns out my laptop I was using only had 1.5G of space left on the hard drive. In a last ditch effort I deleted some music I had on it and opened up about 30g of space.  After that I clicked restore in iTunes and all was well with the update. Now my phone works!

Glad you were fine. My phone is a brick. I lost everything and all pictures etc. I did not back up my phone I guess and the update screwed me. APPLE *****!

I clicked "restore from ICloud". 

I will try that but does it back up automatically? I have not done that since I bought the dang thing.

It depends on how you have your settings in "Settings-iCloud-" set.  If its set right it'll backup to ICLOUD automatically every night when you plug your phone in providing it has wifi connection.  It might be too late now but if you goto setting then iCloud and scroll all the way down it'll show you the last time it was backed up. 

Yeah, I did that and the last one was July 15th which ***** because I bought the phone that day. I am so upset. I lost everything due to Apple's too soon release. They are wrong and should fix this issue.

I think this is my issue as well -- but my iPhone didn't get stuck in recovery mode. What's happening to me is that I can restore my iPhone to factory settings, but restoring any of my backups isn't working. I will try freeing up some more space to see if that helps...

I am having the same problem as lowerider17.  When I plug in my iPad3, iTunes takes me to "Set Up your iPad".  I have now done this at least 8 times.  I have closed everything down and restarted everything.  It does ask me if I want to restore from a backup of my device.  There are various dates and times.  The last backup that I did to my iMAC, that I assume to be complete, is visible there and that is what I choose.  It takes forever.  Then, the iPad has me walk through final set-up (do I want Siri, etc.).  I go into my ipad and my email is there....but no apps, no music, no calendar, contacts.  POOF.  So, let me ask this.... should I set it up as a new iPAD?  Will it transfer all my purchases, etc.?  I have tried going into iCloud from the settings on the iPad but the last save on iCloud must have been in this state, because I didn't get all my stuff back.  I see it in iTunes...all 1081 songs.  Would setting it up as new work?  Or will I make it worse?

Exactly same issue, 3GS stucks on "plug it to itunes" screen after upgrading to iOS 6 from wifi, itunes not detecting my phone (tried on 2 different macs) anymore, cannot do anything. Tried to reset it using the hold power+home button scenario (used it several times before) but not better... Please help :/

I have the same problem - updated iphone 4 to IOS6 via wifi - then synced with itunes. No probs. Then tried to sync ipad with itunes - got an error code and now ipad stuck in recovery. Itunes wont recognise that my ipad is connected so cant restore (does recognise my iphone)

Cant actually power off...

Tried holding down on off  and home together for 8 seconds - get 'flash' then apple then back to the recovery screen (with usb and itunes emblem).

Tried holding down home button whilst plugging in USB

Tried this numerous times

Any ideas? Cant get a genius bar appt as shops inundated due to iphone5...:-(

Your problem is the same I had with my iPad, I was able to get iTunes to recognize it by uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes.  Hope this works for you.