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User profile for user: TanMan
TanMan Author
User level: Level 1
112 points

iPhone SE (1st Gen) stuck in infinite boot loop...

...and no advice/tip/trick/solution found on the web works (I've Googled, Binged, Yahooed, etc.).


Connecting the iPhone SE (1st Gen) to a 2023 M2 MacBook Air running a fully-updated macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 directly (i.e., no hub in between iPhone and MBA) with an Apple Lightning-to-USB-C cable doesn't work. The iPhone SE (1st Gen) doesn't even show up either in the Music app or the Finder.


Hard rebooting the iPhone SE (1st Gen) by holding the Home button and the Power button and then holding onto the Home button until I see the Restore screen (an icon in white of a laptop and a Lightning cable on a black background) on the iPhone SE (1st Gen) succeeds but attaching the Apple Lightning-to-USB-C cable doesn't provoke any response from the MBA--the MBA doesn't "see" the iPhone SE (1st Gen) at all. After a while of leaving the two connected, the Restore screen on the iPhone SE (1st Gen) changes back by itself to the black-Apple-logo-on-a-white-background boot screen as if the iPhone SE (1st Gen) is rebooting. But it still doesn't show up on the MBA.


It's as if the iPhone SE (1st Gen) is "invisible" to everything and continuously boot looping. I've also tried connecting the iPhone SE (1st Gen) to an older 2014 Intel MacBook Air running macOS Snow Leopard 10.6.8 with the older iTunes app as well as a newer 2023 M3 MacBook Pro running a fully-updated macOS Sonoma 14.3.1 with the Music app but am faced with the same non-results. I've tried using different cables from Apple to third-party (Anker) branded. I've checked the Lightning port on the iPhone SE (1st Gen) for crud buildup but it's clean as a whistle and there are no obvious signs of electrical damage. I would appreciate any ideas that I haven't already tried above aside from just tossing the iPhone SE (1st Gen). I don't care about saving anything on the iPhone SE (1st Gen). I just want to restore it to at least Factory Defaults and be bootable is all. I have all passwords as this is an old device I own but there is no option to even enter any passwords right now since it's just stuck in an infinite boot loop.


Thanks in advance.

Earlier iPhone models

Posted on Feb 24, 2024 12:21 AM

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User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
411,708 points

Feb 24, 2024 12:24 AM in response to TanMan

You're seeking suggestions or solutions to restore the iPhone SE (1st Gen) to Factory Defaults and make it bootable. Any ideas would be appreciated, with the note that you have all necessary passwords for the device.


If you haven't tried already, you may want to attempt using a different computer, preferably a Windows PC, and see if the iPhone is recognized there. Additionally, reaching out to Apple Support or visiting an Apple Store for professional assistance may be a viable option if the issue remains unresolved.


You may try some of these steps, please check after each step...


  1. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
    1. Restart the device. That's it.
    2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
  2. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
    1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
    2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
    3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
  3. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
    1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
    2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device model and iOS version.


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User profile for user: TanMan
TanMan Author
User level: Level 1
112 points

Feb 24, 2024 4:41 AM in response to SravanKrA

Impossible: I never touch Windoze. Not now. Not ever. Also, the iPhone SE doesn't get beyond the boot screen, so there's nothing to "reset" or even "set" on it, thus your points 2 and 3 aren't of any help. As stated above in my original post, I've already tried everything else including restarting, force-restarting and putting it into Restore mode. It always ends up in the white screen with a black Apple logo, which is the boot screen; but no further. And the laptops don't "see" the iPhone SE as they should. It's as if the iPhone SE is invisible.

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iPhone SE (1st Gen) stuck in infinite boot loop...

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