How to fix iPhone 16 Pro Max Stuck on Setup?

I came back here after managing a fix for it and hoping this would help those who have been through the frustration with this issue like me. Here's what you need to do:

1. Having a MacBook and a cable to connect your iPhone to it, plug your iPhone into Macbook.
2. Please be patient when trying to put your iPhone in DFU mode (it could take more than 10 times like I did, see the image attached about DFU mode screen).

2. a) Press the Volume Up button (quickly no need to hold), then release it.

2. b) Press the Volume Down (quickly no need to hold), then release it.

2. c) Press and hold the Power button until you see the Apple logo on a black screen (if at this step your phone only restarts and then you see the f Hello screen again, please go back to step 2a and re-tried, and you need to be patient).

2.d) Right when you see the Apple logo on step 2. c) press the Volume Down Button (while still pressing the power button) and DO NOT RELEASE THESE 2 BUTTONS UNTIL YOU SEE THE CAPLE CONNECT TO COMPUTER ICON on a black screen (this is the sign that you've successfully entered the DFU mode)

3. Now open Finder on Mac, select your iPhone (left menu Locations) and choose to "Restore iPhone" (if there is a pop-up that appears on your Mac asking to connect your iPhone -> select Allow -> select Restore option) - do not choose "Update".

4. Stay connected after the phone has been restored. Make sure you pass the Hello screen before you can unplug it.

* DFU mode:

* Restore iPhone from Finder on Mac:

* Successfully restored:

Looks like this is a pervasive and persistent issue! For me it manifest when trying to transfer my data directly from my iphone14pro to a new iphone16pro. The process got hung up in the 'transferring data' screen. After waiting 90min with no resolution I did the following:

1. I stopped the process on both phones and turned them off
2. I turned on and backed up my iphone14pro
3. I turned on the new iphone16pro and chose icloud back up
4. After about 30min the iphone16pro awoke and was ready to be used on cellular & wifi
5. It took quite some time for all the apps to update and still some required reauthentication
6. DO NOT ERASE your old phone until you have fully set up your new phone as you may need it for certain actions
7. Best to use the new phone for a few days before ditching and trading in your old one

This is the one that worked if your iPhone is stuck on "hello" screen. Same instructions said different:

1. Tap Volume Up
2. Tap Volume Down
3. Hold side button until Apple logo appears.
4. Connect to MacBook. A computer and cable image will appear.
5. Plug in iPhone to computer.
6. Follow instructions on MacBook to restore phone.

Same Here -- using Vol up for a sec / vol down for second then holding power button until powers off and then restarts all over / stuck on Hello Screen won't allow a scroll up - looped,. volume up / volume down power to logo, then restarts on hello screen won't allow a scroll up, just millisecond flash of the passcode screen and then back to hello.

WHAT CAN I DO?

• started when the Promax was in software download mode for over an hour ... F
• 
  

I also had this same issue. Restarted the new phone but then it wouldn't prompt the set up again. Restarted the old phone also and it prompted. So basically just restart both phones.

Powering off the new iPhone 16 did work for me to continue next step.

Mine gets stuck on initial setup screens and won’t progess parental lock code and then after reboot started over and on the add a child. It lost progress prion to shutdown

Thank you for your solution it worked perfectly for me. 👏

Thanks! This solved the problem for me.

Same problem with my phone as well is it fixed now

Thank you. I will take the phone to the Genius bar.

I came back here after managing a fix for it and hoping this would help those who have been through the frustration with this issue like me. Here's what you need to do:

Having a MacBook and a cable to connect your iPhone to it, plug your iphone into Macbook.

Please be patient when trying to put your iPhone in DFU mode (it could take more than 10 times like I did, see the image attached about DFU mode screen).

2. a) Press the Volume Up button (quickly no need to hold), then release it.

2. b) Press the Volume Down (quickly no need to hold), then release it.

2. c) Press and hold the Power button until you see the Apple logo on a black screen (if at this step your phone only restarts and then you see the f Hello screen again, please go back to step 2a and re-tried, and you need to be patient).

2.d) Right when you see the Apple logo on step 2. c) press the Volume Down Button (while still pressing the power button) and DO NOT RELEASE THESE 2 BUTTONS UNTIL YOU SEE THE CAPLE CONNECT TO COMPUTER ICON on a black screen (this is the sign that you've successfully entered the DFU mode)

3. Now open Finder on Mac, select your iPhone (left menu Locations) and choose to "Restore iPhone" (if there is a pop-up that appears on your Mac asking to connect your iPhone -> select Allow -> select Restore option) - do not choose "Update"

4. Stay connected after the phone has been restored. Make sure you pass the Hello screen before you can unplug it.

* DFU mode:

* Restore iPhone from Finder on Mac:

* Successfully restored:

Were you ever able to resolve this issue? If so, how? Just bought a new 16 Pro and have the same issue. Thanks in advance!

iPhone 16 Pro Max stuck up right at its first attempt to setup.

I believe you could try holding volumn up and powerbutton until screen turns off and apple logo shows up.

You may also look up Hard Reset for iPhone 15 and it may be something like volumn up then volumn down and hold power button.