iPhone 4 stuck in recovery mode!

I too had the exact same issue and this is how I went about resolving it after being stuck with a bricked iphone for over 2 hours.

For me, the most important part was my data - I didn't want the upgrade to trash my contacts, texts, photos, videos etc, so this is what I did:-

1. Got Total Saver from myphonedata.com - this software did wonders getting back all my contacts, images, photographs, videos, text messages etc from the backup which got created automatically by iTunes, a couple of minutes before the upgrade process started.
2. Then, I had to setup my iPhone as a new iPhone (because I was no longer afraid of loosing my data - I already had it backed-up and recovered using the software above)
3. After the iPhone was all set, I added the contacts, photos and videos back and synced my iPhone with iTunes

I hope this helps.

--Rick

PS screencapture of the software. The pixelated areas - which don't show the picture correctly refer to my iPhone's personal info, so I had to hide it

Rick - your post just sounds like an ad for this software. If you already have a backup, why wouldn't you just do a regular restore via iTunes? I'm stuck in this state, but don't have a backup. Is there a way to recover without losing what is on my phone?

I had to unplug my phone from the computer, hold the power and home key to reset it, then plug it back in and restore it. It took two atempts before it let itunes restore the phone. It all began after the automatic reboot with the iOS6 update.

For me, what fixed it was separately downloading (or torrenting, much faster) the firmware outside of itunes (http://imzdl.tumblr.com/), and "shift+clicking" the Restore button and browsing to the downloaded firmware. My device was iphone 4 GSM. This got my out of the stuck in Recovery Mode loop.

I found a solution that worked for me and is free. I installed TinyUmbrella from here:

http://thefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.com/

The download links are in the right-hand column. I used the one for Windows. I also had to install Java before the TinyUmbrella install would work, but you may not have to.

With TinyUmbrella running, when you connect your iPhone, the "Exit Recovery" button will be available. I simply clicked that. It rebooted my iPhone, and I now have OS 6 working and all my apps and data stil exist.

Thank you TinyUmbrella

Hey Doug,

I'm not doing an ad for sure 😁

Well, the reason I didn't want to do a restore was because I wanted iOS 6.

Doing a restore would push be back to iOS 5. So it was better to continue with iOS 6 installation and recover all my data that was present as an iOS 5 backup.

--Rick

Im having the same problem too! Depending on my phone for a big business deal today, wish I hadn't pressed 'yes' to upload io6 last night!

Will try the hard boot to get it started

Wish Apple would issue a fix

@Doug Norman,

1)The tinyumberlla didn't work for me. Its still stucked in the Recovery Loop.

This is the log im getting. From this it looks its doing nothing.

10/02/2012 02:05:46.083 Sending exit recovery request to 14065503277105610/02/2012 02:05:46.306 Recovery Device disconnected: null
10/02/2012 02:06:05.347 Recovery Device connected:

Can you please paste your log if you have in history.

2) The tinyumberall isn't detecting my Device in DFU mode either.

Is there any other way to break the loop as i don't have any data backup 🙂

I do not know what IOS you are running on your computer, but Apple told me my sons macbook which is running mac os 10 is unable to run the latest iTunes thus it can't sync with iPhone IOS6. There is a work around but you have to take your computer to an apple store. If you are able to run the latest itunes (10.7.0.21) it won't run ios6. Son tried to run the ios6.1 update via itunes so now his iphone 4 is stuck in recovery mode. Looks like I will be making a trip to the apple store in the morning.

Rick - I got the software you recommended (Total Fix) but what type of file do I need to save the back-up to? When I saved to Desktop & to iTunes it looks like a spreadsheet. Don't understand....help?

OH, HUN, THATS HORRIBLE,. IV BEEN HAVING TROUBLES WITH IPOD,. THAN I HAD A APPLE PHONE MADE OUT OFIT BY UPDATING THE SOFTWER I BELIEVED IT WAS 🙂))) ARE U SURE DADDY HASNT GIVVEN U A IPOD, JUST TOLD U ITS A PHONE >))))) THEM INTEND TO DO IT SO,. JUST FOR SIMPLE PROTECTION,.

IF SO, ****, APPOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT NEVER GIVEUP! XXX

nahtuhlee06 wrote:

I tried to update my iPhone 4 to iOS 6 today and I keep on getting an error!

It says:

iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode. You must restore this iPhone before it can be used with iTunes.

I press ok. Then I hit the Restore button. Then it downloads iOS 6 but it will not work. It is still just stuck in Recovery Mode. What do I do??

I have had this problem and have been up until 5am attempting to troubleshoot it. I cannot see any way of doing it so far and have tried just about everything suggested on every website going and still can't find any answers. Then, while re-installing iTunes (again) I tried to turn on the iPhone 4 while unplugged and it gives the option to start fresh as a new phone. Not the best outcome but a positive one none-the-less and much better then a busted iPhone. Give it a try and let me know what happens. You can restore from the iCloud no problems and retrieve everything stored there but under no circumstances attempt to restore via iTunes otherwise you will be back to square one.

Very intrigued to see if it works for anyone else or if I'm just a lucky guy so please post and pass on the message if successful.

Thanks,

Keiron

hello, need help.

tried to up date the new ios6 and throught the window 7, now it's stuck the srcreen shows the sign to conect the phone to the itunes but it wont redd that the phone is conected pluss cant even see the phone file window usaly shows when phone is plugged.

So damd mad

what can i do other then sue their ***

please help

I am having the same problem. Tried to update soptware and my backup did NOT complete before the error message popped up. The error message "Your backup could not be completed" came up, followed by the recovery mode message. I need to recover my photos before I reset.

PLEASE HELP.

i live IL and i talked to my phone provider and they said they can scrub the phone's softwar and reinstal it for me.

hhhh wondering how mutch thats gona take out of my pocket.

any ho maybe you can do that to.