My iPhone 4s is stuck in recovery mode after yet another failed update.

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My iPhone 4s is stuck in recovery mode after yet another failed update.

I had freed space, obviously not enough. I cannot understand why Apple could halt not the or prevent the update process if space is lacking, instead of turning the phone into a recovery mode brick. It gave the message that update failed, and went into recovery mode. Most times I update this happens. Usually I manage to get it to reset, and restore from an iTunes backup. Not this time. iTunes can see no phone. Off/on and home together do not reset.

I needed to get iOs 6.1.1 and lastly the most recent update. Given my bad experience of updates, I avoid them if I can.

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1.1, two updates needed. I avoid updates

Posted on Feb 21, 2013 7:06 AM

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Answer 1

KiltedTim

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195,429 points

Feb 21, 2013 7:12 AM in response to padrsh

padrsh wrote:

I had freed space, obviously not enough.

That's not obvious at all.

Google iPhone DFU mode. You'll need to put it in DFU mode and restore it.

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Answer 2

padrsh Author

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Feb 21, 2013 7:25 AM in response to KiltedTim

That's what I'd do by default. It just goes into the same recovery screen.

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Answer 3

padrsh Author

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Feb 21, 2013 8:16 AM in response to padrsh

Someone help, Is there something that can knock it out of Recovery Mode? It's possible with other phones, say Android phones to remove the battery, and also to update with problems every single time.

I'm changing phones. This has to be the forth time. Most other times iTunes found that the phone was in recovery mode and could return me to some default setting.

😠

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Answer 4

KiltedTim

Level 10

195,429 points

Feb 21, 2013 8:40 AM in response to padrsh

What happens when you try to restore it in DFU mode? Are you getting any errors at all? Once it's in recovery mode, there is nothing you can do but restore it. If iOS did not install properly, then you need to do it in DFU mode.

We need more information if we're going to be able to offer any intelligent suggestions.

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Answer 5

Feb 21, 2013 9:37 AM in response to padrsh

Random suggestion,

My 4s was stuck in recovery mode because the update would fail while downloading data from Apple. I tried a few times and no luck until I remembered that I have a service that lets me watch US Netflix in Canada by changing the DNS number. I changed the DNS back to default and the update worked and my phone is back to normal. Just an idea in case you have a similar DNS re-route deal.

Good luck.

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Answer 6

padrsh Author

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Feb 21, 2013 10:18 AM in response to KiltedTim

The problem was that there were no error messages except at the start when it said the update failed. The newest version of iTunes on my computer refused to detect it. An old laptop with an old iTunes did. That's how I got through all the previous updates bar one, that is, I used iTunes to restore it.

I would be trying the dns and anything, if my old iTunes install failed, which thankfully it didn't.

Thanks for the replies.

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