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Iphone 4S stuck in DFU mode, not restoring or booting up...

So one night, I turned my iphone off and went to sleep. The next day though, it wouldn't boot up. I got a black screen, no apple logo, no anything, and it wasn't a battery problem, cause it was almost fully charged. I connected it to my pc, tried restoring with itunes, but it just froze at "waiting for iphone" screen, and the progress bar on the phone wasn't moving...I thought updating to iOS 7 would work when it came out, but still nothing. I can't even restore, although iTunes recognises the device in dfu mode, and...the best/worst part is I WAS NOT JAILBROKEN as there wasn't a 6.1.3 jailbreak at that time...So here's the things I tried:

- 3 differents computers (2 laptops), and all of their usb ports.

- Waiting for like 5 hours for the progress bar to move.

- Downloading a custom ipsw file off the internet and tried restoring it.

- Used a program called RecBoot to get out of dfu mode.

- Have made 3 threads like this, still no useful reply.

- Tried EVERY SINGLE COMBINATION of the home and the power button together, like holding them pressed for 5 minutes.

- Charged the phone for 3 hours.

None of them worked though...

Plz help! It's been like 3 months now searching the internet, still haven't done any progress, it just hangs at dfu mode not restoring...This is so unfair cause I wasn't even jailbroken, and the people who get this are usually jailbroken. It is maybe the last thread I make before I give up for ever 😝.

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1.3, Not jailbroken.

Posted on Nov 28, 2013 1:36 PM

33 replies

Jan 18, 2014 5:11 PM in response to Loizos Aristides

I took my phone to Apple and had it replaced with a refurbished one.

I had to pay 120 pounds extra for that.

Try restoring your phone using iCloud if that don't work then I'm afraid it's game over.

Jan 19, 2014 5:54 AM in response to MShafiq12

Nah I don't think 120 pounds is worth it, since i got the phone for 2 pounds, by winning it from a prize machine at my local mall 🙂 . I know it's legit though cause it was recognised by iTunes and it was exactly the same as an iPhone from the outside. Besides, there's no Apple store in Cyprus :| . I'm glad you got a new one MShafiq12 , and thanks for the help. As for iCloud, I didn't make a backup before so I can't restore it...

Jan 21, 2014 7:50 AM in response to Loizos Aristides

Not sure if this would help but if you had 'Find my iPhone' active you can erase data from your phone and maybe try restoring it again? It is worth a try cause its useless as it is.

Jan 21, 2014 9:11 AM in response to MShafiq12

Nah, I didn't even have the "find my iphone" app installed. And if I did have it, but didn't noticed it, I would disable it cause I disable everything about using the phone's GPS, as it uses more battery...

Jan 24, 2014 7:08 AM in response to Loizos Aristides

So my new cable just arrived....nothing!

That was my last effort, so unless daza4 has something (still waiting... 😝) it's game over. Funny thing is...every time I google my problem, it shows people who had jailbroken their device, while I didn't even consider doing it. I've only found a few non-jailbroken unlucky guys like me and MShafiq12 who also had this problem. I gotta say: Apple....you really dissapointed me....

I quit. xD

daza4

Level 1

8 points

Jan 27, 2014 2:35 PM in response to Loizos Aristides

Hi, apologies for the late reply- but looking at all the previous posts, i'll probably just be repeating what everyone else has already tried- however, it worked for me and my iPhone is now alive again, albeit without a working on/off button (which doesn't affect anything else on the phone).

Here’s the link I used- I followed it step-by-step and it seemed to work for me:

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2012/07/put-iphone-ipad-ipod-touch-in-dfu-mode-with-b roken-home-power-button.html

After following the steps in the above link, you could also try downloading various .ipsw files from the following link and see if it works that way- I had to download 3 different ones before I found the correct one (although the latest- the ones at the top may work work first time):

http://www.iphonehacks.com/download-iphone-ios-firmware

Like I said, you’ve probably tried it this way before- but it worked for me…

Good luck... 😉

Jan 28, 2014 4:54 AM in response to Loizos Aristides

Your Problem is Solved or not? if not then Please call me at 00919888378455

Jan 28, 2014 6:42 AM in response to Harishverma

Well daza4 thanks for the searching, but it once again didn't work. I have done this before without success, but I trued to do it again....I followed the exact instructions. It all works fine, the ipsw file is created to enter dfu mode, I try to restore it through iTunes but it's still stuck at "waiting for iphone". I tried 2 different ipsw files - 7.0.4 and 6.0 (6.0 gives 3194 error despite deleting every line in the hosts file), and I've tried 6.1.3 at the past aswell. BUT, I have found out from redsnow, that all this time when I was just connecting the phone to the PC, I was stuck in soft dfu mode. On the first time, I used a power/home button combination to enter normal dfu mode, but now when I just connect the phone to the PC, redsnow says "dfu mode"...strange. I may try more ipsw files in the future...but I'm pretty sure it will fail. Anyways I'll let you know. Thanks again man 🙂 .

Harishverma : I don't really call strangers man sorry. If you want to say something to me, why not just type it? 😀

Jan 28, 2014 6:58 AM in response to Loizos Aristides

Still following this thread hoping for a happy ending????

Even the so called apple genius at the the apple store in Birmingham Bullring couldn't fix this! He didn't even try.... If in doubt give out a replacement phone for £120!

I recall when I tried to load a old ipsw file it would not let me cause you can't roll back once you have upgraded the IOS. You may want to wait till a new software upgrade is released by apple and try the new ipsw file then. (You may have done this).

Try researching 'iphone freezer trick restore' to see if that helps.

Oh I'm waiting to see what Harishverma has to say regarding this issue.... Hopefully someone out there can help!

Jan 28, 2014 11:54 AM in response to MShafiq12

I tried searching iphone freezer trick restore, it finds problems related to wifi though, and I never had problems like that with my iphone. And from now on...I'll be trying newer ipsw files, cause you're right, it doesn't let you downgrade without shsh blobs and other jailbreak stuff...

Anyways, thanks for your help guys, I really appreciate it...

Not giving up though, I will do some more research 😀.

Apr 13, 2014 1:31 PM in response to Loizos Aristides

Same problem here, plus sreen now only display a weird black screen with horizontal lines.. 😟

Pleas Apple come with a solution for this...

Apr 13, 2014 1:56 PM in response to Loizos Aristides

I believe someone tried to jailbreak mine while running Ios6.1.6.

Sorry for repost, I could not edit my previous post

Sep 21, 2014 6:46 AM in response to Loizos Aristides

Don't know if you solved it, but I have the same problem. Recovery mode: 'waiting for iPhone' for ever.

SO if anyone knows how to fix this, please share!

Oct 12, 2014 9:00 AM in response to Swizzeridoo

...and same problem for me now.

iPhone 5 under iOS 7 stuck in recovery mode (black screen).

When plugged to to computer via USB cable, iTunes detects it and tells me I "must restore this iPhone".

When I click on "Restore and Update" (to iOS 8) all starts OK...

iTunes displays:

- extracting software...

- preparing iPhone for restore

- waiting for iPhone

- preparing iPhone for restore (again)

- waiting for iPhone - forever until I interupt it by pulling USB cable or restarting the iPhone by pressing 2 buttons for 10s.

and the iPhone shows the apple logo and an empty progress bar (as described by others here)

BTW someone mentioned using "Find my iPhone" to wipe the iPhone remotely. This won't work for me: my iPhone appears "offline", unsurprisingly.

Also, how it started: in the past few weeks, my iPhone had 3 sudden restarts. And then one evening I use it as usual, leave it next to me while having diner, then a few minutes after it refuses to turn on. Screen stays black. Plugging the charger does not improve a thing. And it has been like this since then. 😠

Derotten

Level 1

4 points

Sep 9, 2016 9:32 AM in response to Loizos Aristides

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQN6elVduQI

this work for me! Good Luck!

Iphone 4S stuck in DFU mode, not restoring or booting up...