Trapped in "Press home to upgrade", please rescue my data.

I suggest you to follow these steps:

1) Locate the "iOS update file" : For Windows it is as follows:

• Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates
• Windows Vista & Windows 7: \Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates
• Windows 8 & Windows 10: \Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\

For Mac it is as follows:

~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

macOS Sierra: Go directly to a specific folder

• Connect your iOS device to iTunes
• Once the Screen shows with Update and Restore iPhone,Choose Update
• Instead of Left-Clicking,Perform a RIGHT click and Attempt to Locate the iPSW as shown above for different Platforms.
• If your device is NOT up-to-date then a new iPSW file will be downloaded else download a new one.
• Once you have downloaded iOS will start to update and your device's existing iOS will be overwritten with a new one.

Please Note: This will just Overwrite the old iOS and Replace it with a Fresh Copy. It will NOT remove any data from your device.

Tried and Tested Method on my own iPhone 5C that was bricked on iOS 10 at the time. Will work for any iOS Regardless.

Hello Johnsonshen

Thank you for trying everything that you possibly could,

From what I can see is that if you are not able to go beyond that point a hardware failure has occurred.

Since you get Blue Screen of Death (B.S.O.D.) that indicates that there is something wrong with the hardware.

If it's still is in AppleCare+ warrenty then you can see if they can take it in for service (they open up the device and do diagnostics and replace certain components if possible)

Otherwise you will have to pay a lot which depends from country to country what are the charges.

I can understand how you feel about Apple now and I get that you are very upset.

I too faced a huge issue with Apple in India and for a brand new iPhone X which was defective (Under Warrenty) after months I got a replacement.

But yes if you need any more assistance please feel free to contact Official Apple Support

Or come back here to Apple Support Communities.

TIP: In future please do a Backup via iCloud or iTunes or both preferably! In that case you will never worry if something serious happens to your iOS device

Hello Johnsonshen

Have you tried this ?

"When prompted by the Setup Assistant to press the Home button, restart the iPhone by pressing and holding the sleep/wake button, slide to power off, and then power the device back on. When the device restarts, you should be able to complete the Setup Assistant without being prompted to press the home button."

Hello Johnsonshen

Here are a few tips in the link below :

https://www.lifewire.com/fix-iphone-white-screen-of-death-2000285

Here is another tip you can try:

"When prompted by the Setup Assistant to press the Home button, restart the iPhone by pressing and holding the sleep/wake button, slide to power off, and then power the device back on. When the device restarts, you should be able to complete the Setup Assistant without being prompted to press the home button."

I would suggest going through all of them if you have not already done so and if the issue persists make an appointment with the Genius Bar .

Hi

Turn iPhone off Make sure your pc is running the latest iTunes 12.7.5 or later.

Connect lead to USB on your pc Press just the power button down on iPhone don't let go Connect lead to iPhone keep power button pressed down until pc sees iPhone Then wait for restore you may need to do this more than once Before it works.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

Hello Johnsonshen

I understand how this will feel very anxious and nerve-wracking to you. I was in your place too and I had no backup for my media.

I understand what stress you will be going through but I assure you I will try to help you the best way I can.

PLEASE NOTE: Try to get your device recognized by iTunes and if you get Update please do that !

Do you mean "update" in place of the "Check for Update" ?

Also does the chinese/mandarin text in your image indicate to "Connect to iTunes"?

If so please do.

Also if you have the option to update PLEASE CLICK ON THAT and NOT RESTORE !

This will as I explained before (2 RESPONSES before this) overwrite the faulty software and replace it with a new one. As a result no data will be lost!

Johnsonshen wrote:

Hi Asher Menezes,

Thank you for your advice.

I haven't contacted Genius Bar before. Could they do a backup for me even if the phone is not able to run into its home screen?

No. Your data is effectively gone at this point.

Hi

Turn iPhone off Make sure your pc is running the latest iTunes 12.7.5 or later.

Connect lead to USB on your pc Press just the power button down on iPhone don't let go Connect lead to iPhone keep power button pressed down until pc sees iPhone Then wait for restore you may need to do this more than once Before it works.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

Hello Johnsonshen

Then I suggest to make a Genius Bar appointment to help resolve your issue .

And please inform them that you would like to have a backup if at all you have not taken one .

Hello Johnsonshen

That's the best way to check and figure out if they can do something. Apple Support is great but having a Certified Apple Technician take a look at your device hands-on is even more recommended.

Let me start by saying this “Where there is a will there is a way”

Data in your iPhone on or off will always be there !

As long as there is power to your iPhone and can turn on to some screen at least lock or startup screen the Data Can be recovered by Apple !

May be not by the End-Users but it is possible!

But not easy !

So I suggest you try your level best to get it up and at least showing some part of the OS !

And then try to recover or tell the Genius Bar Technicians to try to do their level best !

I agree with LaCAllen

As someone who has studies encryption, once you loose the encryption key NOTHING can be done, unless there is a backdoor which probably isn't there since Apple is very good in Safeguarding the data.

Hello Johnsonshen

If you get the option to "update"/"upgrade" and it does perform it then it will be reinstalling the iOS !

So you might get a message of "restoring" but I suggest that you do not stop/terminate it but rather let it proceed.

As long as your first click was "update" and not "restore" your data shouldn't get wiped off.

Hello Joshnsonshen

One possibility that you might see "restoring" is perhaps because the iPSW in the iOS device is damaged.

So it is Restoring that part of the iOS device.

What I would do is go ahead in your case and do it.

And if you are successful please take a backup once you get your device back.