When an iPad won’t start, an iPadOS update fails repeatedly, or a restore needs a specific firmware file, Recovery Mode and DFU Mode are the tools that reach the problems ordinary troubleshooting can’t. The button combinations differ by iPad generation, so this guide covers both families separately.
If you’re troubleshooting an iPhone instead, see our iPhone Recovery Mode and DFU guide; the iPad steps below are the ones Apple documents for iPad hardware.
First, Identify Your iPad Generation
The steps depend on one physical detail:
- No Home button (edge-to-edge screen): iPad Pro (2018 and later), iPad Air (4th generation and later), iPad mini (6th generation and later), iPad (10th generation and later)
- Has a Home button (circular button below the screen): iPad (9th generation and earlier), iPad mini 1-5, iPad Air 1-3, iPad Pro (2017 and earlier)
Not sure which one you have? Our iPadOS firmware pages list every model with its generation, or check Settings > General > About on a working device.
Recovery Mode vs. DFU Mode
| Recovery Mode | DFU Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| What loads | iPadOS not loaded, but the iBoot bootloader is | Nothing, not even the bootloader |
| Screen shows | Recovery screen (cable + computer icon) | Completely black |
| Options in Finder/iTunes | Update (keeps data) or Restore (erases) | Restore only |
| Use for | Failed updates, stuck startup, standard restores | Downgrades, manual IPSW installs, corruption that survives Recovery |
| Risk | Low (try Update before Restore) | Restores erase the device |
The practical rule: Recovery Mode first. Move to DFU only when a Recovery Mode restore also fails, or when you need to install a specific firmware file yourself, which is covered in our iPadOS installation guide.
Recovery Mode
Connect the iPad to a computer with an original Apple USB cable, then follow the steps for your model. Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later), the Apple Devices app on Windows 10 or later, or iTunes.
iPad without a Home button:
- Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button
- Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button
- Press and hold the Top button and keep holding it until the recovery screen appears (an image of a computer and cable)
iPad with a Home button:
- Press and hold both the Home button and the Top button at the same time
- When the iPad turns off, release the Top button but keep holding the Home button
- Keep holding Home until the recovery screen appears
If the passcode screen appears instead, power the iPad off and start again.
What to Choose Once You’re In
When Finder, iTunes, or the Apple Devices app detects the iPad, you get two options:
- Update reinstalls iPadOS without erasing your data. Always try this first
- Restore erases the iPad and installs fresh iPadOS. Only if Update fails
If the software download takes more than 15 minutes and the iPad exits the recovery screen, let the download finish on the computer, then re-enter Recovery Mode and try again.
DFU Mode
DFU is the deeper level: it replaces the firmware itself, bypassing the bootloader. Use it when a Recovery Mode restore also fails. The screen stays completely black in DFU; if you see the Apple logo, the timing slipped and you should start over. Nothing bad happens on a mistimed attempt, since the iPad just boots normally.
iPad without a Home button:
- Connect the iPad to the computer and open Finder, iTunes, or the Apple Devices app
- Press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button
- Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button
- Press and hold the Top button for 10 seconds
- While still holding the Top button, press and hold the volume button farthest from it for 5 seconds
- Release the Top button but keep holding that volume button for 10 more seconds
iPad with a Home button:
- Connect the iPad to the computer and open Finder, iTunes, or the Apple Devices app
- Press and hold the Home button and the Top button together for 8 seconds
- Release the Top button, but keep holding the Home button for 10 more seconds
From DFU, hold Option (Mac) or Shift (Windows), click Restore, and select your verified IPSW file if you’re installing specific firmware. A restore from DFU erases the device, so back up first whenever the iPad is functional.
Exiting Either Mode
- Recovery Mode: unplug the cable, then press and hold the Top button until the Apple logo appears
- DFU Mode: force restart, which is the same combination as the force restart for your iPad generation (Volume Up, Volume Down, hold Top for no-Home-button models; Home + Top for older ones), held for 10 to 15 seconds until the Apple logo appears
Troubleshooting
- Computer doesn’t recognize the iPad: try a different original cable and a port directly on the computer (not a hub), update Finder/iTunes/the Apple Devices app, and restart the computer
- Restore fails with an error code: look it up in our installation error guide; most codes map to a cable, software, or signing issue with a specific fix
- Restoring someone else’s iPad: a device previously owned by another person may stop at Activation Lock, which requires their Apple Account credentials and cannot be bypassed
After a Successful Restore
- Walk through setup, or restore from your iCloud or computer backup
- Update apps and test the essentials: Wi-Fi, Apple Pencil pairing, keyboard
- Make a fresh backup once everything checks out
If restores keep failing, the iPad reports hardware errors, or it has been dropped or wet, that’s Apple Support or an authorized service provider territory; button sequences can’t fix hardware.