How to Put an iPod or iPhone into DFU Mode

Saffron48

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posted on 14 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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To manipulate your device in many ways, including jailbreaking it, you might have to put it into DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) Mode at one point or another. Follow this guide to put your device into DFU mode. Because of the need for exact timing during the procedure, it is recommended that you read the entire guide first before beginning.

Steps

Putting Your Device Into DFU Mode

Connect your device to the computer. In order to enter DFU mode, your device must be connected to a computer with the USB cable. Make sure that iTunes is running.

Press the Power button. Hold the Power button for 5 seconds.

Press the Home button. After the first 5 seconds, press and hold the Home button while continuing to hold the Power button. Do this for 10 seconds or until the screen darkens.

Release the Power button. After exactly 10 seconds of holding both buttons, release the Power button but continue holding the Home button. After a few seconds, a message will appear in iTunes letting you know that the device has been detected. The device’s screen will remain blank if done successfully.

Understanding DFU Mode

Put your device into DFU mode when downgrading. If you want to go back to an earlier version of iOS, you will need to enter DFU mode so that the old operating system software can be installed. DFU mode occurs before the device loads the installed operating system This allows you to change system files while they're not being accessed.

Put your device into DFU mode when jailbreaking. If you're jailbreaking your iPhone, you may need to put it into DFU mode to load the custom operating system. Not every jailbreak process requires you to do this.

Put your device into DFU mode when unjailbreaking. If you want to send in your jailbroken iPhone for warranty service, you will need to reverse the jailbreak process. This may require you to put your device into DFU mode. This is usually done as a troubleshooting step, when the device will not restore properly through iTunes.

Put your iPhone into DFU mode if recovering with normal recovery mode does not work. Sometimes, a firmware update may interrupt, causing corrupted files. It is advised that an iPhone is not force-restarted during a firmware update, as the iPhone may not continue with the firmware update. However, if an iPhone's firmware update is interrupted or the system memory is corrupt as a result of a process like jailbreaking, DFU mode ensures that the iOS device can be restored even if the memory is corrupt.