The Issue
When trying to upgrade or downgrade iPhone 7, iPhone 7 plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 plus, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad Pro, iPad mini, iPad air, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2, iPod touch 5, iPod touch 4 to iOS 10, iOS 9, iOS 8, iOS 7 or iOS 6, some users found that their device just went to recovery mode and was unable to boot up. “Connect to iTunes” sign was shown. After connecting devices to PC/Mac computer and trying to recover, the message pops up “The iPhone “iPhone” could not be restored. This device isn’t eligible for the requested build.” or “The iPhone “iPhone” could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (36)”
What operations cause the “Recovery Mode” while upgrading to iOS 10, iOS 9, iOS 8, iOS 7 or iOS 6? How to recover iPhone, iPad or iPod touch without data loss? Is there any way to recover without iTunes? If iPhone, iPad or iPod can’t be restored, how to get out of the “Recovery mode”?
In depth of the issue
Currently, the reasons that cause “Recovery Mode” after upgrading to iOS 10/iOS 9/iOS 8/iOS 7/iOS 7 are unclear.Three are no other solutions but to manage to recover iPhone 7, iPhone 7 plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 plus, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad Pro, iPad mini, iPad air, iPad 4, iPad 3, iPad 2, iPod touch 5, iPod touch 4 with iTunes.If you successfully recover device, all your data including photos, documents, videos will be restored. if your device cannot be restored, that does not mean all your data are lost. Your data will not be lost, they are in somewhere in your device. All you need is a recovery tool to recover the data.
The solutions
Solution 1: Keep recovering several times
Make sure you uses the latest iTunes (12). You can recover data (mostly photos) from the latest iTunes backup or Firmware or iCloud backup.
Solution 2: Exit recovery mode using Tiny Umbrella if solution 1 does not work
- Download Tiny Umbrella 6. Link is on the right site of this website.
- Install the software and connect iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
- Software is showing a connected iPhone/iPad/iPod touch in recovery mode. Press the button “Exit Recovery” in the top of the software.
- Device will get out of recovery and start to install iOS 10/iOS 9/iOS 8/iOS 7/iOS 6 again and restart with iOS 10/iOS 9/iOS 8/iOS 7/iOS 6.
- If you have iTunes backup or iCloud backup, restore your device data from the backup.
After successfully installation, you will find all your apps are still there but your photos are lost.Actually your photos are not lost, they are just in your device are are stored in the folder of “other data”. In such case, you will need an iPhone File Manager to get back your photos again.
Solution 2: Exit recovery mode by perform factory reset
Hold Sleep button and Home button at the same time to reset iPhone devices to factory. Connect iPhone to iTunes (make sure you use the latest iTunes 11) and follow the steps to install iOS 10, iOS 9/iOS 8/iOS 7/iOS 6 and recover iPhone data. If you have iTunes backup or iCloud backup, restore your device data from the backup. Otherwise, you will need to use Photo recovery software.
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this isn’t working. I still cant get my iphone out of recovery mood…!!
please help
THANK YOU so much for sharing your knowledge!! <3 <3
You just saved me from losing all of my important pictures.
I will make sure never to trust the stablility of Apple's updates again.
*not to self* ALWAYS back-up pics prior to updating.
This is not working for me any other advise
thanks for this..i was able to exit the recovery mode..i thought my iphone was bricked..although i wasnt able to upgrade to ios 6..and thank god i save my shsh..i was able to restore it to 4.3.3..
Solition 2 worked for me 🙂
It worked! Although you have to buy the program in order to download the deleted items. Lucky for me all the items that were deleted I did not need to have restored. Good program to have if you accidentally delete something. Scary though! You are downloading everything on your phone to an external area via internet. Hope it truly gets erased after you exit the program. I’m happy it fixed the being stuck in recovery mode without loosing all my data. iCloud backup from now on!