5 Ways for How to Recover Data from iPhone in DFU Mode

Updated to iPhone Data Recovery Tips by Robert on Nov 10, 2023 | Approved by Christian Cawley

Whether you are a jailbreaker, device tester, or just an unfortunate iPhone user, you may have come across an iPhone in DFU mode. This is a mode where your phone is waiting for a software update. However, being in that situation can also mean that you get all your iPhone data locked in the device. Recovering that data and avoiding any losses means you need to know how to recover files from iPhone in DFU mode.

To help you out, we will tell you exactly what’s iPhone DFU mode, how to recover data from it, and address some frequently asked questions regarding this issue. If you want to recover data from DFU mode, then keep reading.

Part 1. What is DFU Mode?

DFU is short for Device Firmware Upgrade, and as you would expect, it is a mode where you can change or install the firmware of your iOS device. Connecting your iPhone to iTunes in DFU mode will allow you to load a new OS and even fix some major issues with your device. However, the focus here is to help you recover data from DFU mode so let us get into that right away.

Part 2. How to Exit iPhone DFU Mode Manually

  1. Connect your iPhone with your computer and launch iTunes on your computer
  2. Exit DFU mode by pressing the buttons on your phone.
  3. For iPhone 8 and later: Quick-press the Volume Up button > quick-press the Volume Down button > press the Side power button until the iPhone reboots.

    For iPhone 7 (plus): hold down the Side button and Volume Down button to reboot the iPhone.

    For iPhone 6s and later: Press the Home button and the Power/ Sleep button at the same time for like 10s until the device reboots.

  4. Tap the Power button immediately and wait for your iPhone to restart.

Part 3. How to Recover Files From iPhone in DFU Mode

We will be discussing 5 different methods that you can use to recover files from iPhone in DFU mode. Each method is easy to use and if you think you can’t restore iPhone in DFU mode then this will change your mind.

1. Recover Data from iPhone in DFU Mode Selectively

While it may be possible to connect your device to your PC via iTunes and recover data, it is not always the case. Furthermore, some people do not even want to retrieve everything on their device or don’t even know how to restore iPhone with DFU mode and only want to get their hands on the important stuff. With software like iBeesoft iPhone Data Recovery, you can scan your device for everything that is present and then choose the items you want to salvage.

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
  2. Download, install and launch iBeesoft iPhone Data Recovery.
  3. Download for Windows Download for macOS
  4. Click "Recover from iOS Device", then click "Scan" beside the iPhone.
  5. Wait for the scanning process to finish. After then, you can see all recoverable files are sorted into categories. Select files to open them for preview.
  6. Select needed files and click "Recover" to save them on your computer.

The app provides you a complete list of items that it has found, including photos, videos, messages, voice memos, and everything else on your phone’s storage chip. Look for the items you want to restore, select them using the given checkboxes, and then click on the green Recover button on the bottom right of the application. It really is that simple to recover data from iphone in recovery mode.

2. Getting Files from iTunes Backup File

Even with people wanting to know how to restore iPhone with DFU mode, it is not always possible to connect their phone to iTunes and then restore their phone completely. However, if you are smart enough and have an iTunes backup stored on your computer, you can easily restore it on your iPhone. Instead of worrying about putting your phone into DFU mode from recovery mode, you can rely on a good tool like iBeesoft iPhone data recovery to streamline things.

All you need to do is open the iBeesoft iPhone Data Recovery app, select the "Recover from iTunes" tab on top, and the software will automatically show you iTunes recovery files available on your computer. Once you find the right file, all you need to do is click on the "Scan" button and wait for the software to show you all the data available for restoration.

You can pick and choose the files you want, from messages to media and everything else available. It is the easiest method to put your iPhone into DFU mode and restore data with a few simple clicks.

3. Recovering Data from iCloud Backup File

Apple has made the life of its users extremely easy by offering iCloud backup for their iPhones. This means your backup file is always up to date and can be accessed anywhere in the world as long as you have internet access. So, if you can’t restore iPhone in DFU mode, then maybe this method will help you figure out how to do it easily.

Using iBeesoft iPhone data recovery tool for this process will make things much easier for you. With your phone connected to your computer, you need to open the tool and select the "Recover from iCloud" tab on top. This will take you to a page where you will sign into your iCloud account. Once you have logged in, you will be able to see the iCloud backups you have available. Download the one you want to restore your iPhone from.

At this point, if you need to put your iPhone into DFU mode and restore its data the same way. You will see the downloaded file with the Scan button next to it. Clicking it will open all the files and data available in your iCloud backup which you can selectively choose from and then restore on your iPhone.

4. Using iTunes Backup to Restore iPhone

For Windows users, Apple has provided the ability to store local iTunes backup of their iPhones from which they can restore their phones. To do that, all you need to do is follow these steps:

  1. Open iTunes on your Windows PC
  2. Connect your iPhone in DFU mode via USB cable. If you came here directly and want to know what’s iPhone DFU mode, then read the top of the article.
  3. You may be asked to enter a passcode when connecting your phone for the first time. You can also select the Trust This Computer option at this point if you do not want to enter the passcode again.
  4. In the "Backups" section, you will see a button saying, "Restore Backup". This will show you a dropdown list of backups available and you can choose the relevant one.
  5. You may need to enter a password again if your backup is encrypted. Once entered, click on the blue Backup button, and wait for the iPhone to restore fully.
  6. You can disconnect your iPhone once the sync process is complete.

5. Using iCloud Backup to Restore iPhone

This is by far the easiest way to restore your iPhone since it does not require connecting to any device. However, this is only possible if your iPhone is turning on normally and is in setup mode. During the setup process, you will see a screen titled Apps and Data where you can find the option to "Restore from iCloud Backup". Clicking on it will take you to the iCloud sign-in screen, where you can then see all your stored backups and select the most relevant one to restore to your iPhone.

Select all the relevant options that show up on the next screens until you see a progress bar with "Restore from iCloud" written on top. All you need to do is wait for the process to complete at this point and your iPhone will be restored.

Frequently Asked Questions for iPhone DFU Mode

  1. Will DFU mode erase my data?
  2. If your device is stuck in DFU mode, then yes it will erase all your data while restoring with iTunes.

  3. How can I recover data from iPhone in recovery mode?
  4. The iPhone recovery mode vs DFU mode battle has run on for a long time. However, to recover your phone easily, it is best to go into DFU mode from recovery mode, as this will allow you to trigger the restore prompt on iTunes when you connect your iPhone to your computer.

  5. Can you back up in DFU mode?
  6. While there is no official way to backup iPhone data in DFU mode, you can use third-party tools to make your own backup. At the very least, you will be able to recover the files you need so you can restore them later.

  7. What happens if you put your iPhone in DFU Mode.?
  8. As the name suggests, the Device Firmware Upgrade or DFU mode is a setting where you can install or upgrade the firmware of your iOS device.