How To Fix iPhone 13 Stuck On Apple Logo Or Boot Loop (2026)

Your iPhone 13 is stuck on the Apple logo, either frozen on it or restarting over and over without reaching the Lock Screen.

This is a software problem far more often than a dead phone, and Apple has an official escalation path that fixes most cases.

Follow the steps below in order, from the free force restart to the computer-based update, and you will know within about an hour whether it needs a repair.

Quick answer: which fix first?

What you see	Try this first	Erases data?
Apple logo only, no progress bar	Force restart	No
Apple logo with a progress bar	Wait; do nothing for at least one hour	No
Still looping after a force restart	Recovery mode, then Update	No, per Apple
Update fails or loops again	Recovery mode, then Restore	Yes, everything
Nothing works, or a button is stuck	Apple service	Depends on repair

The “Restore” choice is the only step here that deletes your data, so leave it for last.

Why is my iPhone 13 stuck on the Apple logo?

The phone cannot finish starting iOS, which usually means the software did not load correctly.

An interrupted or failed update: the install did not complete.
A restore or data transfer still running: the logo and progress bar can stay on screen for a long time.
A drained battery: the phone cannot start properly on almost no charge.
A hardware fault: a failing battery, storage or logic board, which only service can fix.

You cannot tell these apart from the logo alone, so start with the safest fix and escalate only when it fails.

Step 1: check whether a progress bar is moving

If you see a progress bar under the logo, the iPhone is probably still working, and interrupting it can make things worse.

Apple’s guidance for a restore or data transfer is to leave the phone alone until the bar has not moved for at least one hour.

Keep it plugged in and connected during that time.

Only if the bar has not moved for over an hour should you move on to recovery mode in step 4.

Step 2: charge the iPhone for an hour

A very low battery can keep the phone from starting, and Apple’s own advice for an iPhone that will not turn on is to charge it first.

Connect the iPhone to its charger and a wall outlet.
Leave it for one hour.
Try the force restart in the next step.

If a low-battery icon appears, Apple says to charge it for 30 minutes or until it starts.

Step 3: force restart the iPhone 13

A force restart does not erase anything and interrupts many stuck startups.

Press and quickly release Volume Up.
Press and quickly release Volume Down.
Press and hold the Side button.
Release it when the Apple logo appears again.

Apple notes the Apple logo can take more than 10 seconds to appear while you hold the Side button.

If the phone reaches the Lock Screen, update iOS and back it up, then it is fixed.

Step 4: put the iPhone 13 in recovery mode

Recovery mode lets a computer reinstall iOS, and you will need a Mac with Finder or a PC with the Apple Devices app.

Update the Mac, or install the latest Apple Devices app on a PC.
Connect the iPhone to the computer with a USB cable.
Open Finder on a Mac, or the Apple Devices app on a PC.
Press and quickly release Volume Up.
Press and quickly release Volume Down.
Press and hold the Side button until the “Connect to computer” screen appears.

Keep holding the Side button through the Apple logo; do not let go until the recovery screen appears.

Step 5: choose Update first, not Restore

When your computer offers Update or Restore, choose Update first.

Update reinstalls iOS and aims to keep your data and settings, while Restore erases the phone.

Click Update when prompted.
Let the computer download the software for your iPhone.
Keep the iPhone connected until the update finishes.

Important: if the download takes more than 15 minutes, the iPhone may leave the recovery screen.

When that happens, let the download finish, then repeat step 4 and choose Update again.

Step 6: Restore, only if Update fails

If Update fails or the loop returns, Restore is the next step, and it deletes everything on the iPhone.

Put the iPhone back into recovery mode using step 4.
Choose Restore in Finder or the Apple Devices app.
Let the computer download iOS and install it.
Set up the iPhone when it restarts.

You can then restore from an iCloud or computer backup if you have one.

What if the computer does not see the iPhone?

If the iPhone does not appear on the computer, the problem is often the connection, so check these first.

Problem	What to try
Phone not listed in Finder or Apple Devices	Re-do the recovery mode buttons with the phone connected
Computer not recognizing the device	Update the Mac, or install the latest Apple Devices app on a PC
Connection problems	Try another USB port and another cable
Download takes over 15 minutes	Let it finish, then re-enter recovery mode and repeat

Apple’s Mac guide also suggests checking your internet connection and restarting the Mac.

When is it a hardware problem?

If recovery mode will not start, the computer cannot update or restore the phone, or a button does not work or sticks, you probably need service.

Apple lists those situations itself as the point to contact it for service.

Battery or storage faults: can stop iOS from loading even after a clean reinstall.
Drop or liquid damage: can damage the logic board.
A stuck button: can block recovery mode entirely.

These are common causes of hardware boot failures, but only a technician can confirm which one you have.

How do I get service or check my warranty?

Check your coverage first, because it decides whether a repair costs you anything.

Way to check	Where
On a working iPhone	Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty
On the web	checkcoverage.apple.com
With your Apple Account	mysupport.apple.com, then your device
Request service	getsupport.apple.com

If the phone is out of warranty, ask for a written quote before approving a repair.

An iPhone 13 is an older model, so weigh the repair price against what a replacement would cost you.

What about DFU mode?

DFU mode is a deeper restore state that some repair guides mention, but this guide leaves it out.

The Apple support pages used for this article cover recovery mode only, and a wrong DFU sequence can waste time without helping.

Apple service can run deeper diagnostics and restores if recovery mode fails.

These related guides cover nearby problems: iPhone 13 stuck in recovery mode and iPhone 13 black screen but phone is on.

If you own a newer model, see iPhone 16 stuck on the Apple logo.

Official sources: Apple: if you can’t update or restore your iPhone, Apple: restart an unresponsive iPhone and Apple: restoring when the progress bar stays on screen.