How To Fix iPhone 17 Stuck On Apple Logo Or Boot Loop (2026)

Your iPhone 17 shows the Apple logo, then restarts or hangs and never reaches the Lock Screen.

This is usually a software problem that you can fix from a computer, and your data is often safe if you pick the right option.

Allow about 30 minutes, plus download time, and follow the steps in order, because the early ones erase nothing.

Which fix should you try first?

What you see	Do this	Erases data?
Apple logo with a progress bar	Wait; Apple says to allow at least an hour with no movement	No
Logo that freezes or restarts	Force restart (Step 1)	No
Still looping after a force restart	Recovery mode, then Update (Steps 2 to 3)	No
Update fails	Recovery mode, then Restore (Step 4)	Yes
Restore is not possible or you manage the phone with Apple Configurator	Revive on a Mac (Step 6)	Keeps data when possible

Wait before you do anything drastic

During an update, restore or data migration, the logo and progress bar can stay on screen for a long time.

Apple’s guidance is to act only if the progress bar has not moved for at least one hour.

If the logo has no progress bar at all, or the phone is cycling on and off, go straight to Step 1.

Step 1: force restart the iPhone 17

A force restart does not erase anything.

Quickly press and release Volume Up.
Quickly press and release Volume Down.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then let go.

A power-off slider may appear while you hold the button, so ignore it and keep holding until the screen goes black and the logo returns.

The same sequence applies to the iPhone 17 line and the iPhone Air.

Step 2: prepare a computer and cable

Use a Mac or a PC and a working USB cable.

Mac on macOS Catalina 10.15 or later: you will use Finder.
Mac on macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier: you will use iTunes.
Windows PC: install the latest Apple Devices app (Apple also mentions iTunes).

Apple recommends keeping a Mac’s macOS up to date and installing the latest Apple Devices app on a PC before you start.

Step 3: put the iPhone 17 in recovery mode

Connect the iPhone to the computer first, then press the buttons.

Quickly press and release Volume Up.
Quickly press and release Volume Down.
Press and hold the Side button, and keep holding it until the Connect to computer (recovery mode) screen appears.

Open Finder or the Apple Devices app and select the iPhone; the computer should report that it is in recovery mode.

Apple lists this as the sequence for iPhone 8 and later, which includes the iPhone 17.

Step 4: choose Update, not Restore

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

Update reinstalls the latest iOS without erasing your data, while Restore erases the iPhone.

If the download takes longer than 15 minutes, the iPhone can leave the recovery screen.

When that happens, let the download finish, then repeat the recovery mode steps.

Warning: do not disconnect the cable or let the computer sleep while the update runs.

Step 5: restore the iPhone if Update fails

If Update fails or the loop comes back, repeat recovery mode and choose Restore.

Restore reinstalls iOS and erases all data, so use it only after Update has failed.

After the restore, set the iPhone up and choose how to bring your data back.

Backup type	How to restore	Watch out for
iCloud backup	At Transfer Your Apps & Data, tap From iCloud Backup and sign in	Stay on Wi-Fi and power until the progress bar finishes
Computer backup	Select the iPhone in Finder or Apple Devices, click Restore Backup, pick the newest backup	An encrypted backup needs its password

Apple also says photos, music and apps may keep downloading after the restore finishes.

Expect an Activation Lock check after a restore

Each time an iPhone is activated or recovered, it checks with Apple whether Activation Lock is on.

You will need the Apple Account password linked to the phone, so find it before you start a restore.

If you cannot recover the account or reset the password, you may lose access and be unable to reactivate the device.

Step 6: revive the iPhone with Apple Configurator on a Mac

Apple Configurator offers Revive, which reinstalls iOS while keeping user data when possible.

Apple’s own guide advises trying a revive first because it can be faster than a restore and does not erase the device.

Install Apple Configurator from the Mac App Store.
Connect the iPhone and put it in recovery mode (Step 3).
Select the iPhone in Apple Configurator.
Choose Actions, then Advanced, then Revive Device.

Revive needs a reliable internet connection for the firmware download.

What about DFU mode?

Many websites describe a DFU mode restore for boot loops.

Apple’s support pages that we checked do not give consumer button steps for DFU mode, so we do not list steps here.

Recovery mode with Update or Restore, or Apple Configurator, are the routes Apple documents for a phone stuck on the logo.

Why Reset All Settings will not help here

Reset All Settings lives inside the Settings app, which you cannot reach when the phone never finishes booting.

Skip it and use the computer-based steps above.

Which step matches your symptom?

Symptom	Try
Logo and progress bar, no movement for an hour	Steps 2 to 4
Logo, then restart, repeating	Steps 1 to 4
Connect to computer screen shows	Steps 4 and 5
Computer does not recognise the iPhone	Recovery mode (Step 3) with another cable or port
Update fails twice	Step 5 or Step 6
A button does not work or sticks	Contact Apple

When to contact Apple

Apple says to contact it if you cannot update or restore the iPhone in recovery mode, or if a button does not work so you cannot enter recovery mode.

Start at getsupport.apple.com and describe what is happening to get next steps.

At launch in September 2025, Apple listed an out-of-warranty battery replacement at $119 for the iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air, and AppleCare+ repair fees from $29 to $99 per incident (US prices; check Apple for current fees).

Official references: Apple’s pages on an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo, updating or restoring in recovery mode and restoring from a backup.