"My iPhone got stuck at Attempting Data Recovery loop screen when updating iOS. How to fix this problem?"

It is common to see "Attempting Data Recovery" during an iOS update. Don't worry, because it means the system is trying to repair itself. In most cases, your data is still safe and will not be erased.

This issue usually happens when an update is interrupted, storage is full, or the system becomes unstable after jailbreaking. In this guide, we will walk you through the iPhone Attempting Data Recovery meaning and discuss how to get rid of the iPhone Attempting Data Recovery loop effortlessly.

Part 1: Why iPhone Says Attempting Data Recovery

What does Attempting Data Recovery mean on iPhone? It means that your iPhone gets stuck in the loop, fail to start or complete an iOS update, and is now trying to repair the system automatically while preserving your data. The possible reasons why the error happens on your iPhone include:

• Wrong actions when updating software with a PC or Mac computer, such as disconnecting your handset during the process, power failure, software glitches, etc.
• Update an iPhone or iPad to iOS 26/18/17/16/15/12/11.4 via OTA or iTunes.
• Insufficient storage when updating iOS.
• Update iOS after jailbreaking.
• Downgrade from iOS 26 to 18 or below.
• Repeatedly enter the wrong password. It's rare, but some users reported that they encountered "iPhone Attempting Data Recovery" after entering the wrong password too many times.

Part 2: [Immediate Fix] Wait & Force Restart

Solution 1: Wait Patiently

First, keep your iPhone charged and wait patiently for about 10-30 minutes, as the system may still be repairing in the background.

If the screen is still stuck for more than 30-60 minutes, it is abnormal. You should try a force restart. This will not erase your data in most cases and can help break the recovery loop.

Solution 2: Via the Home Button

If you are using the iPhone with the Home button, you may see words saying "Press Home to Recover". At this time, you can simply press the Home button and wait for the update to automatically finish once your iPhone gets stuck in attempting data recovery fails. When it is done, your iPhone may return to its normal status. If not, you can perform the solutions below to get rid of the problem.

Solution 3: Force Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes, your iPhone keeps saying Attempting Data Recovery after the update. It means that your device is stuck in the loop. A force restart may help you get away from the iPhone Attempting Data Recovery loop and bring the normal screen back. The procedure is varied depending on the model.

Next, your iPhone will restart, enter the lock screen passcode, and check if the attempting data recovery alert disappears.

Part 3: Fix iPhone Attempting Data Recovery Loop Using iTunes Update

If a force restart cannot fix the issue, you may need to perform a deeper system repair. You can put your iPhone in Recovery Mode and use iTunes (or Finder on Mac) to reinstall or update iOS if it gets stuck on attempting data recovery during the update.

Step 1. Update your Mac. If you are using iTunes, install the latest version on your PC.

Step 2. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a Lightning cable. You'd better use the label that came with your device to avoid data loss or hardware damage.

Step 3. Perform a force restart on your iPhone and keep holding the button combination until it enters the Recovery Mode screen.

Step 4. Then, the Finder app or iTunes will pop up automatically. Click the Update button and wait for the process to complete. If the download takes more than 15 minutes and your iPhone quits the Recovery Mode screen, let the download complete, and then open Finder or iTunes again.

Step 5. After the update, your iPhone should reboot. Disconnect it, and the iPhone Attempting Data Recovery screen may not occur anymore.

Part 4: One-Click Tool to Fix iPhone Attempting Data Recovery Safely

Is it possible to fix the iPhone Attempting Data Recovery without data loss if all the basic fixes above fail? At this time, you may need a more advanced solution. A dedicated system repair tool like Apeaksoft iOS System Recovery is designed to fix iOS system problems, such as iPhone stuck on Attempting Data Recovery/update/Apple Logo, etc.

Here are the steps to get rid of the iPhone Attempting Data Recovery loop:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone

Run the best iOS System Recovery software after installing it on your PC. Hook up your iPhone to the same PC with a USB cable, and click the Start button to begin detecting software issues.

Step 2. Put iPhone in DFU mode

Click the Question button and follow the instructions to enter Recovery Mode or DFU Mode. Then, hit the Fix button, select a mode, and press the Confirm button.

Step 3. Fix iPhone attempting data recovery

Select your iPhone information, including category, type, model, and iOS version. At last, click on the Repair button to begin downloading the corresponding firmware. Then, the software will perform troubleshooting automatically, and you will get rid of Attempting Data Recovery on iPhone.

Part 5: Last Resort: Restore iPhone via iCloud (Data Loss)

Another solution to fix the attempting data recovery loop error on an iPhone or iPad is using iCloud (Find My iPhone/iPad) to remotely erase and restore your device. However, this method will completely erase all data and settings on your iPhone, so it should only be used as a last resort. It also requires that Find My is enabled and your device is currently online.

Step 1. Access the iCloud website in a browser, sign into your account, and choose Find iPhone or Find iPad.

Step 2. Pull down the All Devices menu above the map, and choose your iPhone name on the list. Then, it should appear on the map. Click the Erase iPhone button on the pop-up dialog, enter your Apple ID password or passcode to verify ownership, and hit Erase iPhone again to confirm the action.

Step 3. After erasing, your iPhone will display the welcome screen. Now, you can restore an iCloud backup. Set up your handset following the on-screen instructions until you reach the Apps & Data screen.

Step 4. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup, enter your Apple ID and password, and select an appropriate backup.

Step 5. Next, complete the setup with the instructions. Now, your iPhone should get rid of the attempting data recovery alert.

Part 6: What Happens After Attempting Data Recovery Is Completed

Does Attempting Data Recovery delete everything? Let's have a look at what will happen after Attempting Data Recovery on iPhone.

Complete data recovery

If you have backed up your iPhone (iCloud or iTunes), your data will be gradually restored to your iPhone completely.

Some data cannot be recovered

Some data (such as iCloud music library, Apple Pay information, etc.) may not be recovered from backups.

iPhone Attempting Data Recovery failed

If the backup file is corrupted or the internet connection is poor, the recovery process will fail.

Part 7: What to Do If Attempting Data Recovery Fails

If iPhone Attempting Data Recovery fails, you have to look for a third-party data recovery program like Apeaksoft iPhone Data Recovery to help you recover data safely.

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