Your iPad is on the restore screen, but the computer will not finish the restore or does not see the device at all. The fix is usually one of five things: the right Apple app, the right recovery-mode button sequence, a clean USB connection, the exact restore error path, or another Apple-supported erase method.
Start with the least destructive steps below, then move to erase and service options only when the iPad still will not recover.
1. Choose the current Apple restore app
Use the restore app Apple supports for your computer before you repeat recovery mode.
On macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder.
On Windows, install or update Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store.
If the Windows PC cannot use Apple Devices, install or update iTunes from the Microsoft Store.
On macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, open iTunes.
Update macOS or Windows first, then update Apple Devices or iTunes. Old restore software can stop the iPad from updating or restoring correctly.
2. Reenter recovery mode with the correct buttons
Connect the iPad directly to the computer with a USB cable.
Open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
For an iPad without a Home button, press and quickly release the volume button closest to the top button, press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button, then press and hold the top button until the recovery mode screen appears.
For an iPad with a Home button, press and hold Home and the top button together. When the iPad turns off, release the top button but keep holding Home until the recovery mode screen appears.
Select the iPad in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.
Click Update first if you are troubleshooting and want to reinstall iPadOS without erasing the iPad.
Click Restore when you are ready to erase the iPad and reinstall the software.
The button sequence depends on the iPad model, so use the one that matches your device. If the iPad shows the restore screen again, keep it connected. Open Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, wait for the message that the device needs to be updated or restored, then click Update.
3. Wait out the download before retrying
A download that takes more than 15 minutes can make the iPad leave recovery mode, but the computer should keep downloading the software.
Leave the computer connected and let the download finish.
After the download completes, repeat the recovery-mode button sequence, select the iPad again in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, then continue with Update or Restore.
Do not disconnect the cable while the computer is still downloading the iPad software.
4. Fix the USB connection and trust prompts
Plug the iPad directly into the computer USB port, not a keyboard or hub.
Use a cable in good condition.
Try a different Apple USB cable.
Try a different USB port or another computer.
Check the iPad charging port for debris.
Unlock the iPad and tap Trust if the trust alert appears.
On Mac, click Allow if the accessory connection alert appears.
If the iPad does not appear on the computer, fix the connection before starting another restore.
On Mac, open Finder, then choose View and Show Sidebar if the sidebar is hidden.
On Windows, open Apple Devices or iTunes after connecting the iPad.
5. Repair Windows recognition failures
On Windows, update Windows, update Apple Devices or iTunes, and check for software conflicts.
Close iTunes and disconnect the iPad.
Press Windows + R.
Type services.msc, then click OK.
Right-click Apple Mobile Device Service, then click Properties.
Set Startup type to Automatic.
Click Stop the service, then click Start the service.
Click OK, restart the computer, open iTunes, and connect the iPad again.
If you use iTunes and get an Apple Mobile Device Service error, restart the service.
If security software is blocking restore, confirm the computer Date & Time settings, sign in with an administrator account, update Apple software and the operating system, then temporarily remove the third-party security software to test the restore path.
6. Follow the exact restore error
Write down the exact number or message shown in Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, then use Apple’s matching restore-error flow instead of repeating the same restore after an error alert.
Apple’s restore error page covers codes and messages including 9, 4005, 4013, 4014, 3000-3020, 3194, 4037, software download errors, device eligibility messages, and required resource errors.
Do not use older downgrade tutorials that tell you to restore to an earlier iPadOS IPSW; Apple’s current direction for those downgrade-style errors is to restore the latest software through recovery mode.
7. Erase another Apple-supported way
If the iPad is unlocked, open Settings, tap General, tap Transfer or Reset iPad, tap Erase All Content and Settings, enter the passcode or Apple Account password, then tap Continue.
If the Lock Screen says the iPad is unavailable on iPadOS 17 or later, and you already enabled Find My and are connected to cellular or Wi-Fi, tap Forgot Passcode?, tap Start iPad Reset, enter the Apple Account password, then tap Erase iPad.
If you changed the passcode within the last 72 hours on iPadOS 17 or later, tap Forgot Passcode?, tap Enter Previous Passcode, enter the old passcode, then set a new passcode.
From iCloud, go to Find Devices, select the iPad, choose Erase This Device, then follow the onscreen instructions.
From another Apple device, open Find My, tap Devices, select the iPad, then choose Erase or Erase This Device. The Find My app can erase remotely only if two-factor authentication is on for your Apple Account; if it is not, erase from iCloud.com instead.
Use one of these paths when recovery mode is only needed because you want to erase the iPad, or when the iPad can still receive an online erase command.
After an erase, Activation Lock can still block setup.
For a personal iPad, open iCloud Find Devices, select the erased iPad, then choose Remove This Device.
8. Use wireless recovery or Apple service
Some newer iPads can restore wirelessly with a nearby iPhone or iPad.
Connect the iPad in recovery mode to power, place it near an unlocked iPhone or iPad connected to Wi-Fi, tap Continue when Restore Nearby iPad appears, enter the six-digit code shown on the iPad in recovery mode, then tap OK when the restore message appears.
The helper device needs iOS 18 or later or iPadOS 18 or later.
If Recovery Assistant appears during startup or crash recovery, click Continue. It requires Wi-Fi and does not support captive networks or 802.1X networks.
For a work or school iPad, use the organization’s device management path. Apple Business, Apple School Manager, Apple Configurator, and MDM services can erase or restore managed iPads, including Return to Service where supported.
Use Apple service when recovery restore still fails, the USB port is damaged, or the hardware buttons are broken or stuck. Recovery mode cannot work reliably when the required button sequence or USB connection is physically failing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I click Update or Restore in recovery mode?
Click Update first when you want to reinstall iPadOS without erasing the iPad. Click Restore when you are ready to erase the iPad and reinstall the software.
Why does my iPad leave recovery mode during restore?
Apple says the iPad can exit recovery mode when the software download takes more than 15 minutes. Let the computer finish downloading, then put the iPad back into recovery mode and continue.
Can I fix iPad restore mode not working without a computer?
Yes, when the iPad is eligible. You can erase from Settings, use the Lock Screen reset flow, erase through iCloud Find Devices, erase from the Find My app, or use nearby wireless restore on supported newer models.
Is iTunes still the main restore app for Windows?
No. Apple Devices is the current Windows app for restoring an iPad. Use iTunes only as the fallback when Apple Devices is unavailable or the PC does not meet its requirements.