To force restart an iPhone SE (2020), quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. Recovery mode uses the same two volume-button presses, but you must connect the phone to a computer and keep holding Side until the Connect to computer screen appears. DFU mode is different and is not Apple’s documented first step for routine troubleshooting.
Force restart an iPhone SE (2020)
Use this sequence if the phone is frozen or unresponsive. You do not need a computer.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
- Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
- Press and hold the Side button.
- When the Apple logo appears, release the Side button.
This restarts the phone; it does not put it into recovery mode or ask you to restore iOS. If the phone still will not restart, follow Apple’s iPhone support guidance.
Enter recovery mode
Recovery mode lets a computer attempt to update or restore iOS. Apple groups iPhone SE (2nd generation and later) with iPhone 8 or later for this procedure.
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- Connect the iPhone to a computer with a working USB cable.
- On a Mac, open Finder. On a Windows PC, open Apple Devices.
- Quickly press and release Volume Up, then quickly press and release Volume Down.
- Press and hold the Side button. Keep holding it past the Apple logo, until the Connect to computer screen appears.
- Find the iPhone in Finder or Apple Devices and follow the on-screen prompt to Update or Restore.
Apple recommends trying Update first when appropriate. Restore reinstalls iOS and erases all your data, so read the computer’s prompt before choosing it. See Apple’s recovery-mode instructions.
If the iPhone leaves the recovery screen during a download
If the software download takes more than 15 minutes, the phone may exit the recovery screen. Let the download finish, then repeat the recovery-mode button sequence. Apple says service may be needed if recovery cannot update or restore the phone, or if a button is stuck or does not work. See Apple’s recovery guidance.
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- Check your phone model: Before you order, please confirm your phone model to find out which product is right for you
How recovery mode, force restart, and DFU differ
| Mode | Purpose and screen cue | Computer needed? | Data consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Force restart | Restarts an unresponsive phone; release Side when the Apple logo appears. | No | The button sequence itself does not ask you to restore the phone. |
| Recovery mode | Computer-assisted iOS update or restore; the screen says Connect to computer. | Yes | Restore erases all data; try Update first when appropriate. |
| DFU mode | A third-party-described restore mode; the cited guide uses a black screen as the cue. | Yes, in the cited guide | Apple’s current support instructions cited here do not give an iPhone SE (2020)-specific DFU procedure. |
DFU mode on iPhone SE (2020)
Apple’s cited support instructions document recovery mode, not a model-specific DFU entry sequence. A MacRumors guide covering iPhone SE (2020 and 2022) describes this sequence:
- Connect the iPhone to a computer.
- Quickly press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down.
- Hold the Side button until the display turns black.
- While continuing to hold Side, press and hold Volume Down for about five seconds.
- Release Side, but keep holding Volume Down. The screen should remain black; the guide says Finder should recognize the device.
These timings are from MacRumors, not Apple. For ordinary troubleshooting, use Apple’s documented recovery process first. Do not assume DFU is required for a frozen-phone restart or that it preserves data; understand the computer’s prompt before proceeding with any restore.
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