How to Use Restore Nearby iPhone on iOS 18

Stuck iPhone? Apple’s New “Restore Nearby” Feature Could Be a Lifesaver

Imagine this: You’re updating your iPhone like you’ve done many times before. The screen goes black… and then nothing. No home screen, no restart—just a screen showing a cable and computer icon. You’re stuck in recovery mode. If you’re not near your laptop or don’t have a cable on hand, panic can easily set in.

But with iPhone 16 and the latest iPad mini (A17 Pro chip), Apple has introduced a small but powerful feature that could save you a trip to the Apple Store: “Restore Nearby iPhone.”

Let’s break it down in a simple way—and share a real-life-style example of how it works.

What Is “Restore Nearby iPhone”?

Sometimes, when your iPhone or iPad tries to install a software update, it can get stuck. It doesn’t happen often—but when it does, you’re left with a device that won’t turn on properly. This is called recovery mode.

Apple now lets you use another iPhone or iPad nearby to fix it—no computer required.

You’ll see a screen that looks like two devices being brought close together. That’s your signal: help is nearby.

Case Example: Meet Sarah

Sarah just bought her new iPhone 16. While updating to the latest version of iOS, something went wrong. Her phone screen showed the recovery mode symbol.

Unfortunately, she was at a friend’s place—with no laptop or USB cable. But her friend had an iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, running iPadOS 18.

Here’s what they did:

Sarah plugged her iPhone into a charger.

Even though it was stuck, power is needed for recovery.

They placed the iPhone next to the iPad mini.

A message popped up on the iPad:

“Restore Nearby iPhone.”

They tapped Continue.

The two devices connected automatically.

A 6-digit code appeared on Sarah’s iPhone.

She read it aloud, and her friend typed it into the iPad. This step confirmed the connection and let the iPad share its Wi-Fi.

The iPad started restoring the iPhone.

Sarah saw the words: “Restoring iPhone.”

They waited.

After about 15 minutes, Sarah’s iPhone restarted—fresh and working again.

All without a single cable or laptop.

How You Can Use This Feature

Here’s a quick step-by-step if your iPhone or iPad gets stuck:

Plug the stuck device into power.
Place it next to another Apple device (iPhone or iPad with iOS/iPadOS 18, unlocked and on Wi-Fi).
A message will appear:

“Restore Nearby iPhone” or “Restore Nearby iPad.”

Tap Continue.
Enter the 6-digit code from the stuck device.
Tap OK when it starts restoring.

Stay patient, and don’t unplug either device during the process.

💡 Tip: Keep both devices plugged in until the restore finishes.

What If It Still Doesn’t Work?

If this method doesn’t fix the problem, don’t worry. You can still use the old-school way:

Connect the iPhone or iPad to a Mac or PC using a cable.
Use Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows) to restore the device manually.

It takes more steps, but it’s reliable.

🙋‍♂️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is “Restore Nearby iPhone”?

A: It’s a new feature in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that lets you fix an iPhone or iPad stuck in recovery mode by using another Apple device nearby—no computer or cable needed.

Q: When would I use this?

A: If your iPhone or iPad gets stuck during a software update and shows a screen with a cable or recovery symbol, this feature lets you restore it wirelessly using another nearby device.

Q: What devices support this feature?

A: Right now, it works with:

iPhone 16 series
Latest iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip

And the helper device must be running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18.

Q: Do both devices need to be mine?

A: Nope! You can use someone else’s compatible iPhone or iPad—as long as it’s unlocked and connected to Wi-Fi. You'll just need to enter a one-time code to connect the devices.

Q: Is this faster than using a computer?

A: Usually, yes. It’s quicker and more convenient, especially if you don’t have a cable or Mac/PC nearby. It’s designed to help on the go.

Q: What if the restore fails?

A: If something goes wrong, or the option doesn’t appear, you can still fall back to the classic method: connect your iPhone or iPad to a Mac or PC with a USB cable and restore it using Finder or iTunes.

Q: Is my data safe during this process?

A: If your device was already backed up to iCloud or a computer, you can restore from that backup after the recovery. But if not, you may lose unsaved data during a full restore—just like with any recovery process.

Q: Can I use this feature with older iPhones or iPads?

A: No, the stuck device needs to be an iPhone 16 or newer, or an iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip. The feature isn't available on older models.