iOS 26 Allows You to Restore Any iPhone Without a Mac or PC

[MacRumors]

iOS 26 adds a new Recovery Assistant feature to all compatible iPhones, and it can help return the device to a working state, with no Mac or PC required.

Recovery Assistant was introduced in the first iOS 26 beta, but Apple only mentioned the feature in its release notes for the second iOS 26 beta today.

"Recovery Assistant is a new way to recover your device if it doesn't start up normally," says Apple. "It can look for problems and attempt to resolve them if found."

Apple says an iPhone running iOS 26 will boot into a Recovery mode if the device has "encountered an issue while starting."

Here is what Recovery mode says on the iPhone's screen: "This iPhone encountered an issue while starting. To aid in diagnosing and resolving it, it has booted into Recovery. Recovery will look for any problems and attempt to resolve them if found."

According to a Reddit post, Recovery Assistant can help you return an iPhone to a working state with help from another Apple device, such as an iPad. This process can be initiated through the menu in the top-right corner of the Recovery mode on the affected iPhone. On the other Apple device, you can follow the on-screen steps to download and install a newer iOS version on the iPhone that is in Recovery mode, to help revive it.

This seems to expand on a recovery feature that debuted on iPhone 16 models last year.

Article Link: iOS 26 Allows You to Restore Any iPhone Without a Mac or PC

 

[winxmac]

Reminds me of Recovery/Troubleshooter in Windows 8.x and newer

 

[Nick A]

I've never seen an iPhone "not start normally". Is this a beta only thing?

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

this is absolutely huge!
there have been code references to this since iOS 13.3 over five years ago.
The fact that you’ve still needed access to a Mac or PC to restore an iPhone or iPad in 2025, 18 years since the original iPhone released and 13 years since it’s been PC free for set up and software updates has never made sense and has been one of the most dated parts of the iPhone. this is one of the best features introduced this year.

 

[Devyn89]

I wonder if this would work if you’re trying to downgrade from a beta version to a release version of the software. That’s the only reason I still have a Mac haha.

 

[klasma]

I've never seen an iPhone "not start normally".

Maybe they are expecting it to happen more frequently with iOS 26.

 

[tipoo]

I wonder if this is prep for portless. Every so often I still have to DFU someone's iPhone. However many years after the "post PC era"

 

[ignatius345]

I've never seen an iPhone "not start normally". Is this a beta only thing?

I never have either. But that doesn't mean it has never happened before. I would assume they built this because it can happen.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

this is absolutely huge!
there have been code references to this since iOS 13.3 over five years ago.
The fact that you’ve still needed access to a Mac or PC to restore an iPhone or iPad in 2025, 18 years since the original iPhone released and 13 years since it’s been PC free for set up and software updates has never made sense and has been one of the most dated parts of the iPhone. this is one of the best features introduced this year.

I appreciate you highlighting the significance of this, and I even updated the title of my MacRumors article accordingly. Good thinking.

 

[mrat93]

I've never seen an iPhone "not start normally". Is this a beta only thing?

It happened to me one morning randomly on my 15 Pro, maybe a year ago. Screen froze moments after picking it up off the charger. I forced the phone to restart but it just never made it past the Apple logo.

After restoring it from my Mac and then using the same iCloud backup, it’s been working fine.

 

[goonie4life9]

Not to worry, everyone, because the Apple Support SOP has been updated!

1. Reboot your device.
2. Force restart your device.
3. Reset Network Settings.
4. Check for Recovery Assistant. If Recovery Assistant doesn't appear, your phone is operating as expected and no further troubleshooting will be provided. Remember to keep your device up to date. Thank you for contacting Apple Support. Have a nice day.

 

[Dark-Signature]

Is this meant as an alternative to recovery-mode and/or DFU-mode?

 

[dominiongamma]

Took way too long honestly, this should have been done years ago

this is absolutely huge!
there have been code references to this since iOS 13.3 over five years ago.
The fact that you’ve still needed access to a Mac or PC to restore an iPhone or iPad in 2025, 18 years since the original iPhone released and 13 years since it’s been PC free for set up and software updates has never made sense and has been one of the most dated parts of the iPhone. this is one of the best features introduced this year.

 

[Spock]

All this time later and they are still working on a PC/Mac free iPhone and iPad.

 

[n-evo]

I've never seen an iPhone "not start normally". Is this a beta only thing?

I have after an update failed to install.

 

[smoker68x]

I've never seen an iPhone "not start normally". Is this a beta only thing?

I’ve seen it happen a few times. It mostly happens when there’s an issue with an update, although sometimes the phone can completely freeze up, and restarting it won’t get past the Apple logo.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Is this meant as an alternative to recovery-mode and/or DFU-mode?

well, sort of.
The current Version of recovery mode/DFU requires your iPhone or iPad to be connected to a Mac or PC to restore.
Given that iPhones and iPads are more and more likely to be someone’s main device, it makes sense that they would make software recovery easier to do without a computer.

 

[nfl46]

They are prepping everyone for a portless iPhone in a few years. I'll give it 3 to 5 years before they do it.

 

[orbital~debris]

Apple says an iPhone running iOS 26 will boot into a Recovery mode if the device has "encountered an issue while starting."

😰 just the thing to recreate the cold sweat of seeing a Mac start up with a blinking ❓icon instead of the 'Happy Mac'.

 

[Shirasaki]

So, the recovery assistant still needs to have access to at least 2 devices (1 with the issue, 1 normally working device) to do anything. It’s just that those 2 devices don’t need to be a Mac or a PC anymore. Even an iPad could do. Wonder which device supports this feature. All devices supported with iOS 26 or need some newer ones? Is there storage limit to be aware of?

 

[zonemster]

I’m wondering if this will be used as a back door for government agencies to get into your phone after seizure, it looks like a way to allow a grab of your memory image, and see what you have in placeholders for each app.

 

[IceCool]

Is there a startup button combination to manually access this?

This is one step closer to being able to reinstall the OS on-device like macOS… I’ve been looking forward to this for years - I remember when the first leaks dropped in 2020!

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

I’m wondering if this will be used as a back door for government agencies to get into your phone after seizure, it looks like a way to allow a grab of your memory image, and see what you have in placeholders for each app.

what are you talking about? If anything, this is the exact opposite of that.
if something goes wrong with your phone, you can use another phone to completely wipe it and reinstall the operating system.
but at the end of the day, that operating system you are installing is still signed by Apple.

 

[varsity]

Your 128GB phone is going to only have 32GB available after all the bloat they add

 

[hyperactiv8]

So, it appears as though this is a feature that cannot be triggered by the user. A problem must be detected by the phone and the software/hardware will trigger the feature to become active. Is that what you guys are getting from this too?