iPad get stuck in recovery mode

As our geeks reported, some times they are experiencing an issue that impacts Apple tablet's capability to restore the original firmware that is iPad / iPad 2 / iPad 3 / iPad 4 and, imagine, the newest iPad Air / Retina iPad mini may get stuck during the recovery mode; it won't restore and won't reboot in iTunes. The problem may come from corrupted Apple Mobile Device (Recovery Mode) drivers and the signal for this are the yellow exclamation marks near the entries that describe those drivers in Device Manager on your PC. If so and you are absolutely sure that PC is not infected with viruses follow these tips on how to fix Apple tablet that get stuck in recovery mode:

    1. Disconnect your Apple tablet from computer.
    2. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers folder on your PC.
    3. Locate usbaapl.inf file in this folder, right click on it and choose install.
    4. After installation complete reboot computer.
    5. Follow these steps to put tablet into recovery mode.

Your iPad / iPad2 / ipad 3 / iPad mini / ipad 4 may hang during an operation of restore because of incorrect setting for the size of default TCP receive window that specifies the number of bytes that Apple’s servers can transmit without receiving an acknowledgment. This may be an issue when not correct value for TcpWindowSize parameter is set up by third party software. Just to eliminate and detect such case Look into HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters registry key. If TcpWindowSize is there (by default it should not be) try to delete it and restart Windows. After this Windows will use the default value for TCP receive window. Follow these steps to put iPad into recovery mode once more.

Another problem your iconic tablet may stuck in is a perpetual recovery mode that has the symptom of a loop, that is after Apple tablet has been restored it restarts by itself, and prompts the same thing again. The issue may be caused by third party security software that prevents iPad communication with Apple resources on your PC. To resolve such stuck problem follow these tips:


    1. Disconnect tablet from computer.
    2. Disable temporarily your security software.
    3. Reboot computer.
    4. Connect your iPad and put it into recovery mode .

If the problem persists you may be infected with viruses!. Then
    1. Disconnect iPad from computer.
    2. Uninstall iTunes.
    3. Make sure that your PC is not infected by checking and cleaning it with anti-viruses.
    4. install fresh version of iTunes.
    5. put iPad into recovery mode.

Hint: To stop the looping try to tell iTunes that this is a "new iPad" before pressing restore. If this does not help it might be a combination of iOS Software and hardware issue that causes the loop, but this needs a technical diagnostics for sure.

If you did not follow our advice on update and your iPad ended with device stuck in recovery mode (the reasons for this are numerous, more common are the iTunes version you use is too old to fit the latest firmware, firmware you / iTunes downloaded is somehow corrupted, kennel panic etc) the best option for you is to flash firmware manually via DFU mode working at a lower level in the bootloader environment without any interaction with iOS. This is the very reason why it saves you from a corrupted firmware because it is not a part of the iOS firmware at all.


Very important: before flashing iPad via DFU check once more for the latest version of iTunes. If it is installed restart your computer (iPad must be disconnected and turned OFF). Manually download the Apple firmware and save it in the directory with the short pathway. Make sure the firmware you downloaded fits the model of your iPad and any antivirus software on your computer is disabled! Make sure you use USB port and USB cable that are both functional. Your computer must be connected to Internet!

To flash in DFU:

    1. Launch iTunes.
    2. Connect iOS device (that should be turned OFF) to Mac / PC via USB cable. (Look here how to connect properly)
    3. Press and hold for 3 seconds Sleep/Wake button.
    4. After 3 seconds, keeping hold on Sleep/Wake press Home button for 10 seconds.
    5. After 10 (exactly) seconds, keeping hold on Home button, release Sleep/Wake one, after that keep pressing Home for about 15 seconds more. Screen of iPad should remain black, if you see anything but a blank screen, you got the timing wrong. By repeating above steps you must try again until you get it right ).
    6. When “iTunes has detected …in recovery mode..” message appears on computer screen press OK.
    7. Press SHIFT+CLICK (PC) or COMMAND+ CLICK on the restore button.
    8. Choose from the opened file dialog the ipsw-file you download. Click Open it. The flashing will begin.Once more, never touch your Apple tablet or computer. Let them to complete the job. The tablet will restart itself to complete the firmware flashing. Wait and your iPad will be as new.

Read further about error 1013 / 1015 if your Apple tablet get stuck in recovery loop mode. Fiddling with tablet may encourage you to unveil 50+ secrets that can help you maintain iPad.