Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

How to restore an iPhone

What to do when your iPhone won't sync

QUESTION: I've bought a number of apps for my Apple iPhone via iTunes and the App Store. To avoid draining the battery by downloading apps directly to the handset, I'd like to connect my iPhone to my Windows XP PC using USB and transfer them over. However, when I connect the phone its icon doesn't appear on the desktop (although it does charge up). I've tried updating iTunes, restarting the PC and using a different USB port, all to no avail.

ANSWER: Because the iPhone is charging and you've updated iTunes, it's likely you need to restore the handset. This will wipe whatever content is stored on it. You can re-download apps (but not music) for free from iTunes.

Turn off the iPhone and hold down the Home button for at least 10 seconds until the yellow triangle appears with the message 'Please connect to iTunes'.

Plug it into your PC and launch iTunes.

You should get the message 'iTunes has detected a phone in recovery mode'. Click ok and, when prompted, choose Restore.

See also: How to fix everything: the ultimate guide to fixing technology

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: Apple, ION
References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the CIO comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: Apple, consumer electronics, iPhone, iphone apps, iTunes, Mac, PC Peripherals, Phones, Phones & PDAs, smartphones, software
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • Mobile Security: Don’t leave employees to their own devices
    No organisation can afford to ignore the rising march of consumer devices in today’s workplace. But neither can they ignore the risks that consumerisation brings. Companies must adapt IT and security strategies accordingly, balancing the needs and demands of more flexible work models with the often thorough information security safeguards that were implemented to protect the business in the first place. Fortunately, there are ways of doing just that and achieving a balance that works for all concerned.
    Learn more »
  • INFORMATION FOR SUCCESS - Customers Achieve Extreme Performance at Lowest Cost with Oracle Exadata Database Machine
    How do you prioritize IT investments to ensure support for growing volumes of data and still meet your business users’ evolving requirements—such as competing more effectively, reducing IT costs, meeting compliance requirements, or anticipating changing market conditions? Read on.
    Learn more »
  • The Top 5 Server Monitoring Battles—and How You Can Win Them
    The role of servers in your organization has changed substantially—with their uses, requirements, and complexity all increasing dramatically in recent years. Many of the traditional tools and techniques that worked in the past don’t suffice any more. Consequently, server monitoring presents several critical battles in today’s demanding environments. This guide looks at some of the most pressing challenges administrators face in ensuring optimal server performance, and it offers insights into the tools and strategies required to address these demands.
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments