Restoring large iphone firmware using itunes

Best way to do an iphone restore in recovery mode with iTunes for fresh firmware install,,??i tried plugging the device to itunes but the file is to big and my device exit the recovery mode and when i put it back the firmware start to download again,,note that i dont want to download from ipsw.me ,,,correct me if i m doing any wrong steps

iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 27, 2025 9:11 AM

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7 replies

Dec 27, 2025 9:37 AM in response to mahmud124

You should be using the Apple Devices app on your PC if it is available. The firmware will be downloaded to the computer, so if you are getting an error that there is not enough room to download, then you need to free up space on your computer. After it is downloaded to the computer, then it will install from the PC to the iPhone. You are correct that you do not want to download from ipsw.me. Both Mac/PC instructions are available here.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings using a computer - Apple Support


Dec 27, 2025 11:55 AM in response to mahmud124

mahmud124 wrote:

Can you tell me the process??I couldn’t find it in youtube,,and should i have to put the iphone in recovery mode to download the firmware??

The process is listed in the Support Article attached in both posts. It is not required to place your device in Recovery Mode and that only needs done if you do not see the device appear on the PC or you get an error when restoring. You need to sign out of Find My and if you had not done that previously you will be prompted to do that on your Phone before the Restore can continue. Let us know which steps you are able to complete and where it fails along with any error messages you may see.


There are 2 distinct processes, the download is being done on your PC where you need the space on your computer in order to store the update, then it will move to the install process where the download on the PC is used to restore the iPhone.

Dec 27, 2025 12:17 PM in response to mahmud124

mahmud124 wrote:

i installed apple devices app but still after 15 mins the device exit recovery mode and download stops


How much free space do you have on that PC?


Here is how to check for free storage space, and ways that might free up some space:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/free-up-drive-space-in-windows-85529ccb-c365-490d-b548-831022bc9b32

Dec 27, 2025 7:53 PM in response to Mac Jim ID

First of all i was using my device for 1 yr and i do update the device regularly,,,but from last two updates the device seems so buggy,,call screen,,battery and much more bug,,i tried resetting it but bugs are there,,i heard to do restore with recovery as it install fresh os and doesnt have any bug,,so i first did with my ipad last night and after 15mins the device exit recovery mode then i put it again in recovery and at last i did it ,,but i wanted to know that is this the right way??and should i restore in recovery mode in that case???

Restoring large iphone firmware using itunes

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