iPhone Stuck on Spinning Wheel? How to Fix iOS Crashes

When rebooting your iPhone after restoring or updating it, your device might freeze on a spinning wheel. This issue can be caused by a corrupted software update, a failed restore, system crash, or a hardware problem, such as a depleted battery or worn-out components.

Below are several fixes that can help you troubleshoot the spinning wheel issue on your iPhone, step by step. We'll also share preventive measures to help you avoid encountering this issue in the future.

Let's begin!

Charge Your iPhone for at Least 30 Minutes

Before diving into more invasive solutions, connect your iPhone to a charger and let it charge for at least 30 minutes to ensure it has enough power to complete the reboot process.

Here are some tips to help optimize the charging process:

• Ensure that you are using the official Apple cable and adapter.
• Make sure the cable is connected to a working USB port or power charger.

After about 30 minutes of charging, press and hold the power button to see if the device responds. If not, try the next solution.

Force Restart Your iPhone

When your iPhone encounters a software problem such as freezing, crashes, or even becoming bricked, Apple recommends performing a force restart. Force restarting your iPhone will cut off the power and reboot it without losing data. When it turns on, your phone will boot up all software processes like normal.

You can perform a force restart by pressing a sequence of buttons specific to your iPhone model:

iPhone 6s and older: Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time. Release when the Apple logo appears on the screen.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the volume down button and the side button at the same time. Release when the Apple logo appears on the screen.

iPhone 8 Series, iPhone X, and newer: Press and hold the volume up button, then press and hold the volume down button, and finally press and hold the side button. Release when the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Repair a Crashed System Using TinyFix

If force restarting doesn't work, TinyFix is a powerful iOS system repair tool that can fix various iPhone software issues, such as being stuck on the Apple logo, restart loops, or black screens, all without losing data.

here's how to use TinyFix:

Step 1. Start by downloading TinyFix on your Mac or Windows computer.

Step 2. Connect the device with the spinning wheel issue to your computer, then launch TinyFix and navigate to iOS System Repair > Standard Mode.

Step 3. In the next window, click on Download to download the specific firmware needed..

Step 4. Once the download is complete, TinyFix will begin repairing your iPhone.

Restore iPhone in Recovery Mode

If a repair tool isn't your preference, you can manually restore your iPhone in Recovery Mode using a computer. Entering Recovery Mode slightly differs depending on the model, so take note of that. It's also recommended to back up your iPhone's data, as you may need to perform a factory reset during the restore process.

Here's how to enter Recovery Mode:

Step 1. Start by connecting your iPhone to your Mac or computer.

Step 2. Then, open Finder or iTunes on your Mac or computer.

Step 3. Next, press a sequence of buttons based on your iPhone model:

iPhone 8 Series, iPhone X, or newer: Press and release the volume upbutton, then the volume down button. Afterwards, press and hold the side button until the Connect to computer screen appears.

iPhone 7 Series: Press and hold the volume down button and Sleep/Wake button until the Connect to computer screen appears.

iPhone 6s Series and older: Press and hold the Home button and the Sleep/Wake button at the same time until the Connect to computer screen appears.

Step 4. Once your iPhone has entered Recovery Mode, a prompt will appear asking if you want to update or restore your iPhone. Try updating your device first by clicking Update.

Step 5. Your computer will attempt to find and install the latest iOS.

Step 6.If your device exits Recovery Mode and reboots, but the issue persists, you may need to perform a factory reset. Re-enter Recovery Mode and select Restore, then Restore and Update.

Restore iPhone in DFU Mode

A Device Firmware Update (DFU) completely deletes and reinstalls both the software and firmware of your iPhone, essentially making your phone seem brand new. However, this should only be done if all other options, notably Recovery Mode, do not work, as it requires precise timing and numerous steps.

To perform a DFU restore:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.

Step 2. Open iTunes or Finder on your computer.

Step 3. Put your iPhone in DFU mode. The button sequence differs depending on the model:

iPhone 8 Series and newer:

1. Press and release the volume upand volume down button, then press and hold the side button until the screen turns black.
2. Quickly hold down the volume downbutton while still holding down the side button. Wait for five
3. Release the side/topbutton, then release the volume down button once your device shows up in Finder or iTunes.

iPhone 7 Series:

1. Press and hold the side andvolume down button.
2. Wait for a few seconds. The Apple logo should appear then disappear again.
3. Release the Sleep/Wake button while still pressing the volume downbutton.
4. Lastly, release the volume downbutton once your device shows up in Finder or iTunes.

iPhone 6 Series and older:

1. Press and hold the Sleep/Wakebutton and the Home button.
2. Wait for a few seconds.
3. Release the Sleep/Wakebutton while still holding down the Home button.
4. Release the Homebutton once your device shows up in Finder or iTunes.

Step 4. Once in DFU Mode, click the Restore iPhone button. Your computer will then start restoring your iPhone. Note that you should not disconnect your iPhone while the procedure is not yet finished, as this will corrupt your device.

Troubleshoot a Hardware Issue

If your iPhone is still stuck on the spinning wheel screen after trying the above fixes, a hardware issue could be causing the problem. It's time to contact Apple's customer service for assistance.

If a third-party technician attempted to fix the device, return it to them, and they may be able to fix the problem free of charge. If you tried to repair the device yourself, ensure that you return the device to its original state before taking it to the Apple Store.

If your iPhone is still under warranty, Apple may repair the device for free, as long as it is not damaged in any other way. Apple Store technicians may not assist if some components have been replaced with third-party parts.

Tips to Avoid the Spinning Wheel Issue

After resolving the spinning wheel issue, try these steps to optimize your device and prevent future errors:

Update the iOS Regularly

Keep your iOS version updated to receive security patches and bug fixes. You can do this by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.

Reset iPhone Settings to Default

Any incompatible configurations in your settings can cause errors and glitches. Reset to default by heading to Settings > General > Reset.

Update the Apps on Your iPhone

Keeping your apps updated is just as important as updating iOS. To update your apps:

1. Open the App Store and select Today at the bottom.
2. Tap on the user profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Scroll down to the Available Updates section and tap Update next to individual apps or Update All to update all apps at once.

Free Up Some Storage on Your iPhone

Your iPhone may have insufficient memory to run all its programs, which can lead to issues like the spinning wheel. To ensure your device always has enough memory, back up your important files. Then, delete any files you no longer need and uninstall unnecessary apps to free up storage on your device.

• Step 1: Go to Settings.
• Step 2: From here, select General and tap on Storage.
• Step 3: Make sure that you always have at least 5GB of memory in your iPhone for system use.

Conclusion

That's the guide on how to fix an iPhone stuck on a spinning wheel. We hope you've resolved your issue. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out!