I usually skip software updates, but I accidentally clicked to update my iPhone to iOS 26. When it started updating, my phone got really hot and made a whirring sound. It turned off completely before finishing the update and now it won't turn back on at all. My phone has been slow for about two and a half years, so I'm wondering if this is just an update issue or if something bigger might be going on. Can anyone help me figure out how to fix it? Thanks!
1 Answer
It sounds like your phone got stuck during the update, which is pretty common. Here are a few steps you can try:
1. **Force restart**: Quickly press the Volume Up button, then the Volume Down button, and finally hold the Power/Side button until you see the Apple logo. This could take about 20 seconds.
2. **Get into Recovery Mode**: Plug your phone into a computer. After the force restart, keep holding the buttons until you see the 'connect to computer' screen. Depending on whether you're on Windows or Mac, you'll see a prompt in iTunes or Finder. Try selecting 'Update' first, as it aims to finish the update without erasing anything. If that doesn't work, you might need to go for 'Restore', which will delete your data.
3. If it keeps overheating or doesn't turn on at all, it might be a factory issue with the battery or mainboard. In that case, your best bet is to take it to Apple or a repair shop. Given the phone’s age, some hardware might be failing anyway, but mid-update crashes are often recoverable.
If your volume button is broken, that complicates things a bit, but definitely try bringing it to Apple. They might be able to do the update or fix the button while you're there.