Stuck iPhone? Apple’s New “Restore Nearby” Feature Could Be a LifesaverImagine this: You’re updating your iPhone like you’ve done many times before. The screen goes black… and then nothing. No home screen, no restart—just a screen showing a cable and computer icon. You’re stuck in recovery mode. If you’re not near your laptop or don’t have a cable on hand, panic can easily set in.But with iPhone 16 and the latest iPad mini (A17 Pro chip), Apple has introduced a small but powerful feature that could save you a trip to the Apple Store: “Restore Nearby iPhone.”Let’s break it down in a simple way—and share a real-life-style example of how it works.What Is “Restore Nearby iPhone”?Sometimes, when your iPhone or iPad tries to install a software update, it can get stuck. It doesn’t happen often—but when it does, you’re left with a device that won’t turn on properly. This is called recovery mode.Apple now lets you use another iPhone or iPad nearby to fix it—no computer required.You’ll see a screen that looks like two devices being brought close together. That’s your signal: help is nearby.Case Example: Meet SarahSarah just bought her new iPhone 16. While updating to the latest version of iOS, something went wrong. Her phone screen showed the recovery mode symbol.Unfortunately, she was at a friend’s place—with no laptop or USB cable. But her friend had an iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, running iPadOS 18.Here’s what they did:Sarah plugged her iPhone into a charger.Even though it was stuck, power is needed for recovery.They placed the iPhone next to the iPad mini.A message popped up on the iPad:“Restore Nearby iPhone.”They tapped Continue.The two devices connected automatically.A 6-digit code appeared on Sarah’s iPhone.She read it aloud, and her friend typed it into the iPad. This step confirmed the connection and let the iPad share its Wi-Fi.The iPad started restoring the iPhone.Sarah saw the words: “Restoring iPhone.”They waited.After about 15 minutes, Sarah’s iPhone restarted—fresh and working again.All without a single cable or laptop.How You Can Use This FeatureHere’s a quick step-by-step if your iPhone or iPad gets stuck:Plug the stuck device into power.Place it next to another Apple device (iPhone or iPad with iOS/iPadOS 18, unlocked and on Wi-Fi).A message will appear:“Restore Nearby iPhone” or “Restore Nearby iPad.”Tap Continue.Enter the 6-digit code from the stuck device.Tap OK when it starts restoring.Stay patient, and don’t unplug either device during the process.💡 Tip: Keep both devices plugged in until the restore finishes. What If It Still Doesn’t Work?If this method doesn’t fix the problem, don’t worry. You can still use the old-school way:Connect the iPhone or iPad to a Mac or PC using a cable.Use Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows) to restore the device manually.It takes more steps, but it’s reliable.🙋♂️ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Q: What is “Restore Nearby iPhone”?A: It’s a new feature in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that lets you fix an iPhone or iPad stuck in recovery mode by using another Apple device nearby—no computer or cable needed.Q: When would I use this?A: If your iPhone or iPad gets stuck during a software update and shows a screen with a cable or recovery symbol, this feature lets you restore it wirelessly using another nearby device.Q: What devices support this feature?A: Right now, it works with:iPhone 16 seriesLatest iPad mini with the A17 Pro chipAnd the helper device must be running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18.Q: Do both devices need to be mine?A: Nope! You can use someone else’s compatible iPhone or iPad—as long as it’s unlocked and connected to Wi-Fi. You'll just need to enter a one-time code to connect the devices.Q: Is this faster than using a computer?A: Usually, yes. It’s quicker and more convenient, especially if you don’t have a cable or Mac/PC nearby. It’s designed to help on the go.Q: What if the restore fails?A: If something goes wrong, or the option doesn’t appear, you can still fall back to the classic method: connect your iPhone or iPad to a Mac or PC with a USB cable and restore it using Finder or iTunes.Q: Is my data safe during this process?A: If your device was already backed up to iCloud or a computer, you can restore from that backup after the recovery. But if not, you may lose unsaved data during a full restore—just like with any recovery process.Q: Can I use this feature with older iPhones or iPads?A: No, the stuck device needs to be an iPhone 16 or newer, or an iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip. The feature isn't available on older models.