An iPhone that only shows the Apple logo (sometimes called a boot loop) is one of the most searched iOS problems. This page walks you from the fastest free fixes to a full restore with i4Tools when software repair is required.
A force restart does not erase data. It cuts power to the device logic and reboots cleanly.
If the device boots normally, back up to PC immediately before trying updates again.
Sometimes the logo appears while the battery is too low to finish booting. Charge for 30–60 minutes with a known-good cable and adapter. A bad cable can also interrupt updates—see iOS error codes after failed restores.
If force restart loops forever, put the device in Recovery Mode and restore with iTunes/Finder or i4Tools. This reinstalls iOS and usually fixes corrupt system files. You will lose data unless you have a backup.
If recovery mode restore fails with errors like 9 or 4013, try DFU mode (black screen) and restore again. Our DFU guide has model-specific button timing.
Many users install i4Tools on Windows because flashing through i4Tools sometimes succeeds after iTunes shows a generic error. Pair this with a quality USB cable and a USB 2.0 port if possible.
If multiple computers, cables, and restores all fail the same way, or the device gets very hot, contact Apple or an authorized repair shop—storage or board issues can mimic software boot loops.