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Apple’s new recovery tool in iOS 18 will let you restore bricked or dysfunctional iPhone 16 models using older iOS devices.
After the release of the iPhone 16 series last week, iOS 18 has begun rolling out widely to all older compatible iPhone models. As part of the update, Apple is adding a new recovery tool that will allow you to restore a malfunctioning or bricked iPhone 16 model using another iPhone.
The iOS 18 firmware for iPhone 16 models includes a special version of RecoveryOS, which is designed to restore devices that won’t boot or function properly or have been locked out due to forgotten passcodes. Apple has previously made similar tools available for the Apple Watch and Apple TV, but it’s a first for the iPhone.
The wireless recovery tool’s availability lets you put an iPhone 16 into the Recovery mode and place it next to another iPhone or iPad, giving you the option to restore. The process typically involves formatting the storage and reinstalling iOS. Apple has made this possible with a special recovery partition on the iPhone 16’s storage that retains a clean backup of the latest iOS firmware, 9to5Mac found.
For older models, you would need to connect the iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC to restore it. If you didn’t have a computer, that would entail a visit to an Apple service center or a third-party repair shop to get the iPhone fixed.
Now you can use any old iPhone to restore the iPhone 16 — even if it isn’t associated with your Apple ID. However, the converse doesn’t apply. You wouldn’t be able to reinstall firmware on an older iPhone using the iPhone 16, at least for now, since those devices don’t have a dedicated recovery partition.
While the wireless recovery options ease the process significantly, you still need another device to help restore the iPhone 16. Apple notably offers online recovery methods for Mac, so you don’t have to rely on other devices. However, this may not be possible with the iPhone 16 just yet.
Further, it’s unclear whether the wireless recovery tool also allows forcing updates onto iPhone 16 models that may not be receiving iOS updates but are otherwise working properly. Such a feature is accessible when you restore your iPhone using a PC.
There’s no official support documentation on the topic from Apple so far.
