Quick answer: An iPhone stuck on the Apple logo or restarting repeatedly does not, by itself, confirm a faulty logic board. If the iPhone is dry and has no physical damage, try a force restart. If that does not help, the next option is to select Update in recovery mode. Restore erases the phone, so do not confirm it without a verified backup.
The screen may show a stationary logo, a progress bar, or alternate between the Apple logo and a black screen. Each of these symptoms calls for a slightly different approach. Possible causes include an incomplete iOS installation, a power issue, or an internal hardware fault.
Before you begin, note what happened before the problem started: an update, a transfer to a new phone, a drop, liquid exposure, or a repair. Also check whether you have an accessible backup. If the phone holds the only copy of important data, consider a professional assessment before reinstalling the operating system.
When to stop trying at home and how we can help
Stop troubleshooting at home, particularly in these situations:
- The restarting began after liquid exposure. Do not connect the phone to a charger or computer. For further guidance, see iPhone liquid detection alert: what to do and what to avoid.
- The phone becomes unusually hot or the screen is lifting. The battery may be damaged. Do not charge, squeeze, or disassemble the device.
- You have no backup and the next step requires erasing the phone. Stop before confirming Restore or using a tool that promises to repair the operating system.
Our iPhone repair service in Brno follows the agreed goal:
- When you bring the phone in, we ask about the circumstances of the fault, what you have already tried, and whether backups are available.
- We assess the hardware and repair options within the agreed scope.
- Before carrying out a repair, we explain our findings, the proposed work, its cost, and its limitations.
We do not provide mobile phone data recovery. By prior agreement, we can assess whether repairing the original logic board might allow the phone to start temporarily so you can make your own backup. We cannot promise success or guarantee the device’s reliability afterwards. If the phone can no longer be backed up, tell us before handing it over; this does not constitute consent to erase it.
Is the iPhone stuck, or is it still finishing a transfer?
A transfer to a new phone that takes a long time to finish is different from repeated shutdowns. The right approach depends on exactly what the screen shows.
| What you see | What it may mean | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Apple logo and a moving progress bar | An update, transfer, or restore is in progress | Do not interrupt the process |
| Apple logo and a stationary progress bar after a transfer or restore | The process may be stuck | Check that the progress bar has not moved for at least an hour |
| Apple logo, then a black screen, then the logo again | The phone repeatedly attempts to start | Consider any preceding drop, liquid exposure, or update |
| A cable and computer symbol | The phone is in recovery mode | Connect it to a computer and distinguish Update from Restore |
If the progress bar is stuck after a transfer or restore, Apple recommends first checking that it has not moved for at least an hour. See its instructions for an iPhone stuck on the Apple logo with a progress bar.
This waiting period is not a recommendation to leave a wet or overheating phone restarting for an hour.
How to force restart without erasing data
The following steps apply to iPhone 8 and later, including the second- and third-generation iPhone SE. Older models use different button combinations.
- Press and quickly release the volume up button.
- Press and quickly release the volume down button.
- Hold the side button until the Apple logo appears, then release it.
Press the volume buttons one after the other. A force restart does not itself erase the phone and is not a factory reset. These steps follow Apple’s instructions for force restarting an iPhone.
If the phone starts and shows no overheating or other signs of danger, make a backup first. If it returns to the same restart loop, do not keep repeating the button sequence. Repeating the same attempt will not identify the faulty component.
In recovery mode, choose Update first
Prepare a computer with internet access and a known working data cable. Use Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows. A charging-only cable cannot communicate with the computer.
Connect the iPhone directly to the computer and open the appropriate app. On iPhone 8 and later, repeat the button sequence from the previous section. This time, keep holding the side button past the Apple logo until the screen showing a cable and computer appears.
How long you hold the side button is what distinguishes entering recovery mode from a force restart.
| Option on the computer | What it does | Effect on data |
|---|---|---|
| Update | Attempts to reinstall iOS without erasing user data | Intended to preserve content, but success cannot be guaranteed |
| Restore | Erases the device and reinstalls iOS | Content can then be recovered only from an available backup or synced services |
To keep your content, choose Update first. Do not disconnect the phone during installation. If it exits recovery mode during a lengthy download, let the download finish, then put the phone back into recovery mode. Apple’s guide to updating or restoring an iPhone explains the procedure and the consequences of restoring.
A failed update is not consent to erase the phone. If you have no backup, stop before choosing Restore. If you do have a backup, verify its date, accessibility, and any required password. Seeing a few photos in iCloud does not confirm that your messages or work app data are also saved.
Signs that may point to hardware
Problems starting after an update may suggest a software issue, but that alone does not rule out a hardware fault. Likewise, a phone that has been dropped does not automatically have a damaged logic board. The specific symptoms and circumstances need to be assessed.
Shutdowns at low charge or under heavier load may be related to a battery that can no longer deliver the required peak power. Apple explains this connection in its information on iPhone battery and performance. However, the battery health percentage alone cannot identify every power fault. For more detail, see iPhone batteries: health, cycles, and when replacement makes sense.
Problems after a drop, liquid exposure, or an earlier repair are a reason to check connectors, attached components, and the logic board as well. Tell the repair provider about any previous work, even if the phone continued working for a while afterwards. This information may affect the order of diagnostic checks.
Repeated restarts at similar intervals are worth noting. The interval alone, however, is not enough to determine which part needs replacing. The same applies to logs labelled panic-full in iOS analytics data: they may help a technician, but the filename does not identify the cause of the fault.
Do not put unnecessary strain on an unstable phone just to obtain logs. Do not post full logs on a public forum or submit them to an unknown online analyser.
Error 4013 is not a logic board diagnosis
If an update or restore ends with error 4013, note the exact code and the stage at which it appeared. The error number alone cannot identify a faulty chip or establish that the logic board needs replacing.
If the phone is dry and undamaged, it is worth checking the data cable, connecting directly to the computer, and trying another computer. If the error persists, a diagnostic assessment is appropriate. Repeating the same installation without changing the conditions will not produce a more reliable diagnosis.
Especially if the error appeared after a drop or liquid exposure, do not rely on software that promises to fix every restart loop. Reinstalling the operating system cannot repair a physically damaged circuit.
Why a new logic board will not recover the original phone’s content
On modern iPhones, data encryption is tied to hardware keys unique to the device. Simply reading the memory chip outside the phone therefore does not yield readily readable photos and documents. Apple Platform Security documentation explains how the keys are tied to the hardware.
A working replacement logic board will not unlock the content on the original one. If your data is neither backed up nor synced, access may depend on getting the original device working and unlocking it. This may not be technically possible.
When handing the phone over, distinguish between two goals: attempting to start it so you can make your own backup, or obtaining a reliable device for continued use. Starting successfully once does not establish that the phone can handle everyday use.
What to do once it starts and what to ask the repair provider
As soon as the phone can be used safely, prioritise a backup. Follow How to back up an iPhone to a computer without iCloud: step by step. Verify that the backup has completed and securely store the password if the backup is encrypted.
For a work phone, separately check access to your Apple Account, work email, and alternative two-factor authentication methods. Restoring content from a backup may not, by itself, restore access to your banking app or every work service.
Prepare the following for the repair provider:
- the exact model and a description of what remains on the screen;
- the circumstances of the first failure, including any drop, liquid exposure, or repair;
- error codes and a list of what you have already tried;
- whether a backup is available and what your main goal is.
Before any work begins, ask for an explanation of the diagnostic findings and the proposed action. Do not let erasing the phone or replacing the logic board be covered by vague consent to a „repair". Also clarify the diagnostic fee, the scope of any attempt to get the phone running, and what you will be charged if it is unsuccessful.
Frequently asked questions
Does the same force restart work for iPhone 12, 13, and 14?
Yes. Press and quickly release volume up, then volume down, then hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. To enter recovery mode, keep holding it until the screen showing a cable and computer appears.
Will Update erase my photos and documents?
It is intended to reinstall iOS without erasing user data. On a faulty device, however, neither success nor continued access to the content can be guaranteed. Restore erases the device.
Does error 4013 mean I need a new logic board?
No. The code alone does not identify a specific fault. The cable and computer also need to be checked; if the error persists, a diagnostic assessment is needed.
What if I have no backup and updating did not help?
Do not confirm any action that erases the phone, and explain the situation before handing it over for repair. By agreement, we can assess whether repairing the original logic board might allow the phone to start temporarily so you can make your own backup, without promising success. We do not provide mobile phone data recovery.
Where to find us
ITHOPE is a company based in Brno, Czechia: we do data recovery from disks, RAID and NAS, PC and laptop service and IT for business, all in our own lab at Viniční 3587/216, 615 00 Brno.
Phone +420 775 556 063 (24/7 line). You can bring the device in person, or send it by courier (Zásilkovna, PPL).