Put an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad in DFU Mode Without Home or Power Buttons

Yes—on some older Apple devices. In 2012, the iPhone Dev Team added “DFU IPSW” to redsn0w 0.9.14b2. It created a modified IPSW that ended a restore in DFU mode, avoiding the usual Home/Power button sequence. The original instructions required a normal firmware file Apple was then signing for that exact device; the screen stays black while the computer detects it. Read the original DFU IPSW instructions.

This is a legacy workaround, not a current Apple-supported procedure. It is not guaranteed for every iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, firmware, or computer, and it does not jailbreak a device by itself. Apple’s current restore guidance uses model-specific physical buttons and says a device may need service if a button does not work or sticks. See Apple’s current restore guidance.

The visuals below are explanatory mockups of an older workflow, not current screenshots. Sample device and firmware names are historical examples, not a compatibility list or a recommendation to install that firmware.

Check the limits before starting

• Exact model and stock IPSW: the Dev Team required an ordinary IPSW currently signed for the device. A matching filename does not prove Apple will accept it; stop if signing or model compatibility is unclear.
• Computer compatibility: redsn0w 0.9.14b2 dates from 2012. Its notes mention Mac OS X and Windows, but do not promise support for current macOS, Windows, Finder, Apple Devices, or current iTunes.
• Backup: restoring erases the device. Apple says Restore erases all data; verify a usable backup before you continue.
• Trusted files: use firmware and software only when you can verify their origin. Avoid random download mirrors and firmware packages for another model.

If you cannot confirm the signed firmware and a compatible computer setup, stop. Trying another IPSW is not a safe substitute.

How the legacy DFU IPSW workflow worked

1. Identify the exact device. Record its model and current iOS version. Check that redsn0w recognizes that device and that the stock IPSW is meant for it and can still be restored.
2. Back up first. Save a current backup and keep a reliable cable connected. Do not proceed if important data is not backed up and you cannot accept losing it.
3. Open the DFU IPSW tool. In redsn0w 0.9.14b2, the documented path is Extras > Even More > DFU IPSW. The Dev Team said the device did not need to be jailbroken before this step.

4. Select the stock IPSW and create the DFU copy. Choose the verified stock file for the exact device. redsn0w unpacks it and creates a modified file prefixed ENTER_DFU_, usually beside the original. Wait for the utility to finish. Keep the source file unchanged, and do not force a restore if redsn0w rejects it.
5. Select the generated IPSW in classic iTunes. Connect the device and open a computer setup compatible with this old method. In Windows, hold Shift while clicking Restore; on a Mac, hold Option while clicking Restore. Choose the ENTER_DFU_ file. These shortcuts describe the old iTunes workflow; current Finder or Apple Devices compatibility is not guaranteed.
6. Wait for the restore and check detection. Keep the cable attached until the computer finishes. The phone may remain black as it enters DFU mode. The Dev Team said iTunes and redsn0w should detect it, even if iTunes describes the device as being in recovery mode.

For a current device with a broken button

Do not confuse DFU with recovery mode. Apple’s supported restore steps use model-specific button sequences to enter recovery mode, then Finder on Mac or Apple Devices on PC. Apple says to seek service if a button does not work or sticks. For a modern device, follow Apple’s supported update and restore instructions or arrange service instead of relying on an unverified redsn0w download.

DFU is only a device state. It does not bypass a passcode or Activation Lock, and entering DFU does not install a jailbreak. A separate tool must support the exact device and iOS version. A black screen alone is not proof of DFU; the computer must detect the device.

Sources

• iPhone Dev Team: DFU IPSW instructions for redsn0w 0.9.14b2
• Apple Support: If you can’t update or restore your iPhone or iPod touch