Apple to let iPhone 16 users restore bricked devices by placing them next to another iPhone running iOS 18

Apple is introducing a wireless recovery system for iPhone 16, allowing users to restore their devices without needing a Mac or PC. This feature, already available for Apple Watch and Apple TV, simplifies the recovery process using another iOS device.

In Short

• iPhone 16 introduces wireless firmware recovery, eliminating the need for a Mac or PC
• Recovery is initiated by placing the iPhone 16 near another iOS 18 device, simplifying the process
• Only iPhone 16 models have a special recovery partition, enabling wireless restoration without a computer

Apple has been quietly working behind the scenes on a system that could make life a lot easier for iPhone users when things go wrong with their devices. You know how annoying it is when your phone gets bricked (that’s when your device refuses to boot up properly) or runs into firmware issues, right? Until now, if your iPhone had such problems, you’d probably have to connect it to a Mac or PC to restore the software. But what if we told you that soon, you may not need a computer at all to fix those pesky problems? Let’s break down Apple’s new wireless recovery system in a way that’s easy to understand and dive into the details.

This whole system wasn’t something Apple just dreamed up for the iPhone 16. In fact, it’s been in the works for a while, starting with the Apple Watch, according to a report by 9to5 Mac. Back in iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5, Apple introduced a way to wirelessly restore an Apple Watch’s firmware. So, instead of needing to visit an Apple Store or connect your watch to a Mac, you could do it all using just an iPhone. It was a game-changer for anyone who had problems with their Apple Watch.
Next, Apple expanded this to the Apple TV with iOS 17 and tvOS 17. If your Apple TV ran into any issues, the recovery process could also be done wirelessly, again using an iPhone.

Now for iPhone 16

The really exciting news is that with iOS 18, Apple is finally bringing this wireless recovery system to the iPhone 16 lineup. So, what does this mean? Well, if your iPhone 16 enters Recovery Mode (which usually happens when the software is messed up, and the phone can’t boot properly), you’ll be able to restore it without a Mac or PC. Instead, you can use another iPhone or iPad to start the recovery process.

Here’s how it works: imagine your iPhone 16 suddenly stops working and enters Recovery Mode. Normally, you’d have to grab your laptop, connect your phone with a cable, open up iTunes or Finder, and hope for the best. But with the new system, all you’ll need to do is place your iPhone 16 next to another iPhone or iPad that’s running iOS 18. That other device will automatically detect the bricked iPhone, download the necessary iOS firmware from Apple’s servers, and wirelessly transfer it to the bricked phone.

Sounds good, right? It’s basically like having a portable, wireless recovery tool in your pocket.

What About Older iPhones?

Now, there’s a catch. While any device running iOS 18 can help with the recovery process, it seems like only the iPhone 16 models can be restored wirelessly for now. This is because the iPhone 16 comes with something special: a recovery partition. Think of it like a safety net built into the phone. Even if the main iOS system isn’t working, the recovery partition can still function, allowing the phone to accept a wireless firmware update.

Older iPhones, like the iPhone 15 or earlier models, don’t have this recovery partition. That’s why they still need to be connected to a Mac or PC if you want to restore their firmware. Apple hasn’t said yet whether this feature will be made available for older models, and it might depend on hardware limitations. So, for now, it looks like the wireless recovery system is an exclusive perk for iPhone 16 users.

So, why is this such a big deal? Well, it’s all about convenience and flexibility. Before this, fixing a bricked iPhone could be a bit of a hassle. You’d need to make sure you had a Mac or PC nearby, and you’d have to connect your phone with a cable. If you didn’t have access to a computer, or if you were traveling, you might have been stuck with a dead phone until you could find one.

With the new wireless recovery system, all of that is simplified. If your iPhone 16 runs into trouble, all you need is another iOS device (like your iPad or a friend’s iPhone) to get it up and running again. You won’t have to worry about cables, computers, or being far from an Apple Store. It’s like giving users more control over their devices.

One big question that’s still unanswered is whether this wireless recovery system will come to older iPhones. It would certainly be nice if Apple could roll this feature out to everyone, but that depends on whether the older models’ hardware can handle it. It’s possible that iPhone 15 and earlier models might not be able to support it because they don’t have the recovery partition that’s built into the iPhone 16.

Regardless, this is a big step forward in making iPhones even more user-friendly. As Apple keeps refining this system, it could make firmware recovery as easy as restarting your phone.