Fix an iPhone Stuck on the “Hello” Screen

If your iPhone is stuck on the “Hello” screen, first determine whether the touchscreen is frozen or activation is still in progress. Charge it, remove anything touching the screen, force-restart it, and retry setup; these steps do not erase your data. If that fails, use recovery mode and choose Update before Restore, because Restore erases the iPhone.

Is your iPhone actually frozen on the Hello screen?

This guidance applies to iPhone 6s and later, including the listed iPhone SE models, during setup, reset, or activation. You do not need Administrator access or sudo; you need only the iPhone, a working charger, and, if recovery mode becomes necessary, a Mac or Windows PC with permission to use Apple’s software. A force restart normally does not erase data. If you have access to the phone’s data, back it up before using recovery mode.

Start by checking whether the display is frozen or whether the phone is still processing setup. Tap a language, swipe up from the bottom edge, or try the Emergency Call control. If none of these respond, the touchscreen or iOS may be unresponsive. If the controls work but setup stops after you select a language or region, activation or network service may be taking longer than expected.

The iPhone remains on the Hello screen and does not respond to tapping or swiping.

Try these quick checks:

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen. On an iPhone with a Home button, press the Home button instead.
• Tap a different language or region and see whether the selection changes.
• Try Emergency Call without placing a call. If the keypad appears, the touchscreen is responding.
• Connect the iPhone to power and leave it for several minutes. A nearly empty battery can make startup and activation appear stalled.
• If a message says the iPhone is activating, leave it on a reliable Wi-Fi network and give it time. Avoid repeatedly restarting it while activation is visibly progressing.

A blank, dim, or flickering display points to a different problem from a normal Hello screen that ignores touch. If the screen responds but activation fails with a network, SIM, or Apple Account message, use the activation checks below rather than treating it as a frozen display.

Try these safe fixes before erasing anything

These reversible steps are the safest place to start. Connect the iPhone directly to a working wall charger. Check the cable and power adapter for damage, and try another outlet or cable if there is no charging symbol. Leave the iPhone connected while you continue.

Disconnect wired headphones, Lightning or USB-C hubs, external storage, card readers, and other adapters. Remove the case if it presses against the display edges. If the screen protector is cracked, lifting, wet, or poorly aligned, remove it temporarily. Clean and dry the screen, and make sure your fingers are dry.

Force-restart the iPhone using the instructions for its model:

• iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later): Quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button. Release it when the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button together until the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation): Press and hold the Home button and the Side or Top button together until the Apple logo appears.

After the Apple logo appears, keep the iPhone connected to power and retry setup on a dependable Wi-Fi network. Stay near the router if the signal is weak.

If the phone restarts but touch still does not work, test the same gestures without the case or screen protector. If there is no response after a force restart and the display shows no sign of normal operation, the fault may be physical rather than a temporary software hang.

When the Hello screen is waiting for activation instead

An iPhone can show the Hello screen normally while setup waits for activation. Activation requires a working connection to Apple and, depending on the model and carrier, a valid SIM or eSIM. A previous owner’s account can also stop setup even when the hardware is fine.

Try these checks:

• Connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network. If one network fails, try another, such as a trusted mobile hotspot. Avoid networks that require a browser sign-in before they provide internet access.
• If the iPhone uses a physical SIM, make sure the SIM is inserted correctly and is not damaged. If it uses an eSIM, continue through the carrier’s activation process or contact the carrier if the plan was not transferred.
• Confirm that the iPhone model is compatible with your carrier and that the device is not blocked because of an unpaid balance, theft report, or carrier restriction. The carrier, not Apple, controls those account and network restrictions.
• From another device, check Apple’s System Status page for an outage affecting device activation. If activation services are unavailable, wait and try again later rather than repeatedly erasing the phone.
• If the iPhone belonged to someone else, ask that person to remove it from their Apple Account and turn off Find My. An iPhone Locked to Owner or Activation Lock message cannot be bypassed with a normal reset; only the linked account holder or Apple’s proof-of-purchase process can resolve it.

If setup reports that activation information is invalid, unavailable, or cannot be reached, confirm Wi-Fi or cellular service, then restart the iPhone and try again. If the same message appears on multiple networks, the carrier or Apple may need to check the device’s activation record.

Use recovery mode only if the basic fixes fail

Recovery mode lets a Mac or Windows PC communicate with an iPhone that cannot finish startup or setup. You do not need a sudo command or Windows Administrator command prompt, but you do need permission to install or update the computer’s Apple software. On a Mac, use Finder. On Windows, use the Apple Devices app; if that app is unavailable, use the current supported iTunes installation.

Before starting, use a reliable USB cable and connect the computer to power. If the iPhone contains data you have not backed up, try Update first.

Do not choose Restore unless you accept that it erases the device. Restore reinstalls the software, but Activation Lock can still remain afterward.

1. Open Finder on a Mac running macOS Catalina or later. On a Windows PC, open Apple Devices or iTunes. Update that app or macOS if an update is offered.
2. Connect the iPhone to the computer with its USB cable.
3. Put the iPhone into recovery mode:

• iPhone 8 or later, including iPhone SE (2nd generation or later): Quickly press and release Volume Up, quickly press and release Volume Down, then hold the Side button. Keep holding past the Apple logo until the recovery screen showing a computer and cable appears.
• iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus: Hold the Side button and Volume Down button together until the recovery screen appears.
• iPhone 6s or earlier, including iPhone SE (1st generation): Hold the Home button and the Side or Top button together until the recovery screen appears.

4. In Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes, select the iPhone when it appears. Choose Update first. This attempts to reinstall iOS without intentionally erasing personal data. Keep the iPhone connected until the process finishes.
5. If Update fails, the iPhone returns to the Hello screen without improvement, or the computer cannot complete the installation, repeat the recovery-mode process and choose Restore only if necessary.

Restore erases the iPhone and reinstalls its software. Use it only after confirming you have a backup or accepting that unsaved data may be lost. Activation Lock can still remain after a restore.

If the computer cannot detect the iPhone, try another USB port, cable, or computer. If an update or restore repeatedly fails with different cables and computers, stop repeating the process; the storage, charging port, or other hardware may need service.

How to know it is fixed—and when to get help

Setup is working when the iPhone accepts the swipe or Home-button press, moves through language and region selection, connects to Wi-Fi or cellular service, and reaches the passcode, Apple Account, or Home Screen steps without freezing.

After setup, restart the iPhone once and test several parts of the display, including the edges and keyboard. Confirm that Wi-Fi, cellular service, calls, and the App Store work as expected. These checks show whether the original problem was limited to setup or whether touch, cellular, or software problems remain.

Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider if:

• The display remains unresponsive after charging, removing accessories, and force-restarting.
• The phone repeatedly freezes at the Hello screen after a successful recovery-mode update.
• Recovery mode cannot complete an update or restore.
• The iPhone was dropped, exposed to liquid, bent, overheated, or has a cracked display or damaged charging port. Do not charge a wet phone.
• Setup asks for an Apple Account that you do not own, or Activation Lock remains after the previous owner says they removed the device.
• The phone shows a persistent cellular, SIM, or eSIM error that the carrier cannot resolve.

Have the serial number or IMEI available if possible, along with proof of purchase for an ownership or Activation Lock issue. If the iPhone is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare, mention any failed update and physical damage when requesting service.

Conclusion

Start with power, a clean and unobstructed screen, a reliable network, and the correct force restart. If activation still fails, check the SIM, eSIM, carrier, and Apple service status. Use recovery mode only after those checks, choose Update before Restore, and contact Apple or authorized service if the problem continues or the phone shows hardware damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a force restart erase my iPhone?

No. A force restart normally interrupts and restarts the current software session. It does not perform a factory reset or intentionally erase the iPhone.

Can I bypass Activation Lock after restoring the iPhone?

No. Restore does not remove Activation Lock. The previous owner must remove the iPhone from their Apple Account, or Apple must review valid proof of purchase.

Should I choose Update or Restore in recovery mode?

Choose Update first because it attempts to reinstall iOS without intentionally erasing personal data. Restore erases the iPhone and should be used only when Update fails or a full erase is acceptable.