Good News for iPhones Frozen with iOS 26

iPhones that won’t turn on can now be recovered without a computer using iOS 26

Apple has released iOS 26 beta 2 for developers, and it includes a game-changing feature: Recovery Assistant, which enables users to recover an iPhone without needing a Mac or PC.

This new feature, available on all compatible iPhones, aims to bring devices back to life even when they fail to boot. According to Apple, Recovery Assistant will scan the device for issues and try to fix them automatically.

If an iPhone running iOS 26 encounters a problem during startup, it will enter Recovery Mode automatically. A message will appear:

“This iPhone encountered an issue during startup. It entered Recovery Mode to diagnose and attempt to fix the issue. The device will check for problems and try to resolve them.”

Previously, Apple allowed iPhone recovery using another nearby iPhone or iPad. But now, iOS 26 eliminates that need, allowing the device to repair itself independently.