iOS 18 Wireless Recovery: iPhone 16's Lifesaver Feature You Didn’t Know You Needed

Sep 19, 2024 12:20 PM EDT

Everyone gets excited for the big, shiny features when Apple finally drops a new iOS update. Sometimes, though, it's the low-key additions that really save the day.

If you're among the lucky few already sporting iOS 18, one such hidden gem is Wireless Recovery. This feature, meant to get you out of a sticky situation should your iPhone brick or end up in recovery mode, is a total game-changer.

What is iOS 18's Wireless Recovery?

(Photo : Igor Omilaev/Unsplash)

Did you know that the iPhone 16 firmware can be wirelessly recovered in iOS 18? This low-key feature. You won't need a PC just to solve the firmware issues.

The new Wireless Recovery in iOS 18 lets you recover firmware wirelessly from your iPhone by not requiring a Mac or PC at all. In the case when the device bricks or enters recovery mode, the new feature allows the restoration of firmware through another iOS device, such as an iPhone or iPad, 9to5Mac reports. It allowed so far for Apple Watches and boxes for Apple TV, and iOS 18 brings that capability to the lineup of iPhone 16.

How Does Wireless Recovery Work?

So how does all of this magic happen? Once your iPhone 16 goes into Recovery Mode, nearby iPhones or iPads with iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 will get a pop-up that shows you a message that says, "Restore Nearby iPhone." Simply tap on that Continue button on the device, and the recovery process will take off.

Firmware downloads directly onto a working device and then is wirelessly sent to the bricked iPhone. No more searching for the computer to restore your phone-you can do it all wirelessly and seamlessly.

Which Devices Support Wireless Recovery?

Currently, the iPhone 16 series are the only iPhones that can be wirelessly restored through a special recovery partition which older models don't have yet. Still, it's not clear if Apple will extend this capability to older models, but currently, this workaround is exclusive to the latest model.

But this is where it gets interesting because any device running iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 can help restore a bricked iPhone. So, if your iPhone 16 needs recovery, nearby devices with the updated software can assist, whether it's an iPhone or iPad.

Devices that Can Run iOS 18 and iPadOS 18

Just to give you a quick gist of all the devices that will have the ability to run iOS 18 and iPadOS 18;

iPhones: iOS 18 available on iPhone Xs and later
iPad: iPadOS 18 iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (7th generation and later) and the iPad mini (5th generation and later).

Why Wireless Recovery is a Game-Changer?

Wireless firmware recovery creates fewer headaches than when your iPhone gets stuck in Recovery Mode. You would have to rely on a computer to restore it, often not at the most convenient of times.

With iOS 18, it's going to be all easy: even an iPhone or iPad may be enough to fix firmware issues just by itself-no cables, no trouble.

Apple continues to expand how people interact with their devices, but the Wireless Recovery feature is a good example of how the company quietly and understandably improves user experiences in meaningful ways.

Will It Hit the Older iPhones?

Although the iPhone 16 series is the only device that supports wireless restoration so far, most are waiting for Apple to introduce this feature on older devices.

Considering how much this might be useful, it is quite reasonable for this feature to be extended. Until then, if you have an older iPhone, make sure your iOS is updated; besides, always have a computer at hand, lest you need it someday.

TagsiOS 18, iOS 18 Wireless Recovery, iPhone 16