Revive and Restore

Apple Configurator 2’s advanced recovery features for iOS and iPads. ‘Revive’ updates firmware without erasing data, while ‘Restore’ performs a complete erase and reinstallation.

What to Know

Revive and Restore provide critical recovery options for iOS and iPads that won’t boot or are stuck in recovery mode. Revive updates device firmware without erasing user data, while Restore performs a complete wipe and firmware update. These functions can recover devices that Finder or iTunes cannot restore, and are essential for fixing devices with corrupted firmware or failed iOS updates. For organizations managing iOS device fleets, these tools prevent costly device replacements when software recovery is possible.

Common Scenarios

Enterprise IT: Corporate IT uses Revive to attempt data-preserving firmware recovery on company iPhones experiencing boot failures, resorting to Restore only when Revive fails. This minimizes data loss and user disruption when recovering failed devices.

MSP: MSPs use Apple Configurator Revive and Restore to recover client iPhones that fail during updates or become stuck in boot loops. Successfully recovering devices without Apple Store visits saves clients time and maintains service level agreements.

Education: School IT uses Revive and Restore to recover student iPads experiencing boot failures after failed updates or student tampering. This keeps devices in classroom circulation rather than sending them for depot repair.

In Addigy

While Revive and Restore operate outside MDM, devices enrolled in Automated Device Enrollment automatically re-enter Addigy’s enrollment flow after the restore completes. Addigy’s Return to Service then ensures devices are immediately configured with all policies and apps without manual IT intervention.