Code points to the possibility of recovering software iOS devices without a PC

Code found in the third beta of iOS 13.4 indicates that Apple is working on a way to restore software from iOS devices without connecting to a computer. Such an option has been available on macOS for years.

The feature is called OS Recovery, 9to5Mac reports. It’s unknown exactly how it works, but an iPhone may be able to get an ipsw file from the Internet to reinstall the software. Also, it could work by wireless connection to another iOS device.

The site speculates that it would be useful for iPhones, but would come in handy with the Apple Watch and Homepod. Both devices have no physical connectors to repair the software and therefore always have to go to a repairer.

It happens more often that new features of iOS come out through code in betas. The site doesn’t know whether Apple plans to release the feature soon or is already testing it for a later release, for example in iOS 14. Restoring an iPhone or iPad is now done via iTunes on Windows or Finder on macOS. This is necessary when the phone can no longer start up, for example.