It is a fact of life when owning an iPhone or iPad you will eventually experience the dreaded iTunes error, thankfully most of the iTunes errors you experience can be found listed in Apple's Knowledge Base however some of the explanations and resolutions are vague and do not really help you in your attempts to correct the error you have experienced. Errors appear when you are upgrading or restoring over a USB connection via iTunes.
If you have received a “This device cannot be restored Error XXX” message from iTunes, you have now been forced to undertake some googling research to begin understanding why you are experiencing the error number shown in iTunes. At iTech Repair we know this causes frustration, let us offer some detailed pointers for the error numbers and an estimation of how easy they are to repair so you don’t have to spend hours researching for solutions by yourself.
We are here to help our technicians at iTech Repair are experienced in recovery of devices which experience errors in iTunes. In some cases errors can easily be repaired at home, however others many either require replacement hardware parts or in serious cases specialist board level repair, and in the worst cases the device can not be repaired at all as it is related to catastrophic hardware failure.
iTunes Errors Can They Be Fixed Easily?
iTunes Error Can Be Repaired | |
| This icon means in many cases it is possible for a simple repair if you see this error code, the problem is usually related to an issue with USB connectivity to your computer, or an issue with virus software or a firewall blocking iTunes. | |
| iTunes Error Can Normally Be Repaired | |
| This icon means in many cases it is possible for a simple repair, if you see this type of error code you may require replacement spare parts to be fitted to the iPhone to facilitate a complete repair. | |
| iTunes Error Hardware Fault | |
| This icon means the error code relates to a hardware problem, in the majority of cases to repair the device it will require replacement parts or in more serious cases the device can be beyond economical repair due to catastrophic hardware failures. |
Error 1
Try using a different USB port and restart computer. The installed version of iTunes may be too old, update iTunes.
Error -1
Error occurs when one uses the "last ditch" method for preventing baseband updates on the iPhone. The baseband does not get updated using this method. Use FixRecovery to kick it out of recovery mode.
Error -3
If you have Error -3 Check your baseband when writing baseband during the phone restoration stage, possible hardware baseband chipset failure.
Error 2
Device can not boot.
Error 6
Unable to enter download mode, try using a different USB port and restarting the computer.
Error 9
Due to ASR being patched, the SHA signature is automatically changed and after being resigned the kernel will refuse to use it. Therefore proper kernel patches are required. If necessary kernel patches are not applied, it will fail to load ASR and error 9 would occur during restore. Rebooting your PC may resolve this issue. Also it can be connection issue.
Error 10
LLB is missing from the IPSW. The device cannot be booted up.
Error 11
Removed baseband firmware file in the firmware folder of an unzipped IPSW.
Error 13
Can signify a USB problem. Check the USB connection and try other direct USB ports or maybe the USB cable is faulty.
Also happens when you want to install a beta firmware with iTunes for Windows (actively blocked by Apple; beta users are developers and therefore must have a Mac).
Error 14
Possible USB Problem. Check the USB connection and try other direct ports or maybe the USB cable is faulty.
Custom firmware update fail (PwnageTool). You will have to restore the device with a custom firmware. Update to a custom firmware isn't working. Device isn't bootable.
Error 17
Custom firmware update fail (sn0wbreeze). You will have to restore the device with a custom firmware.
Error 18
Occurs when the media library on the device is corrupt and can not be modified or updated. Updating to the latest version of iTunes and then restoring normally resolves this issue.
Error 20
Reportedly happens during failed downgrade attempts, some have seen success afterwards by doing the downgrade from DFU mode instead of the normal Recovery mode.
Error 21
Error when using Sauriks server for a restore with iOS 5.x in the Recovery mode at least on a A5 device. This error can also happen when you try to restore an iPod with hardware DFU. Use iREB r5 to solve this, or you are trying to update to a beta firmware without UDID activation.
Error 23
Baseband communication error, usually the baseband chip is faulty.
Error 26
False version of the NOR flash firmware. Use the correct sn0wbreeze version.
Error 27
modified the restore.plist so it would flash and also exchanged RestoreRamDisk and kernel cache. restore the original iOS.
Error 28
The problem is a bad dock connector on the iPhone. Have the connector changed.
Error 29
Have the battery changed.
Error 31
DFU Loop sometimes during the restore with a corrupt IPSW iTunes will return error 31. Only solution is to restore a working firmware.
Error 34
Hard disk has run out of space when trying to download. Clear space and then continue downloading.
Error -35
Error when downloading songs purchased on iTunes, See Apple's KB article.
Error 37
iPod touch 2G LLB patched with the 0x24000 Segment Overflow was used on an iPhone 3GS custom firmware. Known on damaged bundles from unofficial PwnageTool distributions or bundles.
Error 40
Hacktivation bug in Sn0wbreeze, use updated version.
Error 47
Hardware problem with baseband.
Error -50
Delete Storm Vedio, QuickTime, iTunes, then reinstall iTunes. See also Apple's KB article.
Error 1002
Restore in DFU mode.
Error 1004
This is caused by a failure to match the Baseband Nonce currently in memory to the Nonce returned in the BasebandFirmware SHSH blob. This is a normal part of iPhone 4 local restores via TinyUmbrella.
Error 1011
The file iTunesMobileDevice.dll is damaged or updated.
Error 1013
Restart computer; change computer; reinstall system, if iPhone is always in restoring mode: XP users can jump from restoring mode with ibus; MAC users can use iNdependence. (usually on the iPhone with 1.0.2 firmware downgraded from 1.1.1)
Error 1014
This error is down to itunes not liking your USB ports on your computer. Use a different USB slot or a different computer if possible. That is the easiest fix!
Error 1015
Restart computer; change computer; reinstall system, if iPhone is always in restoring mode: XP users can jump from restoring mode with ibus; MAC users can use iNdependence. (usually on the iPhone with 1.1.1 firmware downgraded from 1.1.2) Baseband firmware on the IPSW is higher than the baseband firmware on the iPad/iPhone.
Error 1050
Bad response from gs.apple.com OR need iREB for preparing the device for restoring to custom IPSW
Error 1394
When Spirit2Pwn flashes parts of the boot chain on iOS 4, the device may crash into DFU Mode.
Error 1413
Restart computer; change USB port; reinstall system. See also Apple's KB article.
Error 1415
Restart computer; change USB port; reinstall system.
Error 1417
Restart computer; change USB port; reinstall system.
Error 1418
Restart computer; change USB port; reinstall system.
Error 1428
Restart computer; change USB port; reinstall system.
Error 1600
Custom firmware can't be restored on a device with DFU Mode. Use Recovery Mode.
Error 1601
Completely remove iTunes and Apple Mobile Device support and then reinstall iTunes
Error 1602
Restart computer; change computer; reinstall system.
Error 1603
False kernelcache patch. Known on damaged bundles from unofficial PwnageTool distributions or bundles. See also Apple KB article
Error 1604
Device was not pwned (signature checks were not blocked). Custom firmware can't be restored.
Error 1611
iTunes tried to enter the Restore Mode, but the device turned back to the Recovery Mode.
Error 1618
Missing system files or corrupt data in iTunes installation. Try to uninstall iTunes, restart computer, install again. This error also occurs for iTunes in Windows 8 for reasons currently unknown.
Error 1619
iTunes is too old and couldn't read the iPhone in Recovery or DFU Mode. Please update iTunes and try it again.
Error 1644
IPSW was moved during prepare with iTunes. Try it again and don't move the IPSW.
Error 1646
iTunes expected the device to be in a different state (Example: booted into iOS rather than jumping to iBEC).
Error 2001
The Mac OS X kernel extension "IOUSBFamily" that was bundled with late 2008 / early 2009 MacBooks, has a bug where it fails to properly recognize an iDevice in DFU Mode. It can be resolved by updating to 10.5.7 (or later), or using a USB hub.
Error 2002
iTunes can't connect because another program is using it or it's disconnected during the Apple Server check.
Error 2003
Connection problem; change USB cable and check USB port.
Error 2005
Problem connecting. Probably a hardware failure.
Somebody reported that reinstalling the USB drivers fixed the problem.
Error 2006
Replace the USB cable with a newer one and/or disconnect all other USB devices, then retry.
Error 2009
remove all USB devices and spare cables other than your keyboard, mouse, and the device, restart the computer, and try to restore.
Error 3XXX
iTunes can't connect to gs.apple.com. Maybe Port 80 and Port 443 is blocked. Open it on your router.
Error 3002
Update to an older firmware isn't working, because Apple is no longer handing out SHSHs for the device/firmware combination.
Error 3004
No internet connection during the firmware restore.
Error 3014
False edited hosts. The SHSH request couldn't be completed. No connection to the Apple Server, Sauriks Server or localhost.
Error 3123
Something dealing with movie rentals.
Error 3194
Right-click on QuickTimePlayer.exe choose Properties from the shortcut menu click on the Compatibility tab. Deselect the checkbox labeled “Run this program in compatibility mode for..
Error 3194
Occurs when trying to install an old firmware and Apple's server disallows the installation. The only solution is to have SHSH backup and modify the hosts file to point to Saurik's Cydia server where they are backed up (or localhost if you have it yourself).
Error 3195
"An internal error occurred." Missing SHSH for the firmware. Maybe the same as "This device isn't eligible for the request build." but with an cache error.
Error -3198
Error downloading, try again. or This device isn't eligible for the requested build.
Error 3200
You are trying to update to iOS 5, when infact, the IPSW file has only a Restore Ramdisk.
Error -3259
Connection timeout, try again.
Error -5000
There is a problem with the permissions of the Mobile Application folder. The App you've tried to download in iTunes couldn't be saved.
Error 9008
Error downloading, try again.
Errors 9800
Set exact date, restart computer. See also Apple's KB article.
Error 9808
Computer system time incorrect.
Error 9812
Check system time, reset Internet connection, update root certificates.
Errors 9814
Set exact date, restart computer. See also Apple's KB article.
Errors 9815
Set exact date, restart computer. See also Apple's KB article.
Error 9843
This error happens if you are logged out, try to download something from the iTunes store and if you click on "Download" and enter an account, which doesn't have this article, this error will occur.
Error 11222
internet options Connections tab Click LAN Settings uncheck "use a proxy server"
Error 11556
You're trying to access a section or a functionality that is not available in your country, for example iCloud in some countries.
Error 13019
Seems to be an issue with syncing media to the device.It only seems to happen on jailbroken devices. Create new user, try syncing with new user's library.
Need restore the device....
Error 20000
Is caused by a custom theme pack on Windows. Use default theme.
0xE8000001
Device was suddenly unplugged. iTunes could not connect with the device. Try again.
0xE8000022
Error in your firmware files, download again and restore.
0xE8008001
IPA signature verification failed.
0xE800003D
False permissions in the Carrier Bundle folder. restore, update or fix the permissions from the carrier bundle to update the carrier settings via iTunes.
0xE800006B
Device was suddenly unplugged. iTunes could not connect with the device. Try it again.
0xE8000065
Custom firmware error on USB connection. Unplug the device, reboot it, and plug it in again.
Do not worry if you are unable to repair your iTunes error codes, one of our experienced technicians will be more than happy to offer you a free diagnostic service, to book your iPhone in with us or if you have any questions please give us a call on 0845 474 4728 or use our Contact Us page to so we can get your iPhone fixed.
Posted by
Nathan Dickman
Loves playing with new gadgets and tinkering with technology ranging from repairing vintage telephones to programming on the Raspberry Pi, and of course fixing all the broken things! Interests include playing Minecraft, Fishkeeping, PC gaming and exploring virtual reality with the Oculus Rift.