Restoring an iPhone can sometimes fail for various reasons. When this happens, don’t panic! Here are some quick tips to try to get your iPhone restoring again:
Try a different USB cable
One of the most common reasons an iPhone fails to restore is because of a bad USB cable. The cable may be damaged or just cheaply made. Try restoring with a different USB cable that you know works properly.
Check for the latest iOS version
Make sure your iPhone and computer have the latest iOS and iTunes version installed. Connect your iPhone to iTunes, go to the Summary page and check for any available updates. Install the latest iOS update on your iPhone and iTunes on your computer.
Hard reset your iPhone
If a software glitch is preventing your iPhone from restoring, try hard resetting it. To hard reset, quickly press and release the Volume Up button. Then quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo. This will reset your iPhone without losing data.
Try recovery mode
Put your iPhone into recovery mode and try restoring again. To enter recovery mode, connect your iPhone to your computer while powered off. Then press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen. Now try restoring via iTunes.
Restore using Finder on Mac
If you’re trying to restore an iPhone using a Mac, try using Finder instead of iTunes. Finder has the same restore capabilities as iTunes, but sometimes works better. Open Finder, select your iPhone, then choose to restore.
Disable antivirus software
Antivirus or security software can sometimes interfere with the iPhone restore process. Temporarily disable your antivirus completely and try restoring again without it running.
Restart your computer
A simple computer restart can clear out any software issues that may be preventing the restore. Make sure to close out of all programs before restarting for best results.
Try on a different computer
It’s possible the restore issue is related to a problem with your computer and not the iPhone itself. Try restoring your iPhone by connecting to a different computer. A friend or family member’s computer may get the restore working.
Update drivers
Outdated drivers on your computer can interfere with the restore process. Check for driver updates for your USB ports, USB cable, graphics card, etc. Updating them may resolve any driver-related issues.
Check device storage
Your iPhone may fail to restore if there isn’t enough storage space available. Delete content manually from your iPhone to free up storage space before attempting to restore.
Factory reset your iPhone
Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose “Erase All Content and Settings”. This will factory reset your iPhone without needing to restore, which could fix software issues.
Contact Apple Support
If all else fails, contact Apple Support for help troubleshooting and properly restoring your iPhone. They can run diagnostics, suggest other fixes, or set up a repair if needed.
Common iPhone restore errors and how to fix them
Error 14
Error 14 typically means the iPhone cannot be restored due to a hardware issue. Some things to try:
- Inspect iPhone for any visible damage
- Clean the Lightning port for dirt/debris
- Try a different USB cable
- Update computer USB drivers
- Restore on a different computer
Error 4013
Error 4013 indicates a problem with the iPhone firmware preventing a restore. Potential fixes include:
- Put the iPhone in DFU mode and restore
- Update or reinstall the latest iTunes version
- Hard reset the iPhone then restore
- Restore firmware for iPhone using IPSW file
Error 9
Error 9 means the iPhone software is corrupted. Try the following:
- Update the iPhone software via iTunes
- Restore iPhone in recovery mode
- Erase all content and settings then restore
- Restore using an IPSW firmware file
iPhone stuck on Apple logo
If your iPhone shows the Apple logo but won’t finish booting, attempt these fixes:
- Hard reset the iPhone
- Let the battery drain completely then recharge
- Restore in recovery mode
- Update or restore firmware in DFU mode
- Take to Apple Store for diagnosis
iPhone disabled, connect to iTunes
Seeing a “disabled” message means the iPhone is locked. To restore function:
- Enter the correct passcode at the prompt
- Restore iPhone via recovery mode
- Restore iPhone via DFU mode
Step-by-step guide to restore iPhone using iTunes
Backup iPhone data
Before restoring, make sure to backup your iPhone data to avoid losing it. You can backup to iCloud or locally to your computer.
- Connect iPhone to computer via USB and open iTunes
- Under device summary, click “Back Up Now”
- Choose “This computer” or “iCloud” and select Encrypt local backup
- Wait for the backup process to complete
Download the latest iOS software
Make sure you have the latest iOS version downloaded so you can restore to it.
- Open iTunes and click Summary > Check for Update
- Click Download and Install to get latest iOS version
- Agree to terms and conditions then wait for it to finish downloading
Put the iPhone in recovery mode
Restoring requires the iPhone to be in recovery mode.
- Connect iPhone to computer via USB while powered off
- Press and hold Side button until you see the recovery mode screen
- Let go of the Side button once recovery screen appears
Restore iPhone using iTunes
With the latest iOS version downloaded and iPhone in recovery, now restore.
- In iTunes, click Restore iPhone
- A confirmation prompt will appear, click Restore
- Wait for iTunes to finish restoring your iPhone
- iPhone will reboot once finished. Set it up as new or restore from backup
Tips for preventing restore problems
Here are some tips to avoid iPhone restore failures happening in the first place:
Maintain your hardware
Damaged charging ports, cables, and batteries can prevent successful restores. Inspect hardware periodically and replace as needed.
Keep your software updated
Always update to the latest iOS versions to avoid bugs or glitches that disrupt restoring.
Backup regularly
Back up your data at least once a week. That way you won’t lose important data if you ever need to restore.
Close other programs
When restoring, close all other apps and software. They can interfere with iTunes or Finder during the process.
Have enough storage space
Maintain adequate free storage on your iPhone. Running out of storage can lead to software issues and restoration failures.
Use trusted accessories
Low quality Lightning cables and docks can cause restoration problems. Stick to Made for iPhone (MFi) certified accessories.
Update computer software
Make sure you also keep your computer software updated, including USB drivers, iTunes/Finder, and operating system.
iPhone restore frequently asked questions
Why does my iPhone need to be restored?
Restoring an iPhone resets it to factory default settings. This can fix software errors, glitches, freezing, and other issues caused by problematic software.
Will restoring delete everything?
Yes, restoring erases all content and settings from your iPhone, including apps, photos, messages, accounts, and more. Be sure to backup your data first.
How long does an iPhone restore take?
If restoring from a recent iCloud or iTunes backup, the iPhone restoration process usually takes under 10 minutes. Restoring without a backup and setting up as new takes slightly longer.
Can I stop an iPhone restore?
You should not interrupt an iPhone restore after it has begun. Let the process finish completely before disconnecting or turning off the iPhone.
Why is my iPhone stuck on restore screen?
If the restore progress bar gets stuck, try a different USB cable, restart your computer, disable antivirus software, or update your computer drivers.
Does restore delete everything on iPhone?
Yes, restoring erases all data and resets the iPhone to its original factory settings. Be sure to backup your data first before restoring.
Is restoring better than updating?
Restoring completely wipes the iPhone before reinstalling iOS, which can fix more software issues than just updating. But updating is faster if your issues are minor.
Can I restore without losing data?
No, the restoration process erases all iPhone data. You’ll need to restore from a backup to return your data after restoring the iPhone.
How do I backup before restoring?
On a Mac, backup to iCloud or locally to your computer using Finder. On Windows, backup using iCloud or iTunes.
Conclusion
Restoring your iPhone can solve many software issues and refresh it back to its original state. Just be sure to backup your data first and have the latest iOS version downloaded.
Try the various troubleshooting steps outlined here if you run into errors or problems with the restoration process. Reach out to Apple support if you still can’t get your iPhone to restore properly.
With proper maintenance of your software and hardware, you hopefully won’t need to restore your iPhone too often. But when you do need it, follow these tips and steps to get it restored and working again.
