Why can't i restore my iPhone 6?

There are a few common reasons why you may be having trouble restoring your iPhone 6. Here are some quick answers to questions you may have:

Table of Contents

My iPhone 6 won’t restore – it gets stuck while trying to restore

If your iPhone 6 won’t restore and gets stuck on the Apple logo, tries again and again but fails to complete, or displays an error message, there are a few things you can try:

Force restart your iPhone – Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons together for at least 10 seconds until you see the Apple logo.

Check for software updates – Make sure both your iPhone and iTunes are updated to the latest software versions.
Try a different USB cable – A faulty lightning cable can cause restore issues.
Hard reset your iPhone – Press and hold Sleep/Wake and Home for 10 seconds, release Sleep/Wake but keep holding Home for 15 seconds.

Put your iPhone in DFU mode – DFU mode bypasses the current iOS install. Connect to iTunes and restore.
Use a different computer – Something may be wrong with the USB ports or configuration of your current computer.

I get an error message when trying to restore my iPhone 6

Some common error messages and potential solutions include:

“Error 14” – The iPhone software file is corrupted. Delete the IPSW file and redownload it.
“Error 4013” – Put the iPhone in DFU mode and restore. This indicates a hardware issue.
“Error 9” – Confirm you have the latest iTunes version. Reboot computer and reconnect iPhone.

“iPhone Disabled Connect to iTunes” – The iPhone is locked. You’ll need to take it to Apple to be unlocked.

My computer doesn’t recognize my iPhone 6 when I try to restore

If your computer fails to recognize or detect your iPhone 6 when you connect it to restore, try these tips:

Use a different USB cable, port, and computer if possible.

Update your USB and chipset drivers.
Turn your iPhone off completely then back on.
Hard reset your iPhone – Press and hold Sleep/Wake and Home for 10 seconds, release Sleep/Wake but keep holding Home for 15 seconds.

Put your iPhone in Recovery Mode – Press and hold Home and Sleep/Wake, release Sleep/Wake when you see the connect to iTunes logo.

My iPhone 6 won’t turn on or is stuck on the Apple logo

If your iPhone 6 won’t power on at all or is stuck displaying the Apple logo, you won’t be able to restore it through iTunes until it boots up fully. Try these steps:

Force restart your iPhone – Press and hold Sleep/Wake and Home for 10+ seconds until Apple logo appears.

Hard reset iPhone – Press and hold Sleep/Wake and Home for 10 seconds, then release only Sleep/Wake and continue holding Home for 15 seconds.
Let the battery drain completely then charge for at least an hour.
Restore with iTunes – Put iPhone in DFU mode, connect to computer and iTunes will prompt to restore.

Take iPhone to Apple Store – May be a hardware issue requiring repair.

My iPhone 6 won’t restore without being connected to WiFi

If you get an error that your iPhone 6 cannot be restored unless it is connected to WiFi, follow these tips:

Borrow someone else’s WiFi or go to a public hotspot.

Toggle Airplane mode on and off.
Backup iPhone to iCloud over WiFi, then erase all content and settings.
Contact carrier to reset network settings.

DFU restore – Put in DFU mode and restore with iTunes via cable.

I get error 3194 when trying to restore my iPhone 6

Error 3194 typically means the iPhone software file is corrupted. To resolve it:

Re-download the iOS software file for your iPhone model.

Delete the previous IPSW file from ~/Library/iTunes.
Try restoring with the newly downloaded software.
Update to the latest version of iTunes.

Use a different USB port, cable and computer if possible.

My iPhone 6 won’t restore and needs to be updated

If you get an error that the iPhone needs to be updated before it can be restored, try these steps:

Update your iPhone through iTunes by clicking Update when prompted.

Download the latest iOS software on your computer.
Hold Shift when clicking Restore to manually select the IPSW file.
Make sure you have the correct IPSW file for your iPhone 6 model.

DFU restore – Put iPhone in DFU mode and restore firmware file.

My iPhone 6 backup is corrupted or incompatible

If you get errors related to a corrupted or incompatible backup file, try these solutions:

Create a new backup of your iPhone data through iCloud or iTunes.

Set up iPhone as new after restoring firmware to wipe backup.
Restore from an older backup that is not corrupted.
Update to the latest iOS version then try restoring again.

Check backup device for errors and free up disk space if needed.

Forgotten passcode is preventing iPhone 6 restore

If you forgot your iPhone passcode, you’ll need to erase the device to get past the lock screen. Options include:

Erase iPhone through Find My iPhone if enabled.

Put in DFU mode and restore firmware to wipe passcode.
Take to Apple store with proof of purchase for unlock.
Use a passcode cracking software tool (not recommended).

Keep trying passcode combinations until successful.

Screen is cracked or damaged on iPhone 6

Cracks and damage on the iPhone screen can prevent the device from being recognized when trying to restore. Options include:

Get the screen repaired before attempting restore.

Use external display if possible while restoring.
Put in DFU mode and restore with iTunes without touch input.
Take to Apple for proper screen replacement.

Replace iPhone if damage is beyond repair.

Conclusion

In summary, common restore issues with the iPhone 6 include getting stuck at the Apple logo, error messages in iTunes, connection problems with computer not recognizing device, iOS software corruption, incompatible backups, forgotten passcodes, and hardware damage. Trying DFU mode restores, using different cables/ports/computers, updating software versions, wiping the device to factory settings, and taking it to Apple for repairs are all troubleshooting steps that could help get the iPhone 6 successfully restored again.

Error Message	Potential Solution
Error 14	Delete and redownload iOS software file
Error 4013	DFU restore
Error 9	Update iTunes, reboot computer
iPhone Disabled Connect to iTunes	Take to Apple for unlock
Error 3194	Redownload iOS firmware file

This table summarizes some common iTunes error messages and potential solutions to try for resolving them. Error 14 and 3194 relate to software corruption issues, 4013 and “iPhone Disabled” indicate hardware or lock-related problems, and Error 9 generally can be fixed by updating iTunes and your computer. Knowing the error code is key to troubleshooting a failed iPhone restore.

Backups

Backups allow you to store a copy of your iPhone data including photos, messages, settings, and other important information. They provide a way to restore your data if anything happens to your iPhone. Here are some tips for managing iPhone backups:

Backup regularly – iCloud and iTunes give you options to backup manually or on a schedule.
Encrypt backups – Encryption provides extra security for sensitive data.

Manage storage space – Delete old backups and monitor iCloud storage limits.
Test restoring – Periodically restore your iPhone from a backup to verify integrity.
Troubleshoot issues – Fix error messages, interrupted backups, and other issues.

Alternative methods – Photos can be backed up to cloud storage like Google Photos as well.

Following these backup best practices helps ensure you have a clean, recent copy of your iPhone data that can be used if needed for recovery or when upgrading to a new device.

In conclusion, while iPhone restore issues can certainly be frustrating, there are a number of steps you can take to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve the problem. Be sure to check for software updates, try different cables/computers, put the device in DFU mode, and contact Apple support if needed. Backing up your data regularly is also recommended to avoid potential data loss when restore problems occur.