By Jennifer | Last Updated
Want to restore your iPhone in iTunes but only receive the prompt "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because an error occurred"? Just take it easy. You can apply the 5 methods in this post to easily and effectively fix iTunes could not restore iPhone because an error occurred problem. Besides, you can also get an alternative way to restore your iPhone without iTunes here.
To solve the iTunes could not restore error, you should know the root cause of the error firstly. The main factors include:
A certified USB cable is needed, which can build a safe and stable connection between your devices. What's more, instead of using an attached keyboard or USB hub, you need to directly connect your iPhone to the computer. Besides, you can switch to a different USB port on your computer to fix the issue.
Restarting the devices also can solve the problem sometimes. You can power off your iPhone and then turn it on again. So does your PC or Mac. This can help clear any temporary software glitches.
Make sure your iTunes version is the latest. In your PC, you can update iTunes in itself if you downloaded iTunes from Apple official website before or you need to update iTunes in Microsoft Store where you got iTunes. To update iTunes on Mac, you can use the Update function in App Store.
You can disable your antivirus or firewall software temporarily, as they might be blocking iTunes. Also, close any programs that might interfere with iTunes, such as virtual machine software.
You can check the available storage under "Settings" > "General" > "iPhone Storage". Then delete unnecessary files and apps to free up storage space on iPhone. Besides, you can use iSunshare iDevice Genius to clean iPhone junk files.
If the backup file is corrupted, there is no doubt that the iTunes could not restore the iPhone. How to know your iPhone backup file is corrupted or not? You can create a fresh backup and then restore from this fresh backup.
When there is something wrong with the iTunes, your iPhone also could not be successfully restored by iTunes. At this moment, it's an energy-saving way to detect and repair your iTunes with iSunshare iOS Repair Genius. iOS Repair Genius works on fixing various iOS issues and iTunes errors, including the errors relating to iTunes.
Step 1: Download iSunshare iOS Repair Genius on your computer and install it by following the installation wizard.
Step 2: In the compact software interface, select iTunes Repair option that can repair different kinds of iTunes issues without data loss.
Step 3: Click the option – Repair iTunes Errors on the left side.
Step 4: In no time, the software will check your iTunes components. When the process ends, you can click the Repair button to get iTunes fixed.
Step 5: The iTunes error is fixed. And you can try to restore the iPhone again.
In case iTunes could not restore the iPhone error happens again, you can use iTunes alternative software—iSunshare iSyncGenius to backup and restore the iPhone. With this software, you can choose to backup all iPhone data or only selected files. What’s more, it is easy to backup multiple iPhones to your custom location. And the previous backup file will not be overwritten if a new backup is created. If you want to restore the iPhone backup, you can select the full recovery or classified restore.
Let’s learn how to restore iPhone from backup with iSyncGenius:
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the computer and open the software. Select the Restore tab on the toolbar.
Step 2: After your iPhone is detected, you can click the Next button.
Step 3: Select the restore mode and your backup file to move forward. If the backup file is encrypted, you need to input the correct backup password.
Step 4: Hit the Start button and confirm your iPhone restore. Minutes later, the iPhone is successfully restored.
1. Why does iTunes fail to restore my iPhone?
iTunes may fail to restore your iPhone due to various reasons, including outdated software, corrupt backup files, USB connection issues, insufficient storage space, software conflicts, or hardware problems with the device.
2. Can I restore my iPhone without using iTunes?
Yes, you can restore your iPhone without iTunes by using iCloud: Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset" > "Erase All Content and Settings”; then choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" during the setup process. However, this method requires a reliable Wi-Fi connection and that your iPhone has been backed up to iCloud previously.
3. How do I know if my backup file is corrupted?
Signs of a corrupt backup file include: iTunes failing to complete the restore process; Error messages stating the backup cannot be used; Incomplete or missing data after restoring from the backup. If you suspect corruption, try restoring from an older backup or creating a new backup to see if the problem persists.
The "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because an error occurred" message can be a significant obstacle, but with the right troubleshooting steps, it's often possible to resolve the issue and successfully restore your iPhone. Or you can use iSunshare iSyncGenius to easily backup and restore the iPhone.
