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iTunes Could Not Restore the iPhone Because an Error Occurred

Restoring an iPhone with iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later) is often the go-to solution when your device runs into problems or when you want to recover from a backup. However, some users encounter the frustrating message: "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because an error occurred".

This vague error message can leave you stuck, unsure of what went wrong or how to proceed. The good news is that there are multiple ways to troubleshoot and fix the iTunes Could Not Restore issue. This guide will explain the possible causes and provide step-by-step solutions to get your iPhone restored successfully.

Part 1: Why Does iTunes Could Not Restore iPhone Error Occur?

iTunes could not restore the iPhone because an error occur doesn't indicate an exact error code every time, but the possible causes generally fall into these categories:

Corrupted or incomplete backup files - If the iTunes backup is damaged, restoration may fail. It will tell you that iTunes could not restore iPhone because the backup was corrupt

Outdated iTunes or iOS software - Older versions may not be compatible with your iPhone model. You may encounter iTunes could not restore iPhone because the backup session failed.

USB connection issues - Faulty cables or unstable connections can interrupt the restore process. You probably will see iTunes could not restore iPhone because the iPhone disconnected.

Incorrect iTunes Backup password - If you see iTunes could not restore iPhone because the password was incorrect, that means you've entered a wrong iTunes Backup password you've ever set.

Part 2: How to Fix the iTunes Could Not Restore Issue

Now, let's quickly dive into how to fix the iTunes could not restore problem.

Update iTunes and iOS

Compatibility is a common reason for restoration errors. If your iTunes or iOS versions are too outdated, you will probably encounter iTunes restore errors. Check how to update your iTunes and iOS version.

Update iTunes: Launch iTunes on your computer. On Windows, click the Help button and then click the Check for Updates button to update your iTunes version. On Mac, you should update iTunes in App Store.

Update itunes

Update iOS: Generally, you don't need to update iOS, but if you want to do that, go to Settings on your iPhone, and then tap the General button. Then, select Software Update. Here, you can update your iOS version. After installation, you can see if you can fix the iTunes could not restore the iPhone because an error occur.

Update IOS

Delete Old Backups and Try Again

Corrupted backups can block the iTunes restore process. If you've seen iTunes could not restore iPhone because the backup was corrupt, you can delete the iTunes backup first. If there's only one iTunes backup, that means you cannot restore from iTunes backup.

Step 1. Open iTunes or Finder. Click the Preference button, and then select Devices.

Step 2. Here, you can find your iTunes backups. Delete the corrupted iTunes backup. Then, restore your iPhone with a working iTunes backup to see if you can solve the iTunes could not restore the iPhone problem.

Delete itunes Backup

Check and Shut Down Security Software

Firewalls and antivirus programs can interfere with iTunes. Therefore, you can temporarily disable third-party antivirus or firewall software. Also, ensure that iTunes and related Apple processes (like Apple Mobile Device Support) are allowed through your firewall. Then, you can start iTunes restore again to see if you can fix the iTunes could not restore the iPhone error.

Free Up Disk Space

Restoring an iPhone from an iTunes backup requires temporary disk space for unpacking backup files. If your computer's hard drive is nearly full, iTunes may fail with a generic error. So, please free up your disk space on Mac or Windows first to solve the iTunes could not restore the iPhone problem.

Part 3: The Best and Most Stable iPhone Backup Solutione

If you still fail to restore your iPhone from iTunes backup, maybe you can try Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore. It can directly restore your iPhone from iTunes backups on your computer. Moreover, you can select the desired files from the iTunes backup. Therefore, if you are desperate to perform an iTunes restore, immediately use this program to quickly retrieve your iTunes backup and restore your iPhone easily.

Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore

Easily Restore Your iPhone from iTunes Backup

  • Connect your iPhone to your computer to restore it from iTunes.
  • Easily fix iTunes could not restore the iPhone in any case.
  • Allow you to select your desired files in your iTunes backup.
  • Let you directly restore your iPhone from iCloud backup.
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iPhone Data Recovery

Conclusion

This article has told you how to fix iTunes restore errors in different ways. If you still cannot restore your iPhone from your iTunes backup, maybe you can use Apeaksoft iOS Data Backup & Restore to try restoring iTunes backup. It can quickly detect and retrieve data from iTunes backup files on your computer, and then perform a stable and successful iTunes restore.

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