Fix Error 3194 when Restoring Stock / Custom Firmware iOS [iTunes Error 3194]

Fix Error 3194 When Restoring Stock or Custom Firmware

Users often reports error 3194 when restoring either stock, or custom firmware / iOS. These are the steps to fix error 3194 when restoring custom / stock firmware on iPhone / iPad / iPad.

iTunes error 3194 usually appears when you’re trying to restore an unsigned firmware, often during an iOS downgrade or even during some restores. If you run into Error 3194 from iTunes, you can temporarily fix 3194 error by pointing iTunes to Cydia’s SHSH server where you’ve SHSH blobs saved for that particular firmwares.

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).

*** If you’re getting iTunes error 3194 with the latest firmware (Signed iOS) then simply remove the Cydia’s SHSH server IP, if it’s already in the Hosts file. It’s the reverse of the process explained below.


“The iPhone “iPhone” could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (3194).”

How to Fix iTunes Error 3194

You can fix iTunes error 3194 by adding Cydia’s SHSH Caching Server to the hosts file. You can do this either by using TinyUmbrella or you can also manually edit the hosts file. We’re going to explain both methods.


  1. Fix iTunes Error 3194 [TinyUmbrella]


  2. To add Cydia’s SHSH Caching Server to the Hosts file:

    Download TinyUmbrella;

    Launch TinyUmbrella, go to the “Advanced” tab and check “Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit”;

    Click on “Apply Changes” and then reboot your PC/Mac.

    Put your iDevice into DFU Mode and Try restoring it via iTunes.


  3. Fix iTunes Error 3194 [Manually]


  4. Close iTunes.

    Locate the Hots file:

    Windows:
    Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\ and locate hosts file.
    Open and edit the hosts file in Notepad.
    Note: Win 7 and Vista users MUST run Notepad with admin privileges. Right click on Notepad app and select Run as Administrator.
    Mac OS X:
    Go to \etc\ directory and locate hosts file. Copy it on your desktop
    Open the hosts file in TextEdit.

    Add the following lines to the very bottom of the hosts file:
    74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com
    remove any other line that contains gs.apple.com

    Put your iDevice into DFU Mode and Try restoring it via iTunes.

That’s it! You should now be able to successfully restore the desired older firmware (if SHSH saved).

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Also checkout:

Fix 16xx and 29 error During Custom Firmware Restore

92 comments… add one
The Gr33k May 19, 2011, 4:12 am

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).

My question is this; why “sometimes” does the apple server deny the installation? Would this not occur 100% of the time. Any way to know if i will have this problem before heading into this?

bun bora May 28, 2011, 9:00 pm

could you show me how to save SHSH.? Please ….

ijonk May 31, 2011, 3:21 pm

Does custom firmware need shsh blobs? if i downgrading with custom ios should i need shsh blobs?

iPhoneHeat June 1, 2011, 12:32 pm

Yes.

LiLi June 21, 2011, 1:13 pm

It didnt work for me. I still get error 3194. My iphone is jailbroken. I’m wondering if it works on jailbroken phone?

Jack June 23, 2011, 12:06 am

I accidentally (-.-“…) delete “system” using ifile…
now i need to restor it. i tryed your tips but it still not work. What should i do?

Alphasniper June 24, 2011, 1:11 pm

My iPod third generation was jailbroken with this system some might recognize as jailbreakme.com and I didn’t want this jailbreak anymore so I restored it and now my iPod is stuck on the apple logo if I try these methods should it fix my iPod ?

Casey July 25, 2011, 1:04 pm

If I delete the gs.apple.com in the hosts file, then I would get the 3194 error. If I add the 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com, it would give me the 1013 error. Please help!!!

caldera August 7, 2011, 10:46 pm

Hi Casey,

I had the same issues. You need to really delete all references to gs.apple.com in the hosts file. Download Tinyumbrella 5.0.9.0. Start TU then iTunes and Bob’s your uncle.

Regards

maty241 July 25, 2011, 7:45 pm

OMG i freakin worked 🙂 after like 2 hours of searching for a solution… thanks

Jitesh July 28, 2011, 5:31 am

I have iPhone 3gs. I updated my iphone to ios 4.3.4 and then jailbreak it using ios 4.3.3. Now my iphone is stuck in recovery loop. I don’t have SHSH saved. When I am trying to restore my iphone to 4.3.4 OR 4.3.3, I am getting 3194 error.

Is there any way to restore my iphone ? I am completely stuck.. please help

nova July 28, 2011, 3:09 pm

excuse me, can u help me…???
i think i dont see word “Apply Changes” in my TinyUmbrella..??
is that word only how if ur device connected..???
ou, my device can detect in iTunes…

Q-Bear July 29, 2011, 1:30 am

you saved my sanity. many MANY thanks for this article 😀

jai July 30, 2011, 10:59 am

I tried both tinyumbrella and hostfile method..it never work.any other fix for error 3194? pls help!

Diego July 31, 2011, 12:37 am

It can´t work…

Still get 3194 error on restore a ipad 3g ios to 4.3.3

Shannon August 6, 2011, 7:22 am

THANK YOU! You saved my phone!!!

01.59.00 August 7, 2011, 10:58 am

Man, my phone just stay at the apple logo. Not going anywhere!!

lp August 29, 2011, 10:30 am

Richard download tinyumbrella 5.00.09 than start TSS Server running do not close and than open Itune shift and restore 4.1 after it done go back to tinyumbrella click on Exit recovery, and you good to go. if it work please let me know OK

Richard August 21, 2011, 5:14 pm

about the 10th place that has suggested the same fix that does not work, anyone with a better idea?

Vincent Raja August 26, 2011, 8:35 pm

I tried both the methods.. but still I get the same error..
Can you provide me solution plz

My device is Ipod touch 3G using 4.3.5 Version. I need to downgrade to 4.3.3
i downloaded this 4.3.3 from Apple Server. Plz tell me the solution.

krit September 9, 2011, 5:32 pm

it’s works for manually, big thanks.

popfrazz October 6, 2011, 4:48 am

Oh my gosh thank you! I was thinking I would have to stay on 4.3.5 forever! I tried to downgrade from iOS 5 beta but it messed up and i has to resort to 4.3.5, I tried restoring but it wouldnt work! haha well thanks.

Sexy Jim October 8, 2011, 2:29 pm

People i spent hrs on this too – In every case it was me making small errors. i had every error u could imagine.

The fix above does work i went from 4.1 to a custom 4.3.3 that i built in snowbreeze. I modified the host file & i did the TinyUmbrella stuff togther. and it restored my custome made rom – have faith and patience.

Maximus October 10, 2011, 8:13 pm

Simply do the following:

Get Sn0wbreeze 2.7.3
Get Ios 4.3.3
Get a bricked 4.3.3 iphone 3gs
Get a diet coke and a tall glass of ice 🙂
Now get TinyUmbrella 5.0
Then go to advanced in cydia and uncheck the set shsh to cydia so stock hosts file is saved. BETTER than manually doing it.

THEN START TSS SERVER. OPEN ITUNES and use the custom rom you made with 4.3.3 on snowbreeze (Apply custom packages or ipad baseband as you deem necessary)

THEN restore with shift + restore.

Finish the rest of you drink your iphone 3gs reboots to factory mode and hacktivated thanks to snowbreeze.

buzz944 October 11, 2011, 12:05 am

i tried both ways and they didn’t work. the Tiny Umbrella doesn’t have a Apply changes button like you said.
I also tried starting TSS server before restoring and error 1604 appeared.
could you please help me

thnx

Cdragon October 11, 2011, 2:57 pm

Awesome! It worked! I was having problems when restoring my 3G iPod and I been experiencing Error 3194 whenever I restore my iDevice.

imightyluis October 13, 2011, 1:12 am

That still doesnt fix my promblem. Im not jailbroken anymore. I downgraded once but, i mede sure it was back to normal. But now im trying to upgrade to iOS 5 and i get the “error 3194” Someone please help/:

ganjas62 October 21, 2011, 3:24 pm

Thanks, it’s work

roges October 26, 2011, 12:14 pm

does this work for jailbroken ipod touch 4 with iOS 4.2.1?

gcua October 26, 2011, 5:37 pm

my device is ipad 2 with version 4.3.5. i tried to downgrade it to 4.3.3 so that i can jailbreak it. but when i tried custom downgrade, i got an error 3194 on itunes, i have tried the steps above, none of it work. what shall i do next?

gcua October 26, 2011, 5:40 pm

my device is ipad 2 with version 4.3.5. i tried to downgrade it to 4.3.3 so that i can jailbreak it. but when i tried custom downgrade, i got an error 3194 on itunes, i have tried the steps above, none of it work. what shall i do next? i also tried starting the tss server then ipad2 in dfu mode, then i get error 2005.

Truth or Scam October 26, 2011, 10:24 pm

I have tried to start TSS server several times with Umbrella, however, TinyUmberella’s TSS server is NOT running, my phone is in recovery mode. I have tried to restore my iphone 4 with both redSnow and snowbreeze!!!, I have got message error 3194 hundred times, and I DID do all the tricks with the host file. Now, I can’t use TinyUmbrella to start TSS server??? Any helps would be much appreciated!!!! Thanks!!!

iPhoneHeat October 27, 2011, 12:41 am

close Skype or any other app thatz using Port 80… or create a new user login n try from there

Brian October 27, 2011, 10:29 am

My problem: Jailbroken iPad 1.

I wanted to update to the iOS 5.

Infamous “3194 Error” so I tried everything, then tried the “TU” way, no go.

Now I tried the host file thingy and its working so far! MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE “#” BEFORE THE IP ADDRESS, otherwise it wont work!

jbirnel November 4, 2011, 10:37 pm

After 2 hours of fidling with botched remedies, my iphone FINALLY updated after I erased all the gs.apple.com lines except the last…If only I had come across this fix first…

tamimfaruq November 26, 2011, 11:44 am

can you help me, this doesn’t seems to work… i’ve tried everything.

im running iPhone 3GS iOS5.0, jailbroken. semi-tethered.

this problem started to occur after i accidently installed an unstable or non compatible tweak from cydia. and it stuck in recovery loop… because of the semi tethered, it automatically reboots. but not in safe mode. it reboots as semi tethered. this makes me can use messages and other core apps, but not cydia or jailbroken apps… so i cant open iFile, or cydia to remove the unstable tweak package that i installed…
i tried to restore but this error occured… wut can i do?
is there any other way?

kappp November 26, 2011, 7:50 pm

didn’t work for me. i am trying to install a custom no baseband firmware 5.0.1 and i did exactly like it says but no success. any advice would be very helpful.thank you.

Deciph3r November 26, 2011, 10:03 pm

I am not an iPhone user but I am currently upgrading firmware from 4.3 to 5.0.1 on someones. Anyway, when changing the windows host file make sure you don’t see a BACKUP host file as well. If you do edit and add 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com to this one as well. Windows reads both. Works like a charm 🙂

tamimfaruq November 30, 2011, 3:30 pm

mine is iphone 3GS running iOS5.0 (semi-tethered)

i accidentally installed an unstable or non compatible tweak package from cydia…
so, it crashed and got stuck in a loop for a few times…. and then, because its a semi tethered, it doesn’t boot into safe mode, but boots into semi tethered version of reboot (where some core apps can still be used like sms, calls and others, but no cydia or jailbroken apps can be used) so, i couldnt get myself to use iFile, or open cydia to remove or uninstall the last tweak package that was uncompatible… so, i tried to restore, but instead i encountered the error 3194…. tried everything to resolve this error but nothing works….

i think the only solution that might work is:

-if i get to boot manually from the semi tethered homescreen to safe mode, then, i might have a chance to open cydia and remove the bad tweak…

-2nd, if i get to resolve the error 3194, it might work as well…

-i cant use winSCP because i dont have wifi to connect to my iphone.

-if there’s a way to connect through usb cable from my laptop….

-not downgrading… just want to restore it so i could get my iphone up and running again…

please help… anything will do… as long as i get my iphone to work again… i dont mind restoring as well… i’ll just jailbreak it again after that….. any solution that 100% works please…. anyone…

edimitre April 5, 2012, 3:27 pm

u need ifunbox to explore all ur iphone folders from ur pc or laptop…and then locate the bad file u are saying and delete..or i posted something here how to do a clean and signed restore if u have ur shsh bloobs saved

mike123 December 3, 2011, 6:02 am

My issue may be a bit different, I was jailbroken but I have no idea what software I was running. I am just trying to restore to factory settings, ive tried all the steps and nothing seems to get rid of 3194 error. I simply want to start my phone fresh again. 3gs model. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

tamimfaruq December 18, 2011, 12:52 pm

i resolved my 3GS crash problems by updating to iOS 5.0.1.
it works great and smoothly… but you still cant jailbreak it yet. just need to wait a little more for the untethered. the tethered is already out for 5.0.1. but at least i get to use my iphone rather than just got stuck in the crash loop on the lockscreen every 5 seconds…. try it. hope it helps.

chrisink December 5, 2011, 5:06 pm

i found that going the manual way above (editing the hosts file with notepad) and making it look exactly like the image above worked for me, hope that helps.

jace January 4, 2012, 9:47 pm

i can’t fix this error even i tried all the methods!! help!!!!

maria January 20, 2012, 11:00 am

doesnt work

djtwinky January 24, 2012, 12:03 am

im having the same promblem. i just bought an iphone and was jailbroken using greenpoison, the phoned turned of and im trying to turn it on and it stays frozen on the skull.. does anybody know how to fix it? i tried restoring but i keep gettin error 3914.

djtwinky January 24, 2012, 12:09 am

im having the same promblem. i just bought an iphone and was jailbroken using greenpoison, the phoned turned of and im trying to turn it on and it stays frozen on the skull.. does anybody know how to fix it? i tried restoring but i keep gettin error 3914. would this method work for me?

laxu March 18, 2012, 8:14 pm

hi. i am on 4.3.3 3gs JB and need to go to 5.0.1 . tried TU and all but always getting the 1600 error.plz help. can u mail me a ss of how the hosts fle shld look like.
thanks a lot

2837ii March 20, 2012, 1:22 pm

did not work.. still 1600

shagun gupta March 29, 2012, 3:01 pm

Tried all the above. Not helping for iPod touch 4g, ios 5.0. If any1 has answers, pls let me know!

edimitre April 5, 2012, 3:20 pm

there is another way for fixing this error code because this method wont work anymore because apple increased the security………….this method is
1- download your shsh bloobs for the version u are restoring or updating with tiny umbrella on your pc (and check to be sure is stored on your pc )..and then go to advanced tab and uncheck set host to cydia and then close
2-you need to download the stand alone program called ifaith and snowbreeze you can find these here ih8sn0w.com..and then open ifaith and go to build singned ipsw /bloobs locate the bloobs first and then the ipsw u downloaded to pc in my case was 5.0.1..but it should be fine with all versions if u have saved ur shsh bloobs ..
3-let the program build your signed ipsw and then enter pwned dfu mode on your iphone
4-open itunes and do shift and restore and select your cooked ipsw (CAREFUL u have to select the one u made with ifaith)..and let the itunes do his job ….this can be done with redsnow but i think its better with snowbreeze or ifaith because this program are designed to not update ur baseband in case u are unlocked or waiting for an unlock on 4.11.08 or whatever…..

sitaulasa April 13, 2012, 2:06 pm

I have a jailbroked iphone 4 running on ios 5.0.1 and i cant restore it to factory setting by either way. I can’t get access to check for my updates and restore buttons when my iphone is at normal mode. I tried both host and tiny umbrella but not workning. Help needed please! ASAP

Nehemz May 7, 2012, 4:28 pm

http://www.iphoneheat.com/2011/05/fix-error-3194-restoring-firmware-ios-itunes/
Try using my method..(just posted my method under your comment in the site…

Nehemz May 7, 2012, 4:22 pm

Can you Check This..?
I have an iPhone 4 running in iOS 5.0.1 non-jailbroken… I’m Trying to jailbreak it and doing the restore in iTunes I received the Error(3194).. I coudn’t get through this and got irritated… I used iFunBox and Deleted all folders showing in the RAW File System Menu Under my iPhone 4..

As I delete them all, I Checked my phone in iTunes and showed the Setup (like starting a new iPhone or Restoring my backup). Checking again the RAW File System, I Still have 3 Folders(dont remembered what they were and showing me that I can’t delete them all using iFunbox).. After that, I entered the DFU Mode and try to Jailbreak it in iOS 5.0.1.. And I was Surprised that Jailbreaking was Successful..

My installed apps Weren’t deleted… And also other datas…

Please Check if I am Really Jailbroken..

Nehemz May 7, 2012, 4:26 pm

I Think this jailbreak is working FINE…
I Just Jailbroken my iPhone 4 Just Now…

ipis July 13, 2012, 6:30 pm

All iphone,s are mo..fu..ck off. after update newer version it goes on no service many another error 9416.. etc iphone f off….shit. samsung galaxy series wonderfull………….

celine August 18, 2012, 7:04 pm

hi. I’m frustrated at my itouch 2g! The first error was 3194, I fixed it using tinyumbrella. After that was 1604 so I had to use iREB then the screen turns white and error 21 appears. When I put the device to DFU mode to fix error 21, error 1600 appears again so I had to fix it again and error 21 appears and I had to go to this loop over and over. What will I do? This is driving me nuts!! PLEASE HELP!!

Edimendo September 10, 2012, 2:45 am

hey guys, i need some help here. I have an Ipod touch 4g. I replaced the screen after it broke and after sometime the ipod got stuck on the low battery screen with a red icon. before it broke down, it was running ios 4.something. I have downloaded ios 5.1.1 and tried to do shift+ restore and keep getting error 3194. My ipod is not jail broken. please help coz i still need it.

tamimfaruq September 22, 2012, 7:28 pm

i need to restore my phone 3gs ios 5.1.1 jailbroken to stock ios5.1.1 firmware…. but 3194 error keep occuring…
this never happened before… i tried everything from changing hosts file, to tinyumbrella, nothing seems to work… anybody know how can i solve this?

Raed September 27, 2012, 2:13 pm

Dear,

i tried both options, but it never works. please advise !

emmanuel October 28, 2012, 6:33 pm

thanx dudeeeeeee its amazing idea 1000%work

waqas November 3, 2012, 10:56 pm

hi

i have an iphone 4s with ios 5.1 and i understand that the jailbreak is available is only for ios 5.1.1 because as I use redsn0w 09.12.b2, the jailbreak option greys out.

I tried to update my iphone 4s to ios 5.1.1 but i get 3194 error. I tried resolving it with all available info on web but no use.

1. changing host files
2. using tiny umbrella – the option “Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit” is always greyed out still I changed the hosts files both fo windows and for tinyumbrella

what i should do. Can anyone help. I am willing to jailbreak without updating or with updating. but i want an untethered jailbreak.

asshole November 6, 2012, 4:30 pm

nothing is working,gonna die,mom will crash over me like an atom bomb….boom!! what a nightmare..

mamy November 6, 2012, 4:31 pm

nothing is working,gonna die,mom will crash over me like an atom bomb….boom!! what a nightmare….

bambang November 25, 2012, 9:52 am

once i set to run as administrator..it’s need a password..please help me

-UserName November 27, 2012, 1:36 pm

&eff223a515d549308f833390c11639b7_NX

antin00bygamer January 25, 2013, 1:12 pm

I tried everything above but could not get this to work. (including all possible configurations for hosts and the Settings>Restore button)
The checkbox for “set hosts to cydia on exit” is shaded in tinyumbrella and i cannot select it.
I have an ipod touch 4g and am downgrading to ios 5 because i had no idea how incompatible ios6 is.

Using Cydia to uninstall important-looking packages (apt, base-system, etc) and got rid of all the cydia stuff and it still didn’t work!

Now my device is stuck in a reboot loop that can only be stoppen by putting it in DFU, but then goes back again later.
thanks for your help,
Antin00bygamer

antin00bygamer January 25, 2013, 1:47 pm

downloaded an older version of tinyumbrella, chich got me to “Preparing Ipod” where i got error 1600.
i put my device in recovery mode instead of dfu, anf now i get error 21.

ARASU GRASPO February 24, 2013, 11:12 pm

Some one help me please, I cannot restore my ipad 3 to ios6.1.1, **error 3194 when trying to restore using ipsw** — I am stuck on this for past 4 hours, some one who cares please help me i have already tried these steps

/http://www.jailbreakqa.com/questions/122355/error-3194-when-trying-to-restore-using-ipsw/

http://www.iphoneheat.com/2011/05/fix-error-3194-restoring-firmware-ios-itunes/

and

also tried running TSS server in tinyumbrella nothing went in my favour still receiving same error……help me.

iPhoneHeat February 25, 2013, 12:10 am

It’s because 6.1.2 is the latest firmware and Apple is no more signing 6.1.1.. Checkout: http://www.iphoneheat.com/2013/02/jailbreak-ios-6-1-2-iphone-ipod-touch-ipad-evasi0n/

Dragos DRAGOS February 26, 2013, 3:45 pm

hy, i can’t check the “set hosts to cydia on exit”
What i do?

sKY March 24, 2013, 4:05 am

How do i open it in Adim

Frehiwot berhe March 25, 2013, 1:26 am

still this didn’t work for me i have an iphone 4S and it is still displaying the error 3194

Mauro May 26, 2013, 4:43 am

3194 works perfect, to 1601 or 1600 restore via Redsnow works perfect Thnks

Mark Gins March 12, 2014, 12:40 pm

How’s things, I just seen that on occasion this website renders a 500 error message. I thought you would be keen to know. Best wishes

TechieChic November 10, 2014, 8:57 am

Here we are 3 years later and this information is just as effective. I admit, I was a little skeptical because I know the lifespan of this information is rather short-lived. Glad that I tried it anyway…Phone is up and running like it never stopped. Whoever runs this site, thank you!

Mike S. January 18, 2015, 9:55 pm

Error 3149 without using Tinyumbrella when updating from ios 7.0.4 to ios 8.x.x.
with Tiny umbrella TTS enabled i get error 2005. tried different usb ports & cables etc.

tried all the methods above and around and all over the net. nothings working. im desperate for help, please someone <3 <3

ps – tried different versions of itunes. currently on itunes 11.1 and tried on 12.x
tinyumbrella does not give me option to uncheck "set hosts to cydia on exit.."

Seth D November 22, 2015, 6:29 am

I have tryed everything stated here. Need some help. I have recently gotten an ipad2 still with 4.3.5 iOS on it. Every time I try to upgrade or even change the iOS I still get the error 3194. I have tryed TinyUmbrella but the only version I can find is the newest beta version. Any suggestions.

PT October 11, 2019, 9:58 am

error 3194 is gone and I’m now facing error 3600 PLEASE HELP!!

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