Usually an error 3194 in iTunes indicates that the user tried to update the device on iOS 7 or tried to flash it iPad, iPhone and so on.

Error text: " Failed to update iPhone "iPhone". An unknown error occurred (3194)»

Let's list the possible reasons why error 3194 appears in iTunes or iPhone devices when restoring the firmware:

  • Access to the ability to update via a file has been blocked hosts, which in turn is part of the OS.
  • You tried to flash the device with an old firmware version.
  • An outdated version of the utility is used iTunes.

Methods for solving error 3194

Method No. 1

Always try to stick to the latest version of iTunes software. Updates are intended to improve your use of the utilities that are updated. So there is no point in sitting on old software. If you update, then the error 3194, will most likely leave you.

Method No. 2

This method is to expose the file hosts to the original values. To do this you need to use the utility created by Microsoft entitled Microsoft(c) Fix it 50267. However, it does not work on systems Windows 8 And Windows 10.

Users of these systems will have to use the manual method. To do this do the following:

  • Run " Notebook» with Administrator mode.
  • Next click “File” -> “Open”.
  • In the window that opens, select show " All files».
  • Walk the path My computer/C/Windows/system32/drivers/etc/. The same hosts will be located there. Let's open it.

All lines in this file must be specified with the symbol # . If you notice the line called 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com, then get rid of it. After these steps, save the document and reboot the system.

Method No. 3

Use the utility TinyUmbrella. She will replace your addresses with her own. You can do this inside the “ Advanced" You must uncheck the " Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit".

Probably every iPhone user has at least once encountered unknown errors while using the device, in particular with error code 3194. We mentioned this error in the review, but the problem is so broad and relevant that there is a need to devote a separate article to this malfunctions.

This error usually “crashes” after an attempt to restore or update iOS on an iPhone, and we immediately note that it is not critical and can be resolved within a few minutes, although it can really tug at the nerves of an inexperienced user. Therefore, if you are already planning to run to the service center, then it is better to “hold your horses” and read this article. By following our instructions, you are sure that a previously unknown error will lag behind you, and if it arises later, you will be able to easily deal with it.

Causes

The first and most common reason is when the user tries to install an older version of iOS (for example, you have iOS 7 installed, and you tried to “downgrade” it to iOS 6 or lower). Apple does not approve of this behavior at all, so it has stopped signing versions of operating systems below version 7. Actually, you can install a more “ancient” version of the operating system, but to do this you will need to install a jailbreak, i.e. open the device’s file system, which is not entirely safe and is certainly not welcomed by Apple. Actually you can read it on our website.

The second reason is that the iTunes application is unable to connect to the Apple server to request the SHSH hash. The reason for this may be a simply outdated version of iTunes or an updated “hosts” file on the computer itself. Actually, the file itself is responsible for connecting applications to the Internet. For example, by writing special lines (if you know what to write, of course), you can restrict access to connect a certain program to the Internet. Well, if you get error code 3194, then, most likely, during the restoration/updating of iOS on the iPhone, in some unclear way, entries were written in the hosts file that block access to the Internet.

We fix the problem in various ways

There are several ways to resolve this error, but first of all we recommend using the first method, which in our opinion is the most relevant and simple. If it doesn’t help, then try the next method and so on down the list.

Method No. 1

There is at the same time the simplest and most effective method that you need to try right away - this. To update iTunes, you just need to launch it, select the “Help” menu and click on the “Update” sub-item there. After this, the program will check for the latest version and offer to install it. After updating iTunes, try again to perform the same operation that caused you error 3194. In most cases, after updating the application, the error disappears.

Method No. 2

Editing the hosts file. First, you need to disconnect your iPhone (or other Apple device) from your computer and close the iTunes application. If this point is not fulfilled, then all the work done may be thrown “down the drain.” Next, you need to find the hosts file itself, which is usually located for Windows OS along the path “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts”.

Find it and open it using a text editor with administrator rights on OS Windows. After this, using a search in the editor, you need to find the line 74.208.105.171.gs.apple.com. If it exists, then it is precisely it that blocks iTunes access to the Internet, and if it does not exist, then the problem lies in something else that is still unknown to you.

Sometimes situations may arise when, after deleting a line, it is impossible to save the hosts file. In this case, simply copy the entire contents of the file WITHOUT THIS LINE and paste it into a new file. “Call it” the same way as the old file, and put it in the folder indicated above. The source file does not have an extension (just like your text document) and when asked about replacing the file, be sure to agree. Now we connect back to the computer and perform the actions that led to error 3194.

Method No. 3

The third method involves using third-party applications to manipulate the hosts file. We recommend using the TinyUmbrella program, which can be downloaded from this link (links to download the program are usually located in the side sidebar).

Download the program, install it and run it. We look for the “Advanced” tab in it, where you need to uncheck the box next to “Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit”, which will actually remove the ability to connect Cydia servers to iTunes. Now we again perform the operation (restoring/updating iOS on iPhone) that caused error 3194 to appear.

To summarize, we also note that sometimes iTunes can simply be blocked by a firewall or antivirus, so it would not be superfluous to look into the exceptions of these programs. Actually, if an application is blocked, it will not gain access to the Internet. In rare cases, after eliminating error 3194, new errors may appear - 14, 21, 1600, etc. If this happens, then in this case you will have to install a new firmware version on your iPhone or restore the device.

No program can work perfectly, it is not immune from errors, and iTunes is very reliable and stable. However, fortunately, errors when working with this utility will not cause users much trouble, because they are all systematized by Apple engineers - each “glitch” has its own number and a ready-made solution for getting rid of it.

In this article, we'll tell you what to do if your work is interrupted by error 3194 in iTunes.

Error 3194 has a lot of reasons; it can interrupt not only the process of updating the device, but also the attempt to restore it. To understand the cause of the glitch, it is important to pay attention to the exact moment the error window popped up. If it interrupted preparation for the update/restore, in other words, it appeared when the branded “apple” and the progress bar of the procedure being performed were not yet displayed on the screen of the iOS device, then with a 99% probability you are dealing with a software problem. But! If the bug makes itself known when the update/restoration process has already begun, most likely, we are talking about some kind of hardware problem.

How to resolve error 3194?

What to do in both cases? Act as if the problem is of a software nature and try to fix the glitch by “digging” in the software, and if all else fails, diagnose what’s broken and decide whether to fix it yourself or contact service. However, first things first.

First aid

Despite the fact that each error requires a special approach, Apple support, first of all, when a bug occurs with any serial number, recommends taking the following “preventative” measures common to all problems:

  • Reset your computer and iOS device
  • Update the software on your computer - if you own a Mac, open the App Store on it and click on "Updates", if you are a Windows PC user - click the "Start" menu, then "Programs" / "Windows Update".
  • Connect the iOS device directly to the system unit if it was connected to a USB hub, keyboard, etc.
  • Disable antivirus software and/or firewall

It is worth noting that a conflict between software and iTunes, which leads to the inability to contact Apple servers (which is absolutely necessary for updating and/or recovery) is the most common cause

error 3194 appears. This is why it is very important to promptly update and correctly configure third-party programs installed on your PC.

To a greater extent, this applies to various kinds of security utilities, which for some reason may classify iTunes as suspicious programs and, when it tries to contact Apple servers, block it. That’s why it’s so important to follow the last recommendation - “Turn off your antivirus and/or firewall.” If iTunes stops giving an error with the security programs deactivated, then you just need to adjust their settings by adding “tuna” to the list of trusted utilities.

Digging deeper

  • Correcting the hosts file

With your permission, we will not go into explanations about what this file is and why it is needed, but we will tell you what changes to make to it.

If you have a Mac:


If you are the owner of a Windows PC, use the official manual or this instruction:


All! All that remains is to restart the PC and check if the guide helped.

By the way, if you do not want to make changes to the file manually, you can use a special utility TinyUmbrella, download it, install it, open it and in the Advanced section disable the “Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit” option ". Don't forget to restart your PC.

If the annoying 3194 is still there, we move on:

  • In the modem settings, disable TCP/IP filtering

Unfortunately, it is impossible to provide a universal guide here; it is different for each model. Check your modem model and Google how to disable TCP/IP filtering for it.

If this doesn't help either:

  • Connect your PC to the modem via wire

Today, most PCs access the network through a router (also known as a router), that is, the Internet is distributed over the air, and this often becomes the cause of certain problems - connect the computer to the modem via a wire and, perhaps, everything will work out.

What to do if nothing helps?

Well, now for the bad news - if all the above measures did not help resolve the error, most likely you are faced with a hardware problem. There are three potential culprits here - an iOS device, a computer or a modem. To eliminate the last two suspects, connect the i-gadget to another PC that works through a different modem. If the problem is still there, it’s definitely Apple’s fault; otherwise, it’s the modem or PC.

In the first situation, we go to the Apple repair center, in the second, we continue the diagnostics, now we use our PC, but a different modem - if 3194 does not appear in such a “bundle”, it means the modem is broken, but if the bug has not gone away, then its cause - computer.

One way or another, if you discover that the nature of the error is hardware in nature and determine who exactly is to blame, we recommend contacting the appropriate service center. Self-activity in most cases will only do harm.

A very important addition!

Error 3194 will certainly make itself felt if you decide to perform a so-called downgrade, that is, return to the old version of iOS, a rollback to which is already officially prohibited. Such "tricks" are only available to jailbreakers - that is, users who have hacked their Apples. If you are trying to downgrade iOS and receive error 3194, then the only solution that will help resolve it is jailbreaking. However, no one guarantees that a rollback will be possible after it.

One way or another, we wish you good luck and hope that in your case the error will be resolved quickly and easily!

Greetings, dear lover and, undoubtedly, user of Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad or iPod. In this article, we will try to get rid of error 3194, which occurs when restoring, flashing, or updating an Apple gadget.

There are cases when, when updating iOS 7 or after flashing an Apple device (iPhone 5, 5s, 4, 4s and iPad), an error persistently appears in the iTunes program - error number 3194. I’ll immediately make a reservation that this error is not critical and should be fixed it can be done literally in a few minutes.


First, let's look at the possible reasons for this error (3194) when working with an iPhone or iPad. There may be two reasons, you can read them below.

Causes

  • You tried to install an older version of the iOS operating system, such as iOS 6 or lower, on your Apple device (iPhone, iPad, etc.). It will not be possible to install this version of the operating system without JailBreak, because... Apple has stopped signing older versions of iOS (now only 7). If you still want to install an old version of iOS on your device (iPhone, iPad), then you will have to do a JailBreak, i.e. “break”, open the file system of your device, this procedure is not safe and can turn your brand new iPhone or iPad into a useless brick.
  • The second option is to change the Hosts file on your computer. This file is used to control Internet access for various programs. For example, by writing special lines in this file, you can deny access to the Internet to any program. In this case, as a result of your (or not your) actions, entries appeared in the Hosts file that block iTunes access to the Internet, thus, when installing or, error 3194 appears.

Solutions to the problem

Error 3194 can be resolved in several ways; this material describes three. If after applying the first solution, error 3194 still appears, then try the next method, and so on. (if any method helped you get rid of the error, then share it in the comments to this material).

Method 1

The first method, which at one time helped me a lot:

  • If you have iTunes open, I recommend that you close it and disconnect your Apple device (iPhone, iPad) from the computer. If you do not follow this step, the result of applying this method for eliminating error 3194 may be negative;
  • Find the “hosts” file on your computer. If you have a Windows operating system installed, the path to the file will look like this: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. If you have a Mac OX operating system installed, the path to the hosts file will look like this: Mac OS X - Go -> Go to Folder in Finder. /etc/hosts;
  • Next, open the hosts file in a text editor: on Windows – notepad (necessarily with administrator rights), on Mac OX – TextEdit;
  • Now you need to find this line 74.208.105.171.gs.apple.com. Once the line is found, you need to delete it, because... It is she who blocks iTunes access to the Internet. If after deleting the line you are unable to save the hosts file, then simply copy it to your desktop, change the copied file (delete the line), save it and transfer it to the folder where it is located C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\, when the system asks about the replaced file, agree;
  • Connect your Apple device (iPhone, iPad) to your computer and launch iTunes. Try repeating the operation that led to the error. With a high degree of probability the error will disappear. If the error does not disappear, then proceed to the next method.

Method 2

The next method involves using third-party tools; in this case, to resolve error 3194 we will use a program called TinyUmbrella. You can download the program from this link - http://blog.firmwareumbrella.com/ In the side sidebar (located on the right) find the TinyUmbrella link and click on it, after this simple operation the process of downloading the program will begin.

  • Download and install the TinyUmbrella program (I will not describe the installation process of this program, because it is very simple and intuitive);
  • Now you need to go to the Advanced tab and uncheck the box next to Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit (this way you will mark the connection to Cydia servers);
  • Try to perform the operation that led to error 3194. If the error continues to appear, then try the third method to resolve the error.

Method 3

This method is both simple and effective. It lies in . Perhaps the error appeared because you are using an old version of iTunes. In general, I believe that updating iTunes to the current version can correct ninety percent of all errors that arise during operation on iPhone, iPad, and in general on iOS.

  • Launch iTunes;
  • Select the “Help” menu, then the item called “Updates”. After this action, the program will check for updates and if there are any, it will offer you to update the program to the current, latest version;
  • After updating iTunes, try the same operation that caused the error.

I would like to remind you once again that if you are trying to install an old iOS operating system on your device (iPhone, iPad), then no manipulations (except, of course, jailbreak) will help. For example, you will not be able to replace your iOS 7 with an earlier iOS 6, you will always get error 3194, simply because Apple no longer signs and does not support iOS 6.

When updating, restoring, or returning to an earlier firmware version on Apple devices, error 3194 often occurs. This malfunction in the program does not allow the requested update files and SHSH hashes (digital signatures) for the current iOS to be received from the server.

Error 3194 may occur as a result of a software failure or hardware failure of the iPhone or iPad. It can be triggered by computer security software, a router or modem not working, or problems on Apple servers.

You can determine the causes of error 3194 by the moment it was diagnosed:

  1. If it occurs during the recovery process of an iPhone or iPad, when the status bar is 2/3 (75%) full, the cause is hardware.
  2. If the alert appears at the very beginning of filling the line, when the Apple logo is only identified on the display, the root cause is software.
Error 3194 may occur as a result of a software failure or hardware failure of the iPhone.

The hardware causes of error 3194 are problems with the power supply and performance of the smartphone or tablet modem. You won’t be able to fix them yourself; you should immediately contact a service center. Partial replacement of components, restoration of contact connections, or replacement of the modem itself will help fix the problem.

  1. An attempt to change a new version of the operating system to an earlier one. It will not be possible to do this by direct request to the Apple website without JailBreak, because old versions of iOS are not listed on new devices (it will not be possible to reflash an iPhone from iOS7 to iOS6).
  2. Changing the contents of the Hosts file. It is responsible for managing access of various applications to the Internet. Entries blocking iTunes access to the global network may occur unintentionally, and the user may not be aware of it. For example, the TinyUmbrella utility, which downloads digital signatures from the Apple server, automatically makes adjustments to the Hosts file. As a result, requests from iTunes do not reach the update server and cause an error.
  3. Outdated version of iTunes.
  4. Filtering of TCP/IP addresses is installed, the work is blocked by the antivirus.

Methods for fixing error 3194 caused by a software glitch

Method 1

  • Close iTunes and unpair your iPhone or iPad from your computer.
  • On your PC, find the Hosts file (it has no extension). For Windows OS, the path to it looks like this: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
  • Open the Hosts file in a text editor (notepad, TextEdit).
  • In the stream of characters and strings, find the line ending in .gs.apple.com. It blocks access to the Internet, which is why iTunes cannot function properly. You need to delete the line from the file or put a # (ignore symbol) in front of it. Save changes.
  • To activate the changes, you need to restart your computer.
  • Connect your Apple device to your PC and launch iTunes. When you repeat the recovery process, the error should disappear.

On Mac devices you need to follow this algorithm:

  • In Finder, select the “Programs” -> “Utilities” tab.
  • Launch "Terminal".
  • Enter the command sudo nano/private/etc/hosts. Press "Enter".
  • Enter the password (used when logging into the PC), press “Enter”.
  • The contents of the Hosts file will be displayed in the Terminal.
  • At the beginning of the line.gs.apple.com. add a # character and a space.
  • Press the key combination Ctrl+O (save the file), Ctrl+X (close the editor).
  • Reboot the system.

Method 2

It involves using third-party tools to fix the problem. In this case, the TinyUmbrella utility will help resolve alert 3194.


Method 3

It consists of updating the current version of iTunes to the latest one. Timely updating of the toolkit of this program allows you to correct a lot of errors that arise during the operation of devices on the iOS platform.

  • Launch the iTunes utility.
  • Select Menu->Help->Updates. The program will automatically check for updates and offer to apply them.
  • After updating the program, it is worth repeating the operation that caused error 3194.

If you cannot find automatic updates, you should uninstall the current version of the program, download the newest one, and install it using the prompts and intuitive interface. The iTunes.exe installer contains all the necessary drivers.

Method 4

It is applicable if responses from Apple servers to requests from the iTunes utility are not received as a result of incorrect operation of security software (firewall, antivirus) and filtering of packet data protocols by network routers. Find what exactly caused error 3194? In this case it’s difficult, you should act radically:

  • While restoring your Apple device, completely disable the security software.
  • Disable protocol filtering in the modem or router settings.
  • Connect the PC directly to the network, bypassing the router (for a wired connection).

After fixing error 3194 in iTunes, you need to run the TinyUmbrella utility; after recognizing the connected device, it will appear in the “Edit” window in the “Recovery Devices” section. Left-click on this line, then on the “Exit Recovery” icon. Now your favorite gadget can be used as usual.

To prevent error 3194 from occurring, keep your iTunes software updated and do not try to hack your Apple device's file system with third-party applications.