After recent iOS updates, there have been many iPhone users who have found that their iPhone won’t restore. There has yet to be an update released which fixes this problem and unfortunately, it’s not clear why it happens (as with many other iOS errors).
In today’s article, we’re going to be showing you some of the different fixes for when your iPhone won’t restore and will be talking you through each of them. There’s no doubt in our minds that one of these methods will work.
Method #1 – Fixing iPhone Won’t Restore After Updating iOS
The first method that we are going to be showing you is how to fix your iPhone if iPhone won’t restore after you have updated the iOS version. This is a common problem for iOS users and typically isn’t anything to worry about.
To fix this problem, follow the short guide that we’ve put together below.
#1 – After making sure that your iOS version is up to date with the most recent version and make sure that iTunes is up to date.
#2 – Next, exit any anti-virus programs which you have running in the background of your computer.
Note: it’s only natural that you are wary of disabling your anti-virus although don’t worry after this process just remember to re-enable it.
#3 – The next thing that you have to do is enter your device into “Recovery Mode”. To do this, turn off your iPhone and once it’s powered off, hold down the “Home” button and turn the device back on. Lastly, once the “Connect to iTunes” screen appears, connect your iPhone using a lightning cable.

#4 – Back on your computer, you should now be able to restore a backup to your iPhone and get access to all of your data once again.
#5 – Make sure that once you’ve restored the backup, you re-enable your anti-virus program to prevent any harmful files from damaging your computer.
This is the most basic fix that there is to iPhone won’t restore, and most of the time, this is the fix that will get the job done effectively.
Besides, here you will learn more about how to solve the problem of corrupt backup for iTunes with ease.
Method #2 – How to Fix an Unknown Error
With an unknown error, things can be incredibly frustrating. The thing is if you don’t know what the error is, then how can you fix it? You can’t.
Fortunately, Apple has implemented an error code system so that when you see “An Unknown Error Occurred,” an error code will appear, and you can do some research on how to fix it.

Every error is different, and by clicking here, you can see some information regarding whichever error it is that you are experiencing. After you’ve found whichever error you have encountered, you can do some further research and find out how to fix it easily.
Method #3 – Fixing iPhone Won’t Restore from iCloud
Next on our list is how you can fix iPhone won’t restore when you’re trying to restore a backup from the iCloud service. You’ll find that most of the time, this is an issue with the network that your device is connected with, although sometimes this isn’t the case.

Below are some of the quick fixes for iCloud problems.
- Restart your Wi-Fi connection. To do this, Either you can turn your router off for a few minutes before turning it back on, or you can turn off the Wi-Fi service on your mobile phone for a few minutes before turning it back on.
- Restart the restoration process. iCloud not successfully restoring a backup is a well-known problem, and in some cases, simply stopping the restore process and starting it again will fix it.
- Factory Reset. If you’re still experiencing iPhone won’t restore from iCloud, then it may be worth taking another backup and factory resetting your device. Be aware that your data will be lost, thus why it is essential to take a backup beforehand.
These are some of the best fixes for any iCloud problems that you experience, but if none of them help, the issue may not be with iCloud but rather your device.
Method #4 – Fixing iPhone Won’t Restore After Jailbreaking iOS
Anyone who has jailbroken an iOS device will know that it isn’t a flawless process and in fact, it’s a very risky one. Not only can it cause data loss, but it can also damage your device. On the other hand, the common problem is that after an iOS jailbreak, iPhone won’t restore.

If you’ve jailbroken your device and you aren’t able to restore a backup, follow the steps below and find out how you can fix this problem.
#1 – The first thing that you must do is enter your iOS device into DFU Mode.
If you aren’t aware of how to put your device into DFU Mode, hold both the Home and Power buttons at the same time for roughly 10 seconds. When the screen turns black, release the Power button but continue to hold the Home button.
Continue holding down the Home button for a further 10 seconds before releasing it. This is how you easily enter DFU Mode.

#2 – Back on your computer, go ahead and connect your iPhone (or any iOS device) using the appropriate USB cable.
#3 – Launch iTunes and once it has detected your iOS device, click on the device icon at the top, followed by clicking on the “Summary” option on the left panel.
#4 – From here, click on “Restore iPhone” and select the most recent backup file.

As we mentioned before, jailbreaking a device will most likely result in some sort of problem, so expect an issue similar to iPhone won’t restore to occur.
Method #5 – Using Dr.Fone – iOS Recover to Fix iPhone Won’t Restore
Many iOS users will choose only to use iTunes and sure, that’s understandable. After all, iTunes is the standard program that is developed by the creator of iOS devices – Apple. However, if your iPhone won’t restore and using the fixes that we’ve shared with you so far hasn’t helped, there is another option.
With the help of Dr.Fone – iOS Recover (iPhone Data Recovery), you can extract your backups from iTunes and instead use Dr.Fone iPhone Data Recovery to restore them. With that in mind, we’re going to be showing you how.
Make sure that Dr.Fone – iPhone Data Recovery is installed before you start following the steps below.
#1 – First, launch Dr.Fone toolkit on your computer and connect the affected iOS device using the appropriate USB cable.

#2 – On Dr.Fone’s interface, select the “Data Recovery” option and click “Recover iOS Data,” and then click on the “Recovery from iTunes Backup File” feature on the left panel.


#3 – You will then be taken to a display that shows all of the backups which are currently stored in iTunes. Click on the most recent backup that has been taken for your device and click on “Start Scan.”
#4 – Dr.Fone will then perform a scan on the backup that you have selected, and after a few minutes, you’ll be shown a breakdown of the data that is stored in the backup.
Note: this allows you to restore the data from a backup selectively.
#5 – Either check the box next to your device’s name at the top of the program or go through each data type and select the specific data that you want to have restored.

#6 – After you’ve selected any data that you want to restore to your iPhone, click on the “Recover to Device” option.
#7 – After a few more minutes, any selected data will now be restored to your iPhone.
Even though this method doesn’t directly fix the iPhone won’t restore problem, it allows you to restore your private data. If you haven’t had any success with fixing the issue, then this may be the optimal thing to do.
Method #6 – Using Dr.Fone – iOS Repair to Fix iPhone Won’t Restore
The final method that we’re going to look at is with dr.fone – iOS Repair (iOS System Recovery), and we will be showing you how to fix iPhone won’t restore with it.
In addition, this tool can also fix iPhone stuck in the recovery mode.
Prior to following the steps below, download and install Dr.Fone – iOS Repair on your computer.
#1 – Start off by connecting your iPhone to the computer using a lightning cable, followed by launching Dr.Fone.

#2 – From the main menu of the program, click on the “Repair” feature at the top of the display.
#3 – On the following screen, you’ll be shown a short description of the System Recovery process and some basic information that you need to know about it. Click on “Start” to begin.

#4 – Next, you’ll be asked to input some of the information about your device (such as the firmware version and the device model). After doing so, click on “Download.”

Note: it’s very important that you insert the correct information regarding your device. Failing to do so could result in the wrong firmware being installed and the device becoming unusable.

#5 – iOS Repair will then download the firmware and use it to repair your device by reinstalling it, and this should fix the iPhone won’t restore problem.


There is no doubt in our minds that if none of the other fixes have helped you, then this is the way to go. If, after using this method, your iPhone won’t restore, then there may be a deeper issue with your iPhone, and you may have to contact an Apple store or an electronics store to fix it.
Brief Information About Dr.Fone Tookit for iOS
Aside from fixing iPhone won’t restore, these are some of the other features of Dr.Fone Toolkit for iOS:
- If you have your backups stored on iCloud instead of iTunes, you can recover your backups from iCloud too.
- Have you accidentally deleted any files from your iPhone? With the “iOS Data Recovery” feature, you can easily recover any data that you may have lost or accidentally deleted.
- The “iOS Data Eraser” permanently erases the data from your device – if you’re selling an iOS device, this is crucial.
To Conclude
All in all, one of the methods that we’ve shown you will fix your iPhone when the iPhone won’t restore – there’s no doubting this.
Furthermore, there’s no arguing that when you encounter any problems with an iPhone that it can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, when your iPhone doesn’t restore, you have all of these methods to help fix the issue.