Many of our readers have told us that they encounter error 3194 in iTunes during firmware restore on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Upon researching we found out that most people face this issue when upgrading or downgrading firmware. Here in this post we will teach you how to fix error 3194 permanently.
There are a couple of scenarios in which you can encounter error 3194 in iTunes. Mostly people need to fix error 3194 when they are using unsigned software. Unsigned software means that you have created a custom ipsw which you will manually load on your device as well as software which Apple stops signing after a newer version is released. Therefore the second scenario in which you encounter error 3194 will be when you're trying to downgrade iOS device to any older firmware. Sometimes, its simply there because there an issue with the hosts file on your computer if you have ever modified it. One of the major reasons why error 3194 popped up was a bug in the backend of Cydia's server. Since Cydia is ramping down its SHSH cache server, its likely that you might need an error 3194 fix just because of that.
Apple doesn't allow downgrading of firmware. However if you save SHSH blobs of iOS firmware, even if Apple stops signing it and releases many new updates after that, you'll still be able to downgrade back to it provided you have saved the SHSH blobs. This method has worked flawlessly up till now but might not work in the future as we have previously reported that downgrading from iOS 5 might be impossible.
That aside, let's teach you the various methods of how to fix iTunes error 3194 when restoring or downgrading iOS firmware on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.
Method One:
Step 1: Download latest TinyUmbrella for Windows Or Mac
Step 2: If you're running Windows 7 or Vista, do the following procedure after you've downloaded TinyUmbrella, don't launch it as yet.
- Right click on TinyUmbrella.exe then click on Properties
- Go to Compatibility tab
- Check Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows XP Service Pack 3.
- In the Privilege Level, check Run this program as an administrator.
- Save the changes
Step 3: Launch TinyUmbrella and go to the Advanced tab. Uncheck Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit.
Step 4: Once you have unchecked the relevant option, click on Apply Changes. Now restart your PC or Mac for the changes to take effect.
This should fix error 3194 in iTunes while restoring firmware on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Its highly unlikely that you'll have to do anything further for error 3194 fix. However, if this doesn't even solve error 3194, you might as well try the second method given below.
Method Two:
Step 1: Exit iTunes.
Step 2: Locate the Hosts file of your PC or Mac. On Mac, the Hosts file can usually be located in the /etc/hosts path whereas on Windows the Hosts file is usually found in the C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts path.
Step 3: Once you have located the Hosts file, make sure you open it using Administrator Privileges.
Step 4: When the Hosts file opens up, scroll down to the very bottom and add the following line:
74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com
Step 5: Save the changes to Hosts file. Restart your PC or Mac.
Step 6: Now connect your device to the computer and launch iTunes.
Step 7: Put your device in DFU mode by following the steps listed below:
- Press and hold the Power button for around three seconds
- Press and hold both the Power and Home buttons for up to 10 seconds
- Release Power button but keep on holding Home button until iTunes prompts you that your device has been detected in restore mode.
Step 8: Now either restore or downgrade firmware on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as you intended to do. If you've followed all of the above mentioned steps carefully, they will fix error 3194.
Step 9: When you finish with restoring or downgrading firmware, open the Hosts file once again and remove the line that you previously added.
There's nothing else that can fix error 3194 other than both of the methods mentioned above. However if you face any difficulties in any part of the procedure, please do seek help from our experts by leaving a comment down below.