Here’s how to fix the problem if you can’t restore your iPhone or iPad from an iTunes backup.
WHAT TO KNOW
- If you cannot restore iPhone or iPad backup from iTunes, there are some simple fixes you can try to get back your old data.
- Make sure iTunes is up to date.
- You should also restart the computer and iPhone and make sure the USB cable is not damaged.
You can use the iTunes backup to restore your iPhone or iPad, however, you may sometimes encounter an error saying iTunes Cannot Restore Backup to iPhone or iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred. There are a number of probable causes.
Why can’t I restore my iPhone from iTunes backup?
Before we tackle the solutions, it’s important to understand why this issue occurs. Sometimes, the problem might be due to outdated software, corrupted backup files, or even a faulty USB connection. Knowing the root cause can help in applying the most effective fix.
- Outdated iTunes or iOS version.
- Corrupted backup files.
- Insufficient storage space on the iPhone.
- Compatibility issues.
Here’s a look at eight ways you can fix the problem when iTunes cannot restore iPhone from backup.
How to fix iTunes cannot restore iPhone from backup?
1. Check your cable
A damaged USB cable may be the reason you’re encountering the ‘iTunes could not restore the iPhone or iPad’ error on your computer. USB cables wear out, fray, and break internally. Even if the business ends look like they’re in working order, the wiring under the sheath could be compromised, especially if it has sharp bends. Try the cable on another device or just replace it with another cable and try again.
Also, make sure you use the right cable. It should be a lightning or USB-C cable from Apple or one that is MFi certified, meaning it was created with Apple’s technology that allows it to talk to both your iPhone and your computer.
2. Try a different USB port on your computer
Likewise, if you see the error message "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone because an error occurred while reading from the device, the USB port that the iPhone is plugged into could be unreliable or completely broken. That’s why data is prevented from being transferred successfully. Move the cable to another USB port, if possible, and see if that solves your problem.
3. Plug your device directly into your computer
If you are using USB hub, you may experience problems transferring data. To resolve this, plug your iPhone or iPad directly into your computer’s USB port (not into USB hub.
4. Clean your iPhone’s port
While you can often try a different port on your computer, you don’t have that luxury on your iPhone — there’s only one port. That’s OK; if there’s a problem, it’s almost always that it has gotten so dirty that the Lightning cable can’t reliably make contact with the inside of the port. If iTunes cannot restore iPhone from backup, you might suspect a problem with debris in your port. Carefully clean the iPhone’s port and try again.
5. Update iTunes
Are you using the latest version of iTunes? If iTunes is out of date, there could be a software incompatibility or bug preventing your iPhone from restoring data. Apple notifies you that there’s a new version of iTunes automatically when you start the app, so if you see an update notification, don’t cancel it — install the update.
6. Restart your iPhone and computer
It’s likely that the reason iTunes cannot restore iPhone from backup is that there’s some sort of temporary software glitch. That’s especially true if you can usually connect, but it’s not working right now. To eliminate most software issues, restart both your iPhone and computer.
Remove the cable connecting your iPhone and computer. Then restart your computer in the usual way: Click Start, followed by the Power icon and then Restart. After that, restart your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. Start iTunes and reconnect your iPhone.
7. Disable Security Software Temporarily
Security software such as Firewall and Antivirus can interfere with iTunes’ ability to communicate with Apple servers. You might need to temporarily disable software that could be interfering with your computer’s connection with iTunes and then attempt to restore again.
8. Contact Apple Support
If none of these steps have resolved your issue, you may want to contact Apple Support for further assistance. Check out our help article for more information on how to contact Apple Support.
Wrapping It Up
I really hope this article has helped you to understand, diagnose, and fix the problem if you cannot restore iPhone or iPad from iTunes backup. If have any questions or comments you’d like to share, please leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to respond as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for reading and I wish you all the best.