How to fix iTunes error 3194 while downgrading from iOS 6 or any other version of iOS?

Fix almost all iTunes errors that you face while downgrading or Upgrading your iOS device on your Mac or Windows. This how-to article involves detailed description of the errors!

If you are one among the many who frequently face these annoying iTunes errors, then you aren’t alone. These iTunes errors are the most common errors that many face while Downgrading or Upgrading your iOS device with either a firmware you downloaded, or while restoring your device with the one  you downloaded via iTunes. Recently I wrote a tutorial on how to downgrade your iOS 5 to iOS 4.3.3 incase you did not like to stay on iOS 5 after Activating it with iOS 5 beta without a developer account. There were reports that many were experiencing iTunes error 3194.

If you are among those experiencing it, then just don’t panic. This is a common error.

[alert_box type=”Error”]The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (3194).[/alert_box] [alert_box]Follow the below steps to recover from this error.[/alert_box]
  1. Download a copy of TinyUmbrella (For Windows, For Mac)
  2. Now, click on “Advanced settings” and check the “Set hosts to Cydia on exit”. (Mark it with a tick)
  3. Now, click on “Apply” and try restoring your iPhone or iPad or iPod with iTunes.

[alert_box]There is also another way to fix this. Here’s how you can do by editing the host file:[/alert_box]

    1. Quit iTunes (If it’s running)
    2. Now, you need to locate your hosts file. If you are on Mac OS, go to /etc/hosts. If you are on Windows then go to c:windowssystem32driversetchosts
    3. Open the hosts file with Administrator privileges
    4. Add the following lines to the bottom of the hosts file:

74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com

  1. Now, Connect your iPhone to the computer
  2. Launch iTunes
  3. Put the iPhone or iPad or iPod into DFU mode by turning the phone off and then holding down the sleep and power button for 10 seconds, then release the power button but hold onto the home button until iTunes pops a message saying that a device is in recovery mode.
  4. Now you can go ahead with the regular Restore process.
  • Doron Adler

    Just a few notes:
    1. This guide didn’t work for me, but it did direct me to the right place, so Thank you ! (I mean it).

    2. It might be that this guide applies only to devices which have been previously jailbroken (for some version), Cydia was installed and Cydia was permitted to backup your current SHSH Blobs. So a developer that never jail-broke a device, wanted to test App compatibility for iOS 5 and learn about the new features, but then would like to revert back to a relevant firmware version because an update is due . . . might be screwed. With the iOS 4 beta versions, I was able to revert back to 3.x using xcode. When I attempted to go back to 4.3.3, The procedure got stuck . . so it might be a bug.

    2. When you run TinyUmbrella, it tells you which SHSH blobs you have saved with Cydia. I was rather surprised and then thrilled to see 4.2.1 appearing in the list. Last time I wrote anything targeted for Jailbroken devices was the 1.x.x & 2.x.x iPhone clients for Flixwagon (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/08/21/flixwagon-iphone-3g-ready/)
    So it is rare that I need to Jailbreak a device for something. Like, in the fortunate 4.2.1 Jailbreak – being able to inspect specific dump files after fetching them over sftp, rather then re-copy the entire folder (which might be huge with tons of small files if you do Video.

    3. After this, I began liking Tiny-Umbrella and decided to use it for the rest of the process. (Didn’t have 4.3.3 saved with Cydia, so your hosts trick didn’t do the trick for me. Have I attempted a 4.2.1 restore, it might have worked, but I had no idea if I had any BLOBS saved at all and if yes, which). So I decided to the Tiny be the middleman, I have let it set the relevant host line on loopback “127.0.0.1 gs.apple.com”. I ran the TSS server so it would use my old SHSH blobs treasured at Cydia as a reply to iTunes who was “fooled” by the host redirect to think he is talking with Apple 🙂 Was pure joy to watch it all live on Tiny-Umbrella’s log console 🙂

    4. In case you get the hosts file updated manually you might want to run “nslookup gs.apple.com” from a terminal window, DNS is a cacheable resource and the wrong one might be already cached. If you are unhappy with nslookup’s result, This is a faster way to clear your cache than a system reboot: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/how-to-clear-dns-cac…

    5. When I attempted upgrading 4.2.1 into 4.3.3 so I could have the latest stable iOS as well as be able to restore the device from a backup. The whole thing failed. After the inital Doh ! I figured out that I actually really don’t want to have the ” Set hosts to Cydia on exit”, so a manual edit and a dns-flush afterwards it all went fine.

    Thank you again !

    • Hi Doron,
      Thank you for the detailed explanation! Hope this was helpful for many users! Wil add this to the post after I reproduce this error!

  • GRV

    Superb !!! Helped me a lot !!:)

  • Ching Hui Eng

    To
    Doron Adler,
    i have no idea how to get my old SHSH blobs at cydia? mind to explain in more detailed?

  • FappleIman

    use the following code it will work
    74.208.10.250 gs.apple.com

  • Amanda

    Tried this eleven ways from Sunday. NOT HAPPENING. It goes through all of the steps, but when I check back after all of the BS, I am still saddled with 4.3.5 OS

    I got the 3194 error, but I guess I haven’t got the blobs because this is the first time I have ever altered my ipad2 except to UPGRADE. And no blobs to be found since they are user specific.

    If returned to manufaturer specs, does that take me back to the original OS or just a new iPad with the latest software?

  • kjgeorge

    Hello,

    I had jailbreaked my Iphone 3gs ios 5 with redsn)w, but when I was using Cydia my router switched off due to power problem. After that my phone is not working problem. I tried to update the ios 5.0 again it is giving 3194 error, even not able to downgrade also. Can someone help me?

  • blindeath

    my hosts doesn’t want 2 open. i don’t know what can i do

  • blindeath

    my hosts doesn’t want 2 open . i don’t know what can i di, can anyone help me pls?

    • @blindeath Try copying it and pasting it in another location. And try editing it. If not, let me know. I will send a new Hosts file!

  • TopEntBlog

    nothing s working….

    • @TopEntBlog What’s your problem? Let me help you out!

      • TopEntBlog

        @karthikk I am trying to restore my phone as it got stuck. it was untehtered jailbreak. ios 5. iphone 4. got error 3194 resolved by tinyumbrella but then again i got 2005 error and cant get rid of that. tried everything. my phone cant get start. and its all happening. searched everywhere on the google and tried everything . but nothing is working… 🙁

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