[How To] Fix Error 14 in iTunes While Upgrading to iOS 5

by Mahesh Kukreja · 27 comments

in Apple


Recently while upgrading my friend’s iPhone 4 to iOS 5, I was facing error 14 in iTunes. I tried to restore a couple of times. I even tried by putting the iPhone in pwned DFU mode using iReb. But no success.

Fix Error 14 iTunes

[Image via Flickr]

I googled the problem to find the solution. Error 14 in iTunes is caused because of a corrupt iOS 5 IPSW file.

How To Fix Error 14 in iTunes?

Note: This solution works for all iOS versions (iOS 5 & earlier)

If you’re upgrading to iOS 5 via iTunes directly:

1. Delete the previously down­loaded software update file which you will find in this loca­tion depend­ing on your system:

Mac: /users//Library/iTunes/iPhone Soft­ware Updates

Windows XP: System Drive:/Doc­u­ments and Settings/Application Data/Apple Computer/iTunes/iPhone Soft­ware Updates

Windows 7: System Drive:/Users/Your Username/App Data/Apple Computer/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

If you faced the error while upgrading your iPad or iPod, the last location path will change:

../iTunes/iPod Software Updates or ../iTunes/iPad Software Updates

2. Now, restart iTunes & begin the update again. This time iTunes will download a fresh copy of software update file.

If you’re trying to restore by using the downloaded iOS 5 IPSW file:

1. Re-download the IPSW file.

2. Now, restore to this newly downloaded IPSW file via iTunes.

If you have any questions or difficulties, feel free to ask below.

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{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }

Vinh November 6, 2011 at 11:44 pm

Hi,
I got this error during iOS 5 upgrading process, I did the instructions above but the problem still persists.
I also tried to downloaded a custom IPSW and the error 14 still poped up.
My phone’s been bricked for 2 days, I really dont know what to do now, plz help!

Reply

Admin November 6, 2011 at 11:48 pm

The firmware you downloaded is corrupt. Use a download manager like Internet Download Manager to download iOS 5. IDM will help you download the complete file properly.

Reply

Vinh November 7, 2011 at 12:14 am

Thanks for the quick reply,
I’ve downloaded the iOS 5 twice using IDM. I’m pretty sure nothing wrong with the ipsw file, during the upgrading process, it’s running well through extracting and verifying steps, when it reach installing step ( abt 10% ), the error popped up.
I’ve gone through many solutions from other websites but none of them works.
Unfortunately there is no apple service in my country and even worse my phone is out of coverage 🙁

Reply

Admin November 7, 2011 at 1:06 pm

Weird problem. Do you have you access to another PC/Mac for installing the firmware?

Reply

Admin November 7, 2011 at 1:09 pm

For your reference, the MD5 hash of “iPhone3_1_5.0_9A334_Restore.ipsw” is 8ac7ae6a7f6fadbd34ba9abacd15e2dc

Reply

Vinh November 7, 2011 at 12:33 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUrdLJwD2ns

I’ve just made a video recording the installation steps I did and of course, the error 14 @ the end

Reply

milad November 13, 2011 at 6:57 pm

hi,this damn problem also happened to me.it’s a disaster,i dont know what to do with this!
none of above recommendations worked.

Reply

sushil November 25, 2011 at 7:24 am

hey me too have same problem as Vinh ,,,, it stuks @ 10% while restoring the firmware.. i was at ios 5 and was installing ios 5.0.1 in itunes 10.5.1…. i have an ipod touch 4g, now what should i do…

Reply

kamaljeet December 29, 2011 at 11:39 pm

facing error 14 while updating iphone 4 to ios 5.0.1 many times…….now in recovery mode plz help….

Reply

Admin December 30, 2011 at 2:56 pm

Read this tutorial to fix error 14.

Reply

kamaljeet December 30, 2011 at 9:14 pm

suggested website to download firmware to restore

Reply

Admin December 30, 2011 at 9:29 pm

Download links for iOS 5.0.1. I suggest you should use a download manager like IDM.

Reply

Cesar June 1, 2012 at 3:55 am

I’ve seem to tried about almost everything and nothing has worked on my iPhone 4 iTunes error 14. Today has been day 2 that it’s been in recovery mode and now I’m just frustrated

Reply

Mahesh Kukreja June 5, 2012 at 3:09 pm

Download iOS 5.x.x IPSW again via direct link preferably using a download manager like IDM.

Reply

jorge June 28, 2012 at 7:29 am

Hey! I had the same problem. I have windows 7, i tried several times and days with frustration but finally I cleaned the ipod conector and pluged into a mac computer and it worked!! dont ask me why. I missed my ipod now its back yey!!

Reply

Lee July 4, 2012 at 12:21 pm

Guys, i was in the same boat… stuck in that same error… but i just tried something and it WORKED… i almost want to cry after two days of nothing.

Download and restore to 9B206 version instead of the latest 9B208… it worked for me and hopefully for you guys as well!!
Good luck mates!

Reply

cody August 24, 2012 at 9:47 pm

how do I do it? How do I restore to 9b206. I keep getting the error 14 message and I feel like i have tried everything

Reply

Mahesh Kukreja August 24, 2012 at 11:55 pm

Use 9B208 firmware file.

Reply

Mahesh July 7, 2012 at 11:42 pm

Thank you so much to Lee. My problem summary. Started with restoring my wife’s iphone on a know to be good copy of the IPSW 9B206. However had different errors during apple verification, and after playing around with hosts file etc, moved to IPSW 9B208 thinking apple is not signing IPSW 9B206 anymore for ATT phones. However i hit several 16xx errors, fixed them, and finally hit error 14 10% in to the restore process multiple times. Though i was done for good until i tried the idea of using 9B206 again, this time the apple verification succeeded and it worked like a charm.

Reply

Patricia July 8, 2012 at 2:22 am

Ola amigos, vim agradecer a todos e principalmente o Lee, pois estava com o mesmo problema e com a dica dele eu consegui resolver tudo.
Então segue aki a dica,: para quem esta com o ERRO 14 na hora de atualizar o iphone com ipsw custom 5.1.1…baixem o ipsw com build 9B206 ao inves da 9B208, façam o custom ipsw pelo redsnow, apos isso pwned DFU e coloque seu aparelho em dfu e em seguida abrir itunes e com o shift apertado + restaurar ( em caso de mac comand + restaurar ). Para quem salvou o shsh via cydia, nao esquecam de criar o blobs que é apos a costomização, vc vai no red em blobs , ipsw e depois cydia…ele vai criar noco ios custow com o shsh salvo caso precise retornar para sua antiga versão. Duvidas…estou a disposição!!

English translation of the above comment from Google Translate:

Hello friends, I came to thank everyone and especially to Lee, because she had the same problem and with the hint of it I managed to solve everything.
Then follows the aki tip: for those with ERROR 14 this time to update your iPhone with custom 5.1.1 ipsw download the ipsw … to build instead of 9B206 9B208, do the custom ipsw redsnow, after it pwned DFU and put your phone in dfu and then open itunes and the tight shift + restore (in case of mac comand + restore). For those who saved the SHSH via cydia, do not forget to create the blobs which is after the costomização, you go in the red blobs, and then ipsw cydia … it will create NOCO ios custow with SHSH saved if you need to return to its former version. Doubts … I am available!

Reply

Ethan July 14, 2012 at 11:40 am

I’m relieved that I wasnt the only person with this problem. I tried everything and then some before i read this, even used iReb to fix the recovery loop a few times becasue i got the same error every time….i’ll try redownloading it, but i dont understand why it just randomly corrupted, because this would be the fourth iphone 3GS i’ve used this firmware on and this is the only one that didnt work….granted its a little older, but the firmware should be the same. The only difference should be the boot-rom, and that would only be a problem if i was jailbreaking…right? Downloaded again now. Stupid satellite internet…

Reply

said July 19, 2012 at 8:49 pm

us this! —-> iOS 5.1.1 iPhone3,1_5.1.1_9B206_Restore.ipsw (iPhone 4 – build 9B206)

Reply

Abu Wakid Samy July 21, 2012 at 9:48 pm

I am trying to update my phone since 3 days im heaving lots of headaches becoz of this everytime i try it gives me error 14 the thing is that i dont want to lose my baseband i am using a GEVEY that is why.i download from iclarified the firmware 5.1.1 which says no BB but i still dont understand why i get this error and i can’t even use my phone anymore coz its in recovery mode.sucks.plz help.

Reply

Mahesh Kukreja July 21, 2012 at 11:27 pm

Hi,

Use iPhone3,1_5.1.1_9B206_Restore.ipsw (iPhone 4 – build 9B206)

Reply

Teedon August 2, 2012 at 10:36 pm

I was stock in dis same problem with my IPAD1 and felt the IPAD is gone. But then I put my device in Pnawed DFU mode using redsnow, and I created a custom IPSW from the Original IPSW file using snowbreeze and guess what it works like a charm.
I felt I shold share my experience, who knows it might be useful to someone else.!
heeeheeehheee

Reply

cody August 24, 2012 at 9:39 pm

How do I find the
Use iPhone3,1_5.1.1_9B206_Restore.ipsw (iPhone 4 – build 9B206)

Reply

hey September 9, 2012 at 11:20 pm

Just re build the ipsw, it worked for me!

Reply

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