Some of our readers are reporting that their updates to the latest iOS version are killing or bricking their beloved iPhones. Contents It’s so frustrating when you follow the rules and still end up with this problem! You did as instructed, going to Settings> General> Software Update or used iTunes to Update, downloaded the latest iOS, and began the installation. Everything seemed so smooth and easy UNTIL your iPhone, iPad, or other iDevice got stuck on the connect to iTunes logo! It’s bricked! Or you see that dreaded iTunes error -39. We say an iPhone, iPad, or iPod is “bricked” when it refuses to turn on or when it appears that your device does not work at all! What happens behind the scenes is that your iPhone gets stuck on the connect to iTunes logo after updating to a new iOS. Basically, your iOS software update started but didn’t complete. That’s why your iPhone or other iDevice is unable to turn back on (bricked.) So our goal is to get your iPhone fully updated, turned on, and working, so you focus on the fun of iOS instead of these frustrations! So here are some tips from appletoolbox.com readers on how they fixed their bricked iPhone and iDevices when updating. Apple Servers are slammed with upgrades right now. So, if you haven’t yet updated or are experiencing problems with your update, think about waiting a bit until this first rush to update is over. Or try again in the late evening or early morning when traffic is lighter. If iTunes is already open, quit, and reopen it. If you used the cloud, try connecting your device to your computer and iTunes. See if it now recognizes your device. If so, try updating your iOS from iTunes. Make sure you fully charge your iDevice, connecting it to a wall outlet rather than a computer or other USB charging method. If you can’t wait for a full charge, give it at least thirty minutes to charge before attempting to turn it on. If that doesn’t work, check your cables and your charger–make sure they are indeed working. Or try using another charger/cable, just make sure they are Apple MFI (Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod) certified. See if that makes a difference. Take a look at our article outlining the steps for dealing with error 3194. If you see error 1671, iTunes is still downloading the necessary software. Wait for the download to finish, then try your iDevice again. If you want to know how much longer the download needs, tap on the down arrow in the upper-right corner of iTunes. Take a look at our troubleshooting article for this particular error. For errors 17, 1638, 3014, 3194, 3000, 3002, 3004, 3013, 3014, 3015, 3194, 3200 If you don’t see any entry containing gs.apple.com, then the hosts file isn’t related to the issue (see example below) If you see any other specific error code, check out Apple’s site for more information on that specific error. Getting iTunes Error Messages “There was a problem downloading the software” OR “The device isn’t eligible for the requested build.”Readers report various symptoms, such as:
Installation is easy as 1-2-3, right?
What’s Really Going On Here with my iOS Update?
What does bricked iPhone mean?
First Day of Updates Always a Challenge
How to fix a bricked iPhone without restoring
Restart iTunes
Charge it Up!
Restart your iPhone
If that doesn’t help, Perform a Forced Restart
Getting an Error Code or the message that “an unknown error occurred [error number]”
Seeing iTunes Error 3194?
Getting iTunes Error 1671?
Seeing Error 14?
Are you getting other error codes?
Check The Hosts File on a Mac
Are you getting Another iTunes Error Codes?
Restore Your iPhone with iTunes
If your iOS update fails and none of the quick tips helped, your best option is to restore your bricked iPhone or another iDevice.
Hopefully, you followed the golden rules of preparing for an update and backed up your iPhone/iDevice to iCloud or on your computer.
To get your iPhone back to working order, this backup is your saving grace and has all your information tucked away just for times like this.
First, connect your iPhone to any computer with iTunes installed. Just make sure this computer has the latest version of iTunes.
If it doesn’t, update iTunes first.
Once updated or verified, open iTunes and connect your device. iTunes automatically detects your iDevice in recovery mode and suggests restoring it back to factory settings.
Tap here for more detailed instructions on restoring an iDevice.
When you restore your iDevice, it erases and updates your device to the latest version of iOS. Now your backup is really important.
If you backup with iCloud, sign in and restore from your iCloud backup during the setup process. Follow the prompts and enter your Apple ID and password when requested.
If you back up your iPhone to iTunes, connect your iPhone or iDevice to your home computer to retrieve your backup and all your information.
Finally, remember that restoring takes time. So practice patience. 
This process could take minutes or hours–it all depends on how large your iDevice is and how much space you are using with apps, photos, and other types of personal information.
Breathe. Relax. Let the restore do its job.
What if I Don’t Have a Backup?
If you don’t have a backup, our suggestion is to wait to restore your iPhone or another iDevice. Try the whole updating process again and see if it works.
If not, following the steps above will solve your immediate problem of the iPhone or iDevice not turning on or working. But you lose all your information and data without some kind of backup.
What About the Message “The iPhone could not be restored.”
If after updating you’re getting an error saying “The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred,” we recommend restoring your iDevice in DFU mode.
If you are ready to take this step, check out our article on how to restore using DFU mode.
No Time? Check Out Our Video!
Visit With Apple
If your iPhone or another iDevice isn’t restoring after trying everything, you might have a hardware issue.
In that case, it needs an Apple inspection and possibly a repair. Set-up an appointment online to bring your iDevice to a nearby Apple Store or contact Apple to examine your device via their mail service.
Hopefully, you are still under warranty coverage!
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, these tips helped you and your iPhone is no longer bricked. Now’s the time to discover and enjoy all the cool new features available in this new iOS.
And remember to backup, starting today.
Hopefully, you will never need to use a backup, but it’s great to know one’s available just in case.
To learn more about backing up, check out our comprehensive guide to backing up following our 2X2 rule.
Please let us know in the comments if you have any other strategies or tips. We love to hear and share everyone’s troubleshooting suggestions.
Reader Tips 
- Problem solved! Hold both the Power and Home buttons and wait for screen to go black with the Apple Logo. BUT don’t release the buttons! Continue holding both buttons until the iTunes logo appears on-screen, then connect to iTunes and start the restore process.
- Changing charging cables did the trick for me! Once I swapped to a different cable (MFI), I was able to reset and then restore. And I connected to my last backup too! Glad I made that backup before trying to update my iOS!