Q: ANY ONE KNOW WHAT IS ERROR 3 IN ITUNES WHEN I TRY TO RESTORE IPHONE 5 TO IOS 7 IT STUCKS IN THE END AND AFTER 30 MIN THIS COME OUT "UNKNOWN ERROR 3" CAN SOME ONE HELP ME PLZ

Hi dyno74,

You're welcome! Glad one of our groups techniques worked for you!

I tried the freezer technique, freezed for 40 minutes, immediately started restore even went as far as leaving it in the freezer still got the same error, any ideas?

Hi Tjzoo,

Have you tried all the other techniques listed on this thread also? If "Yes", then your only other option right now is to talk with an Apple Genius for a possible replacement. Sorry the supporters on this thread were not able to help you with a solution at this time. Keep checking back.

Thank you so much! The "freezer procedure" worked the first time for me. Sounds insane to put your phone in the freezer. My wife opened the freezer and asked if that was my phone in there, I said "yup", haha. Anyway, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about electronic devices and not being able to defeat this Error Code (3) really got me down. I was even looking into buying a new phone at a premium, non-contract price since I'm not due for an upgrade until September...crazy.

Very relieved to have my phone back and I have you and your 25 years of experience to thank, kennethyoung. I appreciate you taking the time to post your solution for others. You rock!

Hi Fastrice,

You are welcome! Glad to hear one of our groups solutions to this issue worked for you.

Hey..

I tried the solution which u gave but my phone battery drained out because of it and i could not start the restore just after taking it out of the freezer.

Should i first completely charge it and then put in the freezer ?

I have tried all the kinds of IOS 7.0.4 updates which are available on the internet.

On 99% this error pops up on the itunes.

Then when i started restore after charging the battery it again showed me error(3).

Hi raghavkedia,

Yes fully charge your device

Unplug from power, turn off (if possible), allow to cool for 30 minutes

Put in freezer in ziplock bag with paper towel wrapped around 1/2 cup dry rice

Leave in freezer for 40 minutes

Remove from freezer and IMMEDIATELY start Restore process

If you still get Error (3), repeat 40 minutes in freezer, and, if possible, start Restore process with your device remaining in freezer (keeps the Flash chips cool a bit longer as the Restore process can take several minutes, and the Flash chips may get too warm to sucessfully erase, which is where the Restore process is failing on Error (3)).

If you still get Error (3) aftwr this second freezer attempt, and you have already visited the Apple Genius Bar, shown them this thread, and they still won't replace your device for no charge, hang in there and keep watching this thread for additional solutions to this issue.

Hello All,

Has there been any successful attempts with an iPhone(5) using the "freezer fix"?

I've attempted to perform the freezer fix with my iPhone(5) it didn't work. However, I will try once more with my device fully charged and reply with the results.

Hi johnsmith233,

Pshoe on page 9 of this thread successfully restored his/her iPhone 5 on his first attempt

i tried freezer trick twice and failed..dont know what went wrong..already fully charged my ipad, wait abit to cool it down first and put inside the freezer for 40mins,..1st attempt battery was out and wasting time doing recharge and ipad got warmer then..on a 2nd attempt, all is perfect i guess...firewall off, antivirus off, ipad fully charged, but still doesnt work..i put timer during restore process, took about ~16mins.. do u think ipad already getting warm? plus on 2nd attempt during restoring process i didnt put inside the freezer..i thot the problem was my battery.. hmmm

Hi silverstri,

Yes within 16 minutes the Flash chips are warming up a lot, even if the case is quite cold. You appear to have one of the more severe cases of Error (3) so you may not be successful, but if you can attempt a restore while the device is still in the freezer, this has proven to be successful in one case.

If your device fails again, try your Apple Genius (again), show them this thread, and keep following this thread for other solutions that are being investigated.

Kenneth,

Thank you for the reply. Does the phone also have to be in DFU mode just wondering?

Hi johnsmith233

No, do not use dfu mode. Normal recovery mode.

Hello Mr. Young,

Today when i read the forum here, I followed your advice to  "freeze" my iPhone 5. At first it worked for about 2 hours then it went to "searching" mode again. I put it back in the freezer after 40 minutes, it showed AT&T LTE then after 20 minutes, searching again.

I went to apple yesterday but they wanted me to pay $269 to swap to a new one without telling me what or why my phone was acting up. My phone is over its warranty by 77 days.

I don't know what to do with my phone anymore.. :(

I wish iPhone would replace my phone instead because I didn't do anything to the phone and it's their system that is in error here.

What You need to do is call Apple directly. Ask to speak with an iOS supervisor. Tell him or her your problems, and let them know there are many others with this issue. Work with them as much as you can. I myself had the same problem, but I worked with Apple for nearly 2 months straight on fixing this issue. My phone was over a year out of warranty and they sent me a new one, not a refurbishment. You have to be persistent on this issue. I know kennethyoung got a replacement also. Just keep hammering them and refer them to this thread...good luck and report back on what they will and won't do for you.