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Getting Error when attempting to Restore 2 iPads through Apple Configurator 2

I was attempting to restore an iPad through Apple Configurator 2 and received this error during the Install OS process:

The operation couldn’t be completed. (AMRestoreErrorDomain error 4 - failed to handle message type StatusMsg) [AMRestoreErrorDomain – 0x4 (4)]

The iPad would then revert to the iTunes restore screen and be stuck on it.


Thinking this a fluke I tried it later on a different model iPad with the exact same result. Need help ASAP! Thank you any assistance!

iPad, iPadOS 13

Posted on Sep 18, 2020 12:57 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 19, 2020 12:45 PM

Turns out that IOS 14 came out on 9/18/14 and I think Apple Configuration 2 is not working with IOS 14. I called Apple and they had me use another method. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201263 This worked.


14 replies

Sep 19, 2020 1:08 AM in response to WCSITJeff

I have the same problem with several iPads and it startet with the public release of iOS 14. First I downloaded the beta release of Apple Configurator from the developer portal but it did not help.


After some trials I figured out that I had to use a computer with Big Sur Beta installed to do the restore.


With Big Sur I had no more issues. Maybe Catalina cannot handle a iOS 14 restore?

Sep 28, 2020 11:55 AM in response to WCSITJeff

I spent most of Friday slowly restoring 14 iPads back to the state that they were in at 3pm on Thursday afternoon before I attempted a simple OS update via Apple Configurator 2; which bricked them all and lost me my nights sleep. It was also at this point that my (now deleted by Apple*) reply to this post, was published; in a state of fury.

The method which was successful for me was to use Finder to upgrade One device, to iPad OS 14 and then to upgrade via AC2. Of course then I had to Prepare the devices and also apply the Blueprint for the School. This is despite AC2 saying its downloading iPad OS, again, after you've already done it via Finder.


This has happened in 2 schools I support now, but the other error message was more helpful in the first instance, it said, The system restore image is invalid. Which helped me arrive at the correct solution.


My constructive advice to Apple would be to rewrite this from the ground up, and to understand that many schools are using Mac mini's or iMacs that are several years old. Support should be equal for the schools who are struggling with finances and the software should be compatible across all Mac's and OS. Also, teachers use this, so error messages that only make sense to a developer and don't address the actual issue only help confound the situation.


(* it was deleted for not being constructive enough).

Oct 7, 2020 11:20 PM in response to WCSITJeff

I have also had this problem with several iPads at several sites using Apple Configurator 2.13.1 on Mac OS Catalina 10.15.7.


I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that the "In Production" version of Apple Configurator should be able to restore iPads using the "In Production" version of iOS. I should not have to run a buggy beta app on a buggy beta operating system in order to install a non-beta operating system on my iPad(s).


I have also noted some people having success restoring using Finder. I can confirm that this works... with one single iPad at a time. This is NOT acceptable from a pure productivity standpoint. Which is the whole point of Apple Configurator. I should be able to update an entire trolley of thirty or more iPads at a time with one click. Not connect them individually one at a time.


I think Apple needs to fast track the implementation of the updates to Apple Configurator and release them in the main version so that we can properly support our existing fleets of iPads without having to resort to working on weekends and overnight to complete tasks which otherwise would have taken just an hour or so.

Getting Error when attempting to Restore 2 iPads through Apple Configurator 2

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