iPhone stuck on “Failed to Retrieve Configuration” after restore – can’t enter DFU mode either
Hi everyone,
I’ve been struggling with a setup issue after restoring my iPhone SE (1st generation, 2016), and I’d really appreciate any advice.
After restoring the device using both iTunes on Windows and Finder on a MacBook Air (M1), the setup process gets stuck with the error:
“Failed to retrieve configuration.”
Here’s what I’ve tried:
- Performed a full restore using both iTunes and Finder — restore completes, but setup still fails at the same point.
- Chose “Set up as new iPhone” (not from backup) — same error.
- Tried multiple Wi-Fi networks, including a mobile hotspot — no improvement.
- Deleted the iOS firmware file to force a clean re-download — still didn’t help.
- Tried multiple times to enter DFU mode, but I can't get the screen to stay black. The Apple logo appears after just 2–3 seconds, and I end up in Recovery Mode instead of DFU.
Additional info:
- I don’t see any Remote Management or MDM screens during setup.
- There is no Activation Lock prompt — so I don’t believe it’s iCloud-locked.
- I’m using the original Lightning cable and all software (macOS/iTunes) is up to date.
Is there any way to force a true fresh start or resolve this configuration error? Could this be an issue with Apple’s setup servers? I'm out of ideas and would really appreciate help from anyone who's seen this before.
Thank you!
Earlier iPhone models
