The iPhone could not be updated because the firmware file is not compatible(iPhone 4s). What should i do?

I have the same issue and as with missi1197 cannot update directly through the phone as it states it has nothing to update?.

I have searched the web and found a number of posts about the issue but have not yet found any solution to this issue.

Anyone else found a solution yet?

with the phone plugged into my PC, I restarted the 4S by holding the power button and menu button at the same time. The phone restarted and updated through the network...

Along with the not being able to update the phone we kept getting invalid sim also. After talking to AT&T This is how we ended up fixing our problem.

First back your phone up!!

Go to Settings, General, Reset, Erase All Content and Settings. Set it up as a new phone. The put all your content from iTunes back on. Long process but it did work.

He did lose some contacts and some pics but other that than everything else was fine.

Go to settings then general, then Software update and update from there. your computer using itunes could be preventing you from a successful update due the antivirus software or Firewall. Worked for me.

Mike

Thanks, Mike. After trying to make this a complicated problem, I read your post. So easy!!!

Chelle

Thanks. Doing the upgrade directly from on the phone worked for me as well. And it was much faster too.

I confirm as geza. I updated directly from the phone and it worked fine. Also faster as well.

My original 4s had to be swapped out at the local apple stor last night, and this morning while tring to update to 5.1, i keept receiving this same error. I found this thread and tried the update via wifi, and it worked without a hitch. Thanks!!!

I am having the same problem like you all.

Just wonder what is the cause of the problem? I tried to update through Itunes from 3 different laptops but all giving me the same message. Follow your instruction was fast and solve the updating issue. But is that mean next time we have to update from the phone itself?

Hopefully Apple will be able to solve this issue.

I update my 3gs to ISO 5.0.1 without any error, the error only come with 4s!

Thanks, that's what I had to do.

And no thanks to Apple for a useless error message, not supplying this workaround themselves and inadequate troubleshooting instructions.

If you are trying to restore/update on your computer try deleting the iPhone Software updates folder and then try again. This is listed towards the bottom under Advanced here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3694

Mac OS:

~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates

Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates

Windows Vista/7:

Thanks, I was going to try to find and delete the donwload folder, although I'd not seen the bit at the bottom of the first article referring to the one you linked to as I didn't have a specific error code (thanks again, Apple) when I found this thread.

I'll try it for 5.1

I have this exact same problem. I just sent out my iPhone 4s a few days ago that had that problem and now I JUST got a new one in the mail about 30 mins ago and it has the problem too. But this one is stuck in "Restoring from iCloud" mode now. What do I do? 😟

itunes help links say the firmware error is caused because some of the security software on your computer isn't updated to the same level as itunes. It suggests updating both your operating system (via windows or apple) and checking any firewall security you have installed to ensure you have the latest patches. If you've updated itunes recently but haven't updated either of the other, they're likely not compatible. Way around that is to update directly from the phone, thus bypassing whatever is installed on your computer. And, like the other users said, it's much faster.

this is the simplest way to update ur iphone 4s with a clean install thru itunes rather than a wi-fi update.

1. back up ur iphone before the process.

2. download the latest firmware file for ur fone from http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/

3. the file would have ".zip" extension. so jus rename the file by changing the extension to ".ipsw"

4. connect ur iphone to itunes. hold the shift key and click on update.

5. select the file u jus renamed in step 3

this worked for me. hope it works for u guys as well 🙂