Stuck at "Connect to iTunes" (error 4005)

Hi Panicmoonwalkaway,

I just purchased a MacBook Air and wanted to be certain all my applications were updated, including the OS, before I used the computer. Unfortunately, I had my iPhone plugged in via USB, so when I agreed to all the latest updates, I inadvertently was updating the iOS. This froze my phone into a 'recovery' mode with an icon of the usb cable pointing to 'iTunes' image.

I contacted Apple Care Customer Service, and all told me that the photos/video were unrecoverable, and that they had already been been erased even though I had not yet completed the 'restore phone' process to update the iOS to 7. I requested another more knowledgeable service rep. but they refused to transfer me and cut and pasted the same standard line, "If you didn't backup your data, you cannot recover it." This didn't make sense to me. What did make sense was that although the door and locks to my phone were inaccessible, the content was probably still there. It's a fundamental harddrive concept.

After some trial and error, I found a simple solution, and hopefully this will work for the community out there. This is what I discovered:

(1) Tenorshare iphone data recovery application DID NOT work because the first message that pops up is a request that you type in your four-digit security code (on your phone). For obvious reasons (screen is frozen in the usb to itunes image) this wasn't an option.

(2) I then downloaded Wondershare Dr. Fone for iOS. I have no idea who makese these applications, and it is alway shady business to give these internet companies possible access to your phone, BUT after launching the app. for Mac, and plugging my iPhone into the MacBookAir via USB, there was a message that my phone was not 'NORMAL." After I clicked ok to this message, suddenly my phone came back to life, and I was able to type in my four-digit SECURITY CODE. The iOS was the original, and all my videos and photos were still on the device. I didn't go ahead and scan the phone via Wondersher Dr. Fone because I had no need.

(3) I then connected the iPhone via usb to my old macbook and used PICASA to transfer all my photos and videos from the iPhone. I also backed up all the old iPhoto data with PICASA. I think it's a good idea to backup iPhoto data with another application so that any Apple updates doesn't 'accidentally' delete old libraries.

(4) After this photo/video xfer and backup process, and making sure my contacts/music/tvshows/movies/iOSapps are backed up on the iCloud, I plan to update my iOS.

Let me know if you have any questions.

best, McFly Films

Hi Jennyrenny,

See my reply above.

Good luck,

McFly

Did you mange to sort it? I have the same problem now so angry!!

mmm...

i just experienced error 4005, but it solved.

at my thought, maybe some software or hardware in ur PC had some crash... so u can try to restart ur PC or Laptop, it does work on my case...

hope all of u succesing when trying...

The best way to get out of this situation is to use a well-known tool called TinyUmbrella.

1. First of all download TinyUmbrella http://thefirmwareumbrella.blogspot.in/
2. Now, making sure your device is connected to your computer, launch TinyUmbrella
3. It will automatically detect that your iPhone 5 is stuck in recovery mode
4. Select the Exit Recovery button and it should throw your iPhone 5 out of recovery.
5. Alternatively, you can right-click on your iPhone 5 name from a list at the side of TinyUmbrella and select Kick out of recovery.

Thought I chip in for a solution that worked for me. Got the same error code and same issues mentioned.

My pc info: HP Pavilion dv6

OS: Windows home 7 premium

Iphone 5 was stuck in "connect to iTunes screen" and iTunes did not recognize. I unplugged and moved the USB cable to a different port and it immediately recognized it. The previous port that didnt work supported USB3. The one that worked was USB2.

Overall I am not happy with the iTunes experience. Its sluggish and the whole Sync/Backup/Restore process is painfull where it should be a smooth and friendly user experience.

First: Tiny Umbrella loaded several apps on my Win7 machine that bombarded me with popups and didn't work. So I had to scrape all that junk off and run a full malware scan. I would advise against it.

What worked for me is to start over with the Hello setup app and instead of telling it to use a backup, start new. Let iTunes restore from backup before running through the setup routine. That broke me out of the setup app (Hello/Connect to iTunes). I thought I'd end up with a clean reset and have to start over. Surprisingly all the contacts and photos were there and the app icons were there waiting to reload (I plugged the cord back in to encourage the apps to refresh themselves). Things like Facebook login info and stocks were lost. But easy to setup again. Mail of course had to refresh.

During this process I tried to get around the iTunes problem, I tried backing up to iCloud instead. But when I tried to restore from iCloud the backup for that device was nowhere to be found.

It's clear from all the bugs, the nightmarish workflow and the outdated ten year old interface that the iTunes team gave up years ago. I had just as many problems updating a machine to Mavericks (couldn't use my trackpad, had to plugin a USB mouse, etc.). Not a good sign.

If someone else is still having this error, do check your computer's name! It must contain only Latin characters. I had had the same problem until I changed the name of my PC to the proper one.

You will need to use tinyumbrella again to kick it out of DFU mode. You shouldnt need to have used to kick into DFU, but it will save your *** now you are stuck. After kicking out, you can restore and try again.

http://goo.gl/AWUUlY

In general, dont mix your jailbreaks. Stick with one that others have written will work. Limerain does appear, but sometimes you need to reset – also, did you check the next homescreen? It gets installed to your second home screen by default, so even if you cant see it on the first screen, it may be on the second screen…

I got this error again today following the latest iOS update. An absolute joke, I am having to restore my iPhone every time an update is released.

Thanks a million, Pocast_junky. Your reply calmed my freak-out last night, and today when I followed your directions they worked, with everything restored perfectly as before. Yaay!

My ipad is stuck in connect to itunes. Only thing i can do is power it off and on. But the screen is still there.

Don't worry about that. iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode always happens when you update the iOS on your iPhone. There are two ways to solve it.

First is is to put your iPhone in DFU mode.

Step 1. Turn off iPhone

Step 2. Hold down the Power and Home button.

Step 3. When you see the Apple logo, release the power button but continue holding the Home button down.

Step 4. Open iTunes and wait for it to tell you that it’s in restore mode.

Second is to fix with iPhone Data Recovery.

Step 1: Fix the Problem of iPhone Stuck in Recovery Mode

Step 2: Recover Data from your iPhone Directly

Step 3: Recover Lost Data from iTunes Backup

You can try both of them.

I tried to update my Iphone 4 to iOS 7.04 today and now it;s stuck on the connect to itunes screen and no computers will recognise it when i plug it in, old and new versions of itunes. in addition, i can't turn my phone off and put it in recovery mode because my lock button doesn't work

i have the same problem i have maket e program and its worked no virus and no chit every thing you only need to dow connect your iphone all versions supported .....you need only start the (RecBoot.exe) you open that and than you need to dow is this : exit recovery mode ...or add my on skype i can help u my skype is : juliankoning1 and the link voor the download it from my dropbox : https://www.dropbox.com/s/ycnk22ykgatz2zq/RecBoot%25201.3-WIN.zip