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

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Thank you in advance for understanding.

Hi everyone... I have exactly the same situation with the iPhone 5 of my nephew, He tried to update the iPhone to ios 7 and get stuck at the end of the process bar reach to be filledm at least 99.9%... Then iTunes Show a window telling that a Error 3 was finded... and thats it!! and every time tried at differnt locations, computers, systems, cables, etc... all at the final show the same window...

We find this disscussion and after read all the situations and tricks, we tried every one described here, but no one works... the iphone its stuck on that error...

We are from Mexico City, and we still have hope that we can recover the iphone in a working one...

Greeting and good lock to all

Sincerely

MacUserG5

Here is my log attached. I have tried multiple times every solution posted on this forum and no luck to resolve error 3. I would appreciate is someone can confirm that my log points to the same problem like most of ppl have.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u0monomx1ds7xxe/iPadUpdater%206.log

Hello Kenneth,

it seems different then mine. Am i wrong?

srkikkkkk:

[16:16:28.0690] Failure Description:

[16:16:28.0690] Depth:0 Error:AMRestorePerformRestoreModeRestoreWithError failed with error: -1

Mine:

[14:06:32.4131] Failure Description:

[14:06:32.4131] Depth:0 Error:AMRestorePerformRestoreModeRestoreWithError failed with error: -1

[14:06:32.4131] Depth:1 Error:Impossibile completare l'operazione. (AMRestoreErrorDomain errore -1 - Failed to handle message type StatusMsg)

[14:06:32.4131] Depth:2 Error:Impossibile completare l'operazione. (AMRestoreErrorDomain errore -1 - failed to update device firmware)

[14:06:32.4131] Depth:3 Error:Impossibile completare l'operazione. (AMRestoreErrorDomain errore -1 - ramrod firmware update failed)

[14:06:32.4131] Depth:4 Error:Impossibile completare l'operazione. (RamrodErrorDomain errore 1004 - update_baseband: failed to perform next stage)

[14:06:32.4131] Depth:5 Error:Impossibile completare l'operazione. (BBUpdater errore 3 - Modem returned to download mode)

ERROR (3) UPDATE TO ALL,

I can't say much, but I do not need anymore log files from anyone to pass onto my contact at Apple.

You can take this statement to mean that something positive could be "happening". Keep following this discussion thread and if and when I'm permitted to pass on any more information, I will. I think the efforts of all in this thread has definitely made a difference. Chin up!

7.0.6 as many of you know have very, very important security features fixed in those iOS update. I suspect many of you who have been successful in Restoring their iDevice using one of the techniques discussed in this thread most likely still have 7.0.4 on their iDevice and have concerns about attempting another iOS Update until, and if, Apple issues an Error (3) fix, to prevent a reoccurance of Error (3) on your iDevice.

I honestly can not make a recommendation as to whether you should attempt to update your iDevice to 7.0.6 and risk "bricking" your device again. I can tell you that there is no "fix" for Error (3) in 7.0.6. The technical issue that causes Error (3) is a complicated one involving timing and Flash erase. If your iDevice is working now, Error (3) may or may not appear again if you do an iOS update to 7.0.6. If you try, and your iDevice gets Error (3) back again, you should be able to successfully Restore your iDevice again, with the "Freezer" technique, if that technique worked for you before, but I can not promise that it will work for 100% of iDevices. If you choosed not to update to iOS 7.0.6 now, you run a "real" security risk. You definitely should not do any operations with confidential information on your iDevice, such as any banking, until after you update to iOS 7.0.6.

If you do, or have, updated to iOS 7.0.6 from 7.0.4, on a device that previously had Error (3), but that you were able to Restore succesfully, using the Freezer or another work around technique, please share your results with this thread.

Hi ToDDoLo,

Depending on whether this is a log from the original Restore after update, or a later Restore attempt, the log file will look different. From what you shared, this appears to be the same root Error (3) issue.

i bought an iphone 5 on ebay and i tried to restore and got the error 3 also, i tried doing kennethyoungs freezer method like 4 times and no luck. is it possible for me to downgrade itunes and restore ios6 on itunes 10? what other methods are their?

Hi ron44ald,

Apple doesn't permit rollbacks. There are ways to do it that can't be described within the rules of this forum. Google. Other methods that may work are discussed within this thread. Good luck. Let us know your results.

Hi kennethyoung

Thank you for taking the time to help people who are frustrated with error 3 mess. I tried the "freeze" technic 3 times, unfortunatelly didnt work out for me, but am glad it did fr others, I only bought my Ipone 5s 4 months ago and luckily still under warrenty, we have very limited help here in Dubai so hopefully they will be able to fix it, I have been back and forth wit hthe existing support center since Feb 26th and they are clueless.

Thank you again for all your help as this thread is the only place that proved we are not imagining "error 3"...

Freezing for 20 minutes worked for me. I was sure my phone was bricked...

Connected the iphone while still in the freezer, and lo and behold, it completed restore!

BUT, I had to restore twice. First restore finished, but with error. I simply disconnected and reconnected the USB in my Macbook and clicked restore again. Second time it completed without error, and my phone is 100% functional.

This is the most bizarre solution to a bricked iphone I have seen. But for me it worked!
Thanks!

I as well as others had to join this thread specifically to say how awesome it is you are following up about this problem. I just tried the freezer trick however, and it has not work yet. Im still stuck on this last 2 percent, but an error hasnt shown up. I am on a slow computer and my device does have a lot on it... I will be patient until the error shows up, and then I will try again the same trick, only I'll keep it in the freezer longer. I had it super wrapped and riced. Tomorrow if my attempts still fail. I will go to apple, a see if the apple in my area knows of a solution, and then if not I'm hoping they replace my phone. I have only been having it a few months. I will print this whole discussion out as well just to make them aware of how frequent this problem is to make my case valid and up my chances of getting a replaced phone. This samsung flip GoPhone flip phone isn't cutting it for me... IF that does not help, then I'm calling apple support directly and will also follow up on this issue. We shouldn't have to pay an arm and leg for a new phone when the problem was not something to be prevented by the consumer. I've been a loyal iPhone user since the start... for crying out loud I still have AT&T's grandfathered in unlimited data plan. -crossing fingers for my phone and everyone elses- Thanks again for your help.

Hi Cmdcarlton,

There are other techniques that have had various degrees of success. Filter on my name (kennethyoung) and go back a ways and you will see where I cataloged them. No hard numbers, but the freezer technique appears to have the highest success for the Error (3) issue. It doesn't work for everyone, due to the complexity of the failure mode being a combination of a race condition and flash issue. If it fails, and you can crank your freezer to its coldest setting, I would try the coldest you can get it.

I have reason to believe a fix may be coming in a future firmware update, but that's all I can share at this point. Keep following this thread for updates.

Hi Bannoutbaby,

Sorry the freezer didn't work. It seems to work maybe 75% of the time. Error (3) is a complex issue of a code race condition tied into a flash erase issue. Sometimes a colder freezer helps, so if you can crank your freeze to the colder setting, give it a few hours to get there, then try again, leaving the phone if the freezer during Restore, this often yields a successful result, but if your phone is under warranty, I would recommend just letting Apple replace it and moving on.

HI Auto3,

I reviewed your log and it appears to be the same root cause of Error (3).

If you can crank your freezer to the coldest setting, give it a few hours to reach it, then try again, some have had success with a colder temperature.

Keep watching this thread for a future fix that is being worked on. Don't have a timeframe yet, but it is being worked on. No promises yet on a release yet though.

Hi brandibby,

Sorry to hear none of the techniques here, including the freezer, has worked for you.

You might want to try cranking your freezer to the coldest possible setting, give it a couple of hours to reach it, then put your iDevice in for 30 minutes, with it fully off, in a freezer bag with rice wrapped in a paper towel. Some have reported success at a much colder temp than most freezers are typically set.

If not, keep following this thread for updates.