error 4037?

This is not a common error code.

These are things to check, but the very first thing to check is that you are using iTunes 12.6, which was just released on March 23, 2017.

If you see an error in iTunes on your Mac or PC - Apple Support

I also had this error code when trying to set up my brand new iPhone 7. Since I had already updated to the latest Mac OS X and iTunes (12.6.0.100), the other answer wasn't too helpful to me.

In getting the error, I had already backed up my iPhone 5 (iOS 10.2.1) to iTunes. My new iPhone 7 out of the box was at iOS 10.2. I had clicked through the start up screens to restore it from backup via iTunes. When I tried to restore from backup, I got the error "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone that is being restored". I deleted the backup in iTunes and made a fresh backup. I got the same error.

When I clicked to update the iOS to the latest version, I got the 4037 error.

Here is what I did to get around the 4037 error.

1. I updated my old iPhone's iOS to the latest version (10.3.1). During that process, I realized that wifi was turned off and with phone service no longer on the old phone, it had no Internet connection.

2. I connected my old phone to local wifi.

3. I backed up in the set up screen for my new iPhone and set it up as a new iPhone (not from backup). The iOS update on my old iPhone was a little tricky, because when I tried to log in with my Apple ID, it sent my two factor authentication code to my new iPhone which could not display it because it was not set up yet. When setting up my new iPhone as a new iPhone (not from backup), I skipped the part about logging in with my Apple ID due to the two factor authentication issue. This allowed me to see my text messages and log in with my Apple ID to my old iPhone.

4. I connected my new iPhone to wifi.

5. I ran a manual backup of my old iPhone to iTunes.

6. I connected my new iPhone to iTunes and updated to the latest iOS (10.3.1).

7. I erased all content on my new iPhone. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. After your device is erased, it restarts and you'll see the Hello screen in the Setup Assistant.

8. I went through the welcome screens on my iPhone. I set up the new iPhone to restore from an iTunes backup, and was successful this time. It prompted me via iTunes to select which backup to use and then began restoring my apps and data. There was one point of the restore where my new iPhone prompted me to "Click to begin upgrade." I just followed the prompts and my device was ready with all my old apps and data on the new iPhone 7!

While I did not get the particular errors mentioned on this support page, it was very helpful in suggesting to me what eventually seemed to fix my problem.

If you do not have your original iPhone (to ensure it is on the latest iOS or try running a new backup), you may want to try steps 3-8, skipping step 5.

I just spent hours today struggling with the same issue. I was trying to restore a backup from an old iPhone 6 (on iOS8) onto my new iPhone 7 (on iOS 10.2). Tried 4 times and kept getting error 4037 and also "itunes could not restore the iphone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible". I did several things that eventually got the new phone synced and working :

1. Update the old iPhone to the latest iOS. Make sure you authorize the phone for 2 factor authentication so it can connect properly to iCloud

2. Update the new iPhone to the latest iOS

3. Update my home iMac to the latest OSX. Make sure you authorize the phone for 2 factor authentication so it can connect properly to iCloud

4. Delete the old backup from iTunes --> Preferences --> Devices. Select the version of the backup that has not been working and Delete.

5. Backup the old iPhone again to iTunes

6. Go into new iPhone and Set up as a new phone. Subsequently go to Settings --> General --> Reset --> Erase All Contents and Settings. This will erase whatever the partial sync has downloaded onto the new phone and you can start afresh

7. Restart the new phone and follow the instructions to connect to iTunes. When you see the window "Welcome to your new iPhone". Restore from (window dropdown), you are probably on the right track.

All in all a super painful process that took me more than a day to sort out. Super frustrating. You'd think it should be completely easy, but I suspect the different iOS screwed things up.

Good luck !

I was getting an error of 4000 & in another attempt 4037. Could not find in support. I decided to attempt the software update directly from phone versus mac. My mac has OS X Yosemite and can not support the Sierra update. It has seemed to work.

It could be two-factor authentication on you apple account. Your computer probably isn't trusted (logged into icloud for at least 14 days) if this is the case turn off two-factor authentication.

Downloads and updates should commence immediately.

I also got this error, when trying to update IOS on my new iPhone7. What worked for me was simple, after giving it a little thought on the verification side.

I had an old iPhone 4S, registered under a different apple user name. When trying to update my new iPhone 7, it was always throwing 4037 error. On looking at the error, and searching a bit on google, I understood this is not a simple error, as seen with other updates. But, a point caught my attention - the initial authorization.

It struck me straight, that I have registered my new iPhone under a different user (my spouse's), and this could be causing the 4037 error. So, i switched my user in iTunes, and gave it a try again. Bingo, that worked. Just putting it here, so that if others also have a similar issue, it might help them out.

Cheers!!!

Really helpful description, went through the setup process after following the steps.

In my eyes though is unacceptable to get something like "unknown error xxxxx" with out any indication whatsoever and try to get your way through. Linking this to a generic troubleshooting page of the type "it doesn't functioning -> reset everything" reminds me older eras of consumer computing electronics.

I also got this error when trying to set up a new phone from a backup on my Mac. Here is what worked for me:

#1 I set up my new phone as a "New Phone" instead of restoring from a back up.

#2 I then updated my iTunes software.

#3 I then erased all content and settings on the phone.

#4 I then set up my new phone by connecting it to my MAC, opening iTunes and choosing "restore from back up".

Worked perfectly, didn't lose anything!

I bought an iPhone 6s yesterday and tried to restore all the apps and data from my iPhone 5. I also got a 4037 error message as the 6s had an older version of iOS (10.3.1) than my 5 (10.3.3.).

Your steps have saved me a lot of time and frustration. I think it is pretty poor of Apple not to highlight this issue in the set up menu of the iPhone.

Thank you for your very helpful answer.

Amazing! Thanks

Huge help. Thanks. I had thought of doing that but wasn't sure and reading your answer let me trust my instincts thanks again.

I try to update my new iphone with my saved data from my old iphone and then I get this error code

Please give some support about this error message.

Thanks so much, i did all of your steps and it worked perfectly you saved my bacon.😎 And my sanity🙂.