12 Methods to Fix iTunes Error 3004

Has that ever popped up on your screen before? Don't panic; you've come to the right place! iTunes error 3004 is one of the most common problems that arises while updating or restoring your iOS devices. And it is reported frequently when many users tried to update their iPhone to the newly released iOS 15 or tried to downgrade the iOS 15 to iOS 14 with the iPSW file. If you have encountered an iTunes error 3004, keep reading this article to find out simple solutions.

What Causes iTunes Error 3004

iTunes error 3004 is caused by:

Outdated iTunes: The old version of iTunes will cause various errors including the iTunes error 3004.

Antivirus software: Sometimes the antivirus software will regard the connection between your iPhone and iTunes as illegal, and thus the iPhone error 3004 occurs.

iOS system problem: If you just updated your iPhone to iOS 15, then this unstable version may serve as the culprit of iTunes error 3004.

Hardware problem: The faulty USB port and the related component may prevent the smooth connection between your iPhone and iTunes.

Failed authentication between iTunes and Apple servers: If Apple servers falls down or the path of iTunes gets invalid, the iTunes error 3004 will pop up.

12 Methods to Fix iTunes Error 3004

Below are 12 ways to fix iTunes error 3004.

1. Check the USB Cable and Port

iTunes error 3004 can occur when there's an interruption in the USB connection. To solve this, check your USB cable and port for any disconnection. Then re-plug the USB to see whether this method has fixed the error.

2. Update iTunes

When the iTunes error 3004 pops up, the easiest and fastest way to fix it is by updating your iTunes to the latest version. Generally speaking, all apps will work better when updated to a higher version, the same works for your iTunes.

To update to the latest version of iTunes on your Mac,

1. 1. Go to the Apple menu and select System Preference.

2. 2. Select Software Update to check for the latest updates.

3. 3. Click Update Now.

4. 4. If you are using an older version, just go to App Store and check if there are any updates available.

To update to the latest version of iTunes on your Windows PC

1. 1. Select Help on the iTunes screen.

2. 2. Select Check for Updates on the drop-down menu. iTunes will download and install the latest version.

3. Restart the Computer

The next thing you need to do when an iPhone error 3004 occurs is to turn off the computer. Although it seems like a cliche, it really works! A reboot of computer will swipe all the temporary glitches away and thus your malfunctioning iTunes and connection with external devices will go back to normal.

4. Check the Computer's Date and Time

You may feel it weird to check your computer's date and time when suffering this issue. However, the iTunes Error 3004 may occur if your computer's clock and time zone settings are wrong. So you need to make sure the date and time of your zone on the computer is accurate.

5. Disable the Antivirus Software

Another way to fix iTunes error 3004 is to disable the antivirus software on your computer. Antivirus sometimes interrupts the normal operation of your iTunes, and thus an iTunes error 3004 pops up.

6. Edit the Hosts Files on Your PC

To fix iTunes error 3004, edit the host files on your PC. Your computer's host files might cause a problem in communication between Apple's servers and iTunes.

For Mac users:

1. 1. Go to the Finder, then click Go and then Utilities.

2. 2. Double-click Terminal to launch the Terminal window.

3. 3. Enter the command: sudo nano /etc/hosts. Then enter your password and click on Return

4. 4. Edit the host files by adding IP address and domain name. For example, 112.111.101.113 www.yourdomainname.com. Put a space between the IP and the URL.



5. 5. Press Control+O, then press Enter to confirm the overwriting.

'

6. 6. Press Control+X to exit the nano editor.

Windows users can go to the official guide of Microsoft to do it.

7. Force Restart the iPhone

Force restarting your iPhone is a simple but effective method to fix iPhone error 3004. And the method varies between different iPhone models. Choose the one that suits your device version.

1. iPhone 6 and earlier generations: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button simultaneously. Release both buttons when the Apple logo shows up.

2. iPhone 7 plus and 7S: Press and hold the Volume Down button and the Sleep/Wake button simultaneously. Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

3. iPhone 8 and later generations: Press and quickly release the Volume Up button, repeat the same process for the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button. Release the button when you see the Apple logo.

8. Clear Safari History and Website Data

Clearing Safari and website history can help fix iTunes error 3004 because it can wipe out the possible interruptions of some malicious websites. And this method will removes data of frequently visited sites, history of web pages, recent searches, and a list of downloaded files(not the downloaded files themselves). Try this method only if you don’t mind this.

1. 1. Go to your Safari app or Search engine.

2. 2. Select Settings > History/Privacy and security> Clear history/browsing data.



3. 3. On the pop-up menu, select how far back you want your browsing history cleared and the type of data as well.

9. Reset Network Settings

The faulty network connection may cause the iTunes not to update or restore your iPhone, reporting iTunes error 3004. If this is the case, you need to reset all network settings on your iPhone. To do it, simply go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

10. Reset All Settings

If the iTunes error 3004 persists after resetting network settings, you may need a more thorough solution, resetting all settings. It will adjust all the faulty settings that may cause errors and restore them to the factory settings. And you don’t need to worry about the data loss, as it only erases the personalized settings and won’t harm your data. To reset all settings on your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.

11. Downgrade Your iOS with iMaster

As mentioned above, iTunes error 3004 occurs most frequently after people update their iPhones to the latest iOS 15. As this iOS 15 is a newly released and unstable version, it may bring many bugs. So you need to downgrade the iOS 15 to the previous iOS 14 if you want to fix iTunes error 3004.

One professional tool that help downgrade your iOS without data loss is WooTechy iMaster. Besides, you can also use it to update the iOS and back up your data for free. And it certainly supports the newest iOS 15. Let’s see some prominent features of this tool and the steps to use it.

To downgrade your iOS using WooTechy iMaster:

• Download WooTechy iMaster and launch it on your computer. Select Downgrade iOS and wait till it recognizes your smartphone. Otherwise, click on Device Connected But Not Recognized and follow the prompts, till your device is recognized.

• Choose the suitable firmware for your iPhone and click on Download.

• After the firmware is downloaded and extracted, click on Start to finish the whole process.

Download NowDownload Now

12. Restore iPhone With Recovery Mode

You may wonder why we let you restore the iPhone once again. Here you should know restoring iPhone with recovery mode is different from that with normal mode. And it has helped many users to solve this iTunes 3004 error. However, this should be the last resort for you as it will erase all your data.

To do it, you need to put your iPhone in recovery mode first. The methods are almost the same as force restarting iPhone. The only difference is that you shouldn’t release when you see the apple logo, keep holding the button(s) until you see the recovery mode screen.

Then you can see a pop-up window with Update and Restore options. Choose Restore and confirm your action.

Conclusion

Next time when iTunes Error 3004 pops up on your screen, don't panic. Just use any of the 12 tips above. If you have this issue after updating iPhone to iOS 15, the best way is to downgrade it to previous iOS 14 with WooTechy iMaster and wait Apple to release a less buggy version. Life is easier when you know what to do, so is handling your iPhone!