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What iTunes Error 3194 Mean & How to Fix it while Downgrading Firmware?

Author: Ben Johnson on March 24, 2011

Whenever you restore a stock or custom IPSW of any firmware on your iDevice, iTunes request Apple servers to sign the IPSW with the ECID (Exclusive Chip ID) of your iDevice which is called SHSH Blob. As soon as new firmware gets released, Apple stops signing your ECID for old firmwares which result in iTunes 3194 error.

TinyUmbrella SHSH
Saurik, who happens to the be creator of Cydia managed to create a workaround which can trick iTunes to get SHSH blobs from Cydia server instead of requesting them from Apple servers. Unlike Apple servers, Cydia or Saurik's server signs the IPSW with ECID of your iDevice even when Apple releases new firmware. Unfortunately, Saurik's server do not saves SHSH blobs for any iDevice until it is requested to do so. If you do not have SHSH blobs saved on Saurik's server and Apple has stopped signing ECID for the firmware to which you want to downgrade, in this case you CAN NOT downgrade firmware on your iDevice EVER.

iTunes Error 3194
If you have already saved SHSH blobs for the firmware to which you want to downgrade and you are still getting 3194 error then it means iTunes is unable to connect to Cydia server. To fix this issue, you can use the following two methods:

Get SHSH Blobs Using TinyUmbrella:

  1. Download TinyUmbrella for Windows or Mac OS X from here
  2. Connect your iDevice to your PC or Mac via USB cable.

    3. TinyUmbrella (Save SHSH Blobs)

  3. Launch TinyUmbrella and click on Save SHSH button. Wait while TinyUmbrella downloads your SHSH blobs from Cydia server to your hard-disk drive.

    4. TinyUmbrella (SHSH Blobs Saved)

  4. Once saved, switch to the LOG tab and click on Start TSS Server button. Make sure iTunes is closed at this time.

    5. TinyUmbrella (TSS Server)

  5. If you see the following two lines at the end of your LOG, it means TSS server has started successfully.

    6. TSS Server Started!

    TSS Accepting connections...

  6. Now open http://gs.apple.com in your default browser and see if it redirects you to Cydia homepage instead of opening Apple website.
  7. Thats it. Launch iTunes and restore the stock or custom IPSW using SHIFT+Restore combo on Windows and ALT+Restore combo on Mac.

Get SHSH Blobs by Editing HOSTS File:

Instead of using TinyUmbrella, you can use Windows or Mac HOSTS file to redirect iTunes to Cydia server. To edit HOSTS file on Windows or Mac, you must have full administrator privileges.

Edit HOSTS File on Windows:

  1. Open Notepad. Go to File -> Open... or press Ctrl+O. Now navigate to the following location and open HOSTS file in ETC directory.

    2. C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc

    Windows HOSTS File (Unedited)

  2. Now add the following line to the end of HOSTS file and close the Notepad window. Do not forget to Save the HOSTS file before closing the Notepad window.

    3. 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com

    Windows HOSTS File (Edited)

Edit HOSTS File on Mac:

  1. Click Go -> Go to Folder and then enter path /etc

    2. Mac HOSTS File Path

  2. Now open HOSTS file with TextEdit and add the following line with at the end of the file as shown in the screenshot below.

    3. 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com

    Mac HOSTS File (Edited)

Once you have edited the HOSTS file successfully, launch iTunes and restore the stock or custom IPSW. Hopefully, this time iTunes will not throw 3194 error while restoring the firmware.



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  • Helen Thompson

    Thank you for reply, i fiinally got my phone working on a custom 4.1 by following your advice so thank you. I have tried to restore on 4.3.5 but still get the 1394 error, so does that mean i am now stuck on 4.1? I have lost all my data as my back up would not work

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Awesome !! Glad that I could get it working.
      In terms of data, Yes, everything is lost. Infact, it got erased from your device the first time you had tried the restore from iTunes. Ofcourse you can very well update to the latest version of iOS, but ONLY if a custom IPSW is available for the same & NOT stock. Make sure that you save your SHSH blobs in future to stay safe.

  • Ole

    in deep trouble: I have an Iphone 4, after receiving the usual offer of "upgrading to latest SW" when connecting to iTunes I got stuck with Error 9, now tried a thousand things (including FixRecovery43)and now ending up with error 3194 when clicking "yes" to the iTunes recovery suggestion. Working on a Windows 7 PC, which I am not familiar with at all.

    I have to et this phone to work again - it's an important tool for me and I feel completely lost.... pls help ;-)

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Do / did you rely on an unlock for your iP4? Do you have any SHSH saved for your device / iOS?

  • helen thompson

    My iphone is 3gs with 6.15 baseband running 4.3.3, but bricked during redsnow jailbreak. i have not saved shsh blobs, tried to restore in itunes 4.3.5, it would not allow. I have tried ireb, used custom ipsw 4.3 made with snowbreeze and changed hosts file to 74.208.105.171 etc, but i still keep getting error 1394, is this fixable? please help

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      If you do not have the SHSH, then there is no point in restoring to any of the earlier versions other than the current iOS 4.3.5. Restore to a custom iOS 4.1 instead by removing that line from the hosts file. Use Sn0wbreeze 2.1 for that. Make sure that you first remove that line from the hosts file & only then restore to 4.1.

  • alex

    does it still work? it worked for me before. but i cant seem to do it again. it gives me error 3194 over and over again. my iphone is stuck on recovery mode.

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      That's because you do not have the necessary SHSH saved even on Cydia for your restores. There is no way that you can restore to that particular iOS version anymore w/o a valid SHSH.

  • khan

    I did what you said it goes right to the end then it gives 1015 errors i give up thanx for da help

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Use a custom IPSW instead of using the stock one from Apple. Expecting your stock IPSW to go through the restore with success is simply impossible when you already have an updated BB version.

  • khan

    when i was on 4.3.3 i jailbreak it and i saved my shsh then after while my iPhone went dead i give to shop he flashed the phone and updated it 4.3.5 then i used i faith check if has shsh and it give me 4.3.3 shsh again and saved that as well so i tryd restoring it now when i restore it, it goes all the way right the end it gives 1600 error with customs IPSW and when I RESTORE with official apple firmware it keeps giving me 1015 right at the end n i used iRab but it don't work. yes all performed on a single iP3GS on my specific device

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      That's impossible. iFaith can only save the SHSH for your device ONLY upto 4.3.3 & only if you were actually running 4.3.3 at the time of using iFaith. It can never give you a 4.3.3 SHSH when your on iOS 4.3.5. Also iFaith doesn't support any version above 4.3.3 either.
      Use Redsn0w to put your device into a pwned DFU mode & make sure that your choosing the right bootrom version.

  • Khan

    When i was running on 4.3.3 i used ifaith dump it and iv got it saved on my drive then used i faith to build ipsw for my iphone 3gs 8gb !!! Am i doing something wrong?

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      All this was performed on a single iP3GS right? Or are you trying to use the SHSH file of one iP3GS & using the signed IPSW to restore another iP3GS? Because that's totally not possible as SHSH blobs are device specific ALWAYS.

  • khan

    Hi i have 3gs on 4.3.5 baseband 6.15.00, i was trying to downgrade so i used TinyUmbrella to get shsh however i gt 4.3.3 dumped & i saved on my drive and then i created custom 4.3.3 with i faith but now when i restore with custom firmware that was created with i faith it doesn't work i keep getting 1600 error even thow i put the phone in pwned DFU mode using Irab and resn0w can u plzz help?

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      You dumped the 4.3.3 SHSH using iFaith whilst you were running 4.3.3 on your device? Or did you use TU's 4.3.3 SHSH with iFaith to create your custom signed IPSW?
      Which one is it?
      Nevertheless, Redsn0w will always positively put your device into a pwned DFU mode unless your making a wrong bootrom selection for your iP3GS.

  • john morales

    man im sorry to keep bothering so i did what you said and tried to restore on itunes without tu and i dont get an error.The apple logo pops up on my iphone sceen and then the progress bar during the restore goes up to 60% of the way and just freezes i get no error from itunes it just stops

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Open up TU & make sure that its settings are set like this http://bit.ly/mT3R3e & quit it. Next, repeat iOS 4.3.5 restore from iTunes. This should work just fine for you.

  • Devon

    Still 3194 :<

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Mhm, that's weird. Anyways, restore your device using TU's TSS Server & then Shift+Restore from iTunes in a pwned DFU mode. Hopefully everything should go through just fine.

  • Devon

    I applied setting. I'm sure(after exiting and turning on again they're still same). Here more pics.
    http://imgur.com/MUjFz - Folder C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc - There is hosts.umbrella file... Is it should happen?
    http://imgur.com/GwYdF - inside hosts file. Same when TSS is off and on.
    http://imgur.com/J6ApT - Again settings.
    And i don't have entry to Cydia's servers... :< TSS is on and when i go to http://gs.apple.com i see this page: http://i.imgur.com/srOd8.png

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Add the following line into your hosts file, save the file & restart iTunes & redo the restore.
      74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com.

  • Devon

    I’m sure that i have blobs for 4.3.3/4.1. More pics from Cydia(taken in iphone) and Tiny Umbrella. Also all options are set as you told me.
    http://i.imgur.com/1Os93.png
    http://i.imgur.com/I6qLC.png
    http://i.imgur.com/OX1m7.png

    Custom? But i don't need it. When clear 4.3.3 doesn't work, you think that Custom will? And what about that - when i go to this page http://gs.apple.com it shows Apple page, not cydia - while TSS Server is running

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Check your hosts file & make sure that you have an entry to Cydia's server. Did you Apply the TU settings after you changed it as pr my instructions? Because it should have. Recheck the settings once again.

  • Devon

    Ah and one more thing. I was trying to put CLEAR 4.3.3 software... 3194 error... ;( ;( ;(

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Doesn't matter as it seems only TU has the necessary SHSH saved for your device locally & not Cydia. Restore a custom IPSW in the same pwned DFU mode with the TSS Server started from TU.

  • Devon

    I put my iphone 3gs in pwned DFU and itunes still shows 3194 error. TinyUmbrella is off. I don't care of unlock. HELP! :<

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Did you set TU to exactly those settings as mentioned in the pic? Even then if it fails at 3194, then Cydia doesn't have the necessary SHSH for the iOS to which your restoring to. So what you had stated earlier here is incorrect about having the SHSH blobs for iOS 4.1 / 4.3.3 atleast by Cydia if not TU.

  • john morales

    ok ive been trying to but my problem is that when i try the restore progress bar stops a little bit after half way :/

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Restore to stock 4.3.5 via iTunes w/o using TU. If it errors out, then with what error code does it mentions the error with?

  • john morales

    sorry well i was trying to downgrade from 4.3.4 to 4.3.3 and now its just stuck and wont restore i have an iphone 4 and i dunno the bb im a noob sorry

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Well you don't have the SHSH for iOS 4.3.3. Therefore, you cannot downgrade to any other version other than for the ones you already have the SHSH for. Updating to 4.3.4 / 4.3.5 is the ONLY way that you can resolve this issue.

  • john morales

    so ive been trying to fix my phone it doesnt let me restore it. The little bar that appears when the phone is restoring stops a little bit after half way so i just need to know what i can do to fix it. I really dont care about downgrading it anymore i just want it to work lol i tried your steps so if you can give me some advice that be awesome i got shsh 4.3.4 4.3.5 on tu i tried to restore does the same stops after half way and just stays there

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Eh, can't help you out much if you don't detail me on the iOS / iPhone / BB version & model details.

  • Devon

    Hi there!

    I have iPhone 3Gs with 4.1 soft. A couple days ago my ipod stopped working(white screen, with blue belt above - after 15 seconds it returns to SprigBoard). I tried everything, so i decided to do restore. But i have another problem now. Cydia and Tiny Umbrella say that i have SHSH for 4.1, 4.3.1, 4.3.3 and 4.3.5. I want upgrade it to 4.3.3. I clicked "Start TSS Server", LOG shows:
    "TSS Server Started!
    TSS Accepting connections..."
    But when i go to http://gs.apple.com i see apple page with 404 error. Also i can't update(Shift + Restore) it in itunes because 3194 error appears. I tried to edit hosts file but this didn't work as well. I turned off every antiviruses etc. What can i do? Help!
    Some screenshots:
    http://i.imgur.com/8SYqL.png
    http://i.imgur.com/r2Age.png
    http://i.imgur.com/BYmH8.png
    http://i.imgur.com/7VTUX.png

    PS Yes, i clicked "Save SHSH" and i run it as administrator and with win XP compatibility.

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Open up TU, set it to these settings http://bit.ly/qqFuve & quit it. Do not open it again. Next, put your iP3GS in a pwned DFU mode (Use iReb / Redsn0w) & Shift + Restore to either a 4.1 / 4.3.3 IPSW. If you rely on an unlock, then make sure that your using a custom IPSW of the same created by Sn0wbreeze / Pwnage Tool.

  • Khan

    Iv saves my shsh file i still cant restore to 4.3.3 and edited hosts file but keep geting some times 3194 o 1600 o 21 so annoying errors am using windows7 do uh fink i should use windows xp???

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Open up TU & set it to these settings http://bit.ly/qqFuve & quit it. Do not open it up again. Next, follow the restore procedures by putting your device in a pwned DFU mode ALWAYS. This is important. Read this http://bit.ly/pioV9v. Now, if it still shows a 3194 error, that means you do not have it saved on Cydia. Have you saved it locally?

  • Rafik

    Hi, i have a problem with my 3Gs, i want to downgrade it to 4.2.1 or 4.1 with custom firmware, when i use the saurik server, i have the error 3194 in itunes, and when i use tiny umbrella, i have a problem in the final of the restauration, the phone go to DFU mode, i try to fix recovery, but all the time he stay in dfu mode, have you some solutions ?

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      When Cydia itself showed a 3194, it means that you can forget about the downgrade forever since you do not have the sufficient SHSH blobs to perform that kind of restore at all to either 4.2.1/4.1. Using TU, all you did was to force restore your device w/o any valid SHSH blobs & hence the DFU loop. Read this http://bit.ly/oKCpYX to better understand.

  • Stanley

    Hello there Pramod,
    My iphone 3gs was finally restored to version 4.1 using modem firmware 06.15.00. The GPS functionality has not been affected, but the battery drainage is a problem. Otherwise the iphone is working well. What is the solution for the battery drainage issue?

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Using SAM (official activation) is the only way to resolve your battery issues on the iPad / any BB which is caused due to Hacktivation. Read http://bit.ly/mDpDwr.

  • Brandon

    Thanks a lot, I'm back in buisniess.

  • Mammali

    Kindly could look out for any which way how my problem can be solved..This was not the right remedy i was expexting from u. This either wont do i will have to suffer the loses of my phone by giving it to my brother..

    Would you think anyother way which can workout here..Im not clear enough but i can give you a suggestion. U jus let me know if this can workout.

    I mean if i happend to upgrade the version of ios 5. Do you think it can sort out my problems..

    So i happend to have over view and a glance while surfing on the net about the compatible and uncompatible Baseband..
    The list is stated below as under

    Compatible BB
    01.59.00 / 04.26.08 / 05.11.07 / 05.12.01 / 05.13.04 / 06.15.00

    In the list given above the version begining from 05.so on... does it belongs to ios 5? Its better i wud knw from you inspite of wild speculation...

    If i upgrade version 5? Can my phone unlocked by doing so? Dear, i persuade to you please by hook or crook render the needful help. Losing my phone by giving to bro would be my loss and i wouldnt get it back..

    I swear there must be someway its jus not clicking at the moment..

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      There isn't any other way. Too bad if this wasn't what you had expected, but we wouldn't be encouraging readers to save their BB if it wasn't a necessity. Also, the ones you see as 05.xx.xx are the iP3GS & the iP3G BBs. They aren't for the iP4 or the iOS 5 itself. Moreover, the iOS 5 itself isn't public just yet. They are still in its beta stages. Right now, the Gevey is the only way out & iOS 5 has blocked the Gevey as well.

  • Brandon

    I have an I phone 3G running 4.0.1 jail broke with Tmobile, it is on its last leg, so I bought a 3GS it came loaded with 4.3.3 and so I upgraded the baseband to 5.16.00 and then it bricked, is there anything I can do to unbrick it every time I get error 3194. How do I get it going again?
    Thank You very much.

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Did you save any SHSH prior to the restore? Using iFaith? Try restoring to iOS 4.1 because for some weird reason Apple is still signing that version.

  • Rwfisher

    Good Evening Pramod, I am trying to unlock an Iphone 3gs 4.3.2. I have an issue with the 3194 Error. I jailbroke the phone with jailbreakme.xxx. I changed the BB to 6.15 and went to open cydia and it didn't open, stuck at the loading screen. So I used IphoneExplorer to delete the Cydia root. Now I still can't re-install cydia and no matter what I am stuck with the 3194 Error. I have tiny umbrella, updated itunes, changed host file. I am using sn0wbreeze to create the custom IPSW for 4.3.2 to try to restore so I can re-jailbreak. Any suggestion? Or am I stuck with an Iphone on BB 6.15 that I cannot put ultrasn0w onto?

    • http://twitter.com/pram0dm Pramod

      Have you saved your SHSH for the version to which your trying to restore to via Cydia/TU? iOS 4.3.2 right? Probably you haven't & that's the reason why editing the hosts file failed. Use iFaith to save your current 4.3.2 SHSH, create a signed IPSW & restore to it in a pwned DFU mode. After that you can re-jailbreak your device. Read this http://bit.ly/qIa3E7.

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