Question
“I woke up to find my iPhone constantly rebooting itself. But when I tried to put it in recovery mode and restore it, I got a message saying “iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (4010).” Can anyone help me fix this?”

When people meet with the iPhone issues like boot loop, black screen, or iPhone stuck on SOS mode, restoring iPhone via iTunes can be one of the effective solutions.

However, many people complain that their iPhone can not be restored due to an unknown error 4010. Thus, this article shares ways to work around this problem. Let's move on then.

iphone could not be restored error 4010

The Causes for Error 4010 iPhone

  1. Unauthorized modification of iOS: It will lead to security vulnerabilities, instabilities, and other issues that may cause the restoring failure.
  2. Failed jailbreak: If you practice strict restrictions on jailbreak, you may meet the "iPhone could not be restored" error.
  3. iTunes errors: This can be the main cause of the “iPhone could not be restored” error, it is usually caused by the outdated version of iTunes.
  4. Other reasons: Fake iPhone USB, malfunctioning Windows software drivers, wrong settings, etc.

Let's see how to fix Apple error 4010 with the methods below!

1. Update iTunes

Error 4010 likely occurs because iTunes is unable to communicate with Apple servers to download the necessary software. In this case, you may see a message “This device isn’t eligible for the requested build.” Generally, you need to download the latest version of iTunes or update your Mac to the latest macOS version, and then try restoring the device.

  • For iTunes on Windows:

Launch iTunes and click Help on the top-left pane, then choose Check for Updates.

  • For iTunes/Finder on Mac:

Go to App Store and check whether there are any updates for iTunes. If you are a Windows user and find no Check for Updates option after clicking Help, it means your iTunes is downloaded from the Microsoft Store, and the Store will automatically update it for you.

Make Sure Your Device, Apple and iTunes Can Communicate

Note
Sometimes the restoring error, especially the error 1671, occurs because iTunes or your Mac (if it is running macOS Catalina or above) is downloading the latest software and all you have to do is wait for the download process to be completed.

2. Check Your Security Software

The security (anti-virus) software installed on your system may prevent iTunes or your Mac from effectively communicating with Apple servers. As a result, you might encounter numerous errors when you try to restore the device via iTunes/Finder. In this case, you need to temporarily disable the security software and then try again.

check your security software

3. Check Your USB and Internet Connection

Sometimes the error 4010 on iPhone may be a result of a faulty USB/Internet connection. Check whether your device is stable and connected to the WiFi. Also, use the USB cable that came with the device. You can switch to a different USB port or a different computer.

check Your usb connections

4. Force Restart Your iPhone on PC

Force restarting iPhone is the general way to fix the iOS issues and it works in some cases. And you can watch this video to perform a force restart on different iPhone models.

(iPhone 12 Supported) How to Force Restart an iPhone

After the iPhone reboots, you can shut down your computer and then try restoring it.

You May Want to Know: How to restart iPhone on Computer?

5. Use A Third-Party Tool to Fix the iPhone Error 4010

If none of the above solutions work and the iPhone error 4010 still exists, the issue is very likely caused by software glitches. In this case, a third-party tool like iMyFone Fixppo can help you out. This iOS repair tool is designed to detect and fix any iOS/iPadOS/tvOS-related issues. Some of its outstanding features are as follows.

iMyFone Fixppo (iOS 17 Supported)

  • It can fix all iOS issues including iPhone error 4010, boot loop, iPhone stuck in recovery or DFU mode and other issues without data loss.
  • It is very simple to use and the whole repairing process only takes a few uncomplicated steps.
  • It's compatible with all devices and iOS versions including the newest iPhone 15 and iOS 17.

Limited Time 10% OFF Coupon Code for iMyFone Fixppo: YTR5E7

Now you can follow the steps below to try Fixppo to fix Apple error 4010.

Begin by downloading and installing the program to your computer and then follow these very simple steps to fix the device.

Step 1: Launch the program on your computer and then click “Standard Mode” to begin.

choose Standard Mode

You will be requested to connect the device to the computer and put your device into DFU mode or Recovery mode.

enter DFU mode under Standard mode

Step 2: You need to install the latest firmware on the device before it can be fixed. The program has already queued up the suitable firmware. Simply click “Download”

download the latest firmware

Step 3: Wait for the firmware to be downloaded. The program will immediately begin fixing the device after you click "Start to Fix". A few minutes later, your device will get back to normal.

fixing the device

If the Standard Mode did not fix the problem, you may need to try the Advanced Mode. The steps are similar. Please kindly note the Advanced Mode will erase all the data on your device.

6. Check Your Hardware

It is also very likely that the problem is hardware-related. There could be damaged components on both your device and computer causing the issue. Check the device, the computer, and even the cable you are using. You might also need to try a different computer if you are sure your device isn’t damaged.

check hardware on iphone

7. Restore iPhone via iTunes

Using iTunes or Finder to restore the iPhone with DFU mode is another choice to fix the iPhone could not be restored error 4010 issues. It can be your last method to try because it may take some unknown errors.

restore iphone via itunes

You May Want to Know: How to restore iPhone with/without iTunes?

8. Connect Apple Support Center

If you still can't fix the error 4010 issue on your iPhone after trying the methods above, you need to contact with Apple Support Center for help.

To Conclude

It can be annoying when faced with the “iPhone could not be restored, an unknown error occurred” error. In this post, we show you 8 practical ways to fix this problem, you can pick the one you like! If there is something wrong with your phone, you can try iMyFone Fixppo to fix it for a high success rate and no data loss.

Kindly leave your comment below if you have any problems.