iPhone Contacting the iPhone software update server... (5.1 related)

Had the same issue earlier. MBP running 10.7.3 trying to update my 4s to 5.1.

The issue lasted for about an hour of trying for me. It seems like it is lasting longer for you, but hopefully not too much longer.

It seems as it's just an overloaded server. I turned off my firewall, updated iTunes and rebooted my computer several times, but to no avail. It just took time and patience.

Good luck, hopefully you can update soon!

Have you tried doing it directly from the iPhone. Worked great for me here in Toronto, Canada.

I'm having the same issue and in the UK. Three iPads, two iPhone 4, 3 ATV's and one iPod. All doing the same.

I'm downloading the full files from the front page as I can't be arsed waiting any longer

It was on 9to5Mac front page

http://9to5mac.com/2012/03/07/ios-5-1-firmware-is-out-here-are-your-download-links/#more-144253.

Looks like the Apple servers have blocked chunks of ip's. I have a developers account and can't even download from there. wtf

Hi!

I had the same issue and I just solved it. Well - not exactly solved, but still found the reason. The problem is really somehow connected to your IP address. My iPhone 3GS also could not get update, so what I did - I disabled Wifi and checked for updates again. Then finally update appeared, still - as you know - you have to be on Wifi network to install updates. I turned on Wifi back - and again update is not accessible.
As I am iOS developer, I also tried to download the update from developer.apple.com - still also there download is even not starting, therefore I assume, that problem is somehow connected with ours internet service providers and web address routing tables.
I hope Apple will solve it, still if you need a sooner update, then simply find some other ISP with other IP address.

It's definitely a DNS issue.

This is what I did to work around it....

My DNS setting is 192.168.1.1 which is my DSL modem. I changed it to Google's DNS server at 8.8.8.8.

When I did this, the message "Contacting the iPad...." immediately went away and it started to download.

Hope this helps!!!

It is a DNS issue
changing your DNS server or adding the following to your host file will resolve the issue

64.212.44.80 appldnld.apple.com

DNS workaround worked

jakesteramma said:

It's definitely a DNS issue.
This is what I did to work around it....
...
Hope this helps!!!

Click to expand...

Thanks, Jakesteramma I had gotten very frustrated but your suggestion allowed me to download and install iOS 5.1!

Finally this worked.
Added 64.212.44.80 appldnld.apple.com to host file and updated per iTunes on my iMac.

jakesteramma said:

It's definitely a DNS issue.

This is what I did to work around it....

My DNS setting is 192.168.1.1 which is my DSL modem. I changed it to Google's DNS server at 8.8.8.8.

When I did this, the message "Contacting the iPad...." immediately went away and it started to download.

Hope this helps!!!

Click to expand...

This also worked for an OTA update on my iPad2. Changed the DNS to 8.8.8.8

hi guys I have tried all of the above but still no joy, the crazy thing is that when I went to Starbucks today around the corner from home I could download the update on the free wifi not enough data for all of it though
I am in Auckland New Zealand

MesMaker said:

This also worked for an OTA update on my iPad2. Changed the DNS to 8.8.8.8

Click to expand...

Same here on my iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. This seems to be the fix.

So bizarre, my network will not get any iOS updates (everything else is fine, iTunes App store etc) from any source including direct download links. Jump onto the next door neighbours wifi and its fine.

pedders said:

hi guys I have tried all of the above but still no joy, the crazy thing is that when I went to Starbucks today around the corner from home I could download the update on the free wifi not enough data for all of it though
I am in Auckland New Zealand

Click to expand...

I expect the servers are getting hammered..
I'm near Levin.. no joy here either.
Try again tomorrow.

I have the same problem on my Mac so will update my hosts file.

If any of you have Windows installed under Bootcamp - try it that way (using direct download links to the IPSW files). Works perfectly

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)

Same here my iPhone knows there is update, but my iPad 2 can not connect to the update server. I also get a error message say it has failed

Can anyone document a step by step process of how to do this? Please

I've been trying to update since yesterday OTA and on my Mac Mini..... both are just getting errors with no luck...... any ideas??


I'm in the Quad Cities, IL, USA

rjwhite said:

Can anyone document a step by step process of how to do this? Please

Click to expand...

Please! I've tried to follow the directions, but no joy. I can't get past the "contacting the iPhone/iPad software update server" and I've been trying for 2 days.

Thanks!

foxtail1 said:

Please! I've tried to follow the directions, but no joy. I can't get past the "contacting the iPhone/iPad software update server" and I've been trying for 2 days.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Nevermind! I hadn't closed my Preferences window, so the changes had not been applied. Applied them (DNS to 8.8.8.8), and am downloading with no problem.

Ok for the benefit of anyone googling for it this is the step by step process i've just used for OS X Lion

1. Open system preferences,
2. Click on Network
3. Highlight WIFI (should be at the top of the list) and click ADVANCED on the bottom right)
4. Go to the DNS tab and make a note of your current DNS Server in case you want to change it back
5. Click the + button and type 8.8.8.8
6. Click OK
7. Click Apply
8. Try and download the software again.