Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

yaxomoxay

macrumors 604
Original poster
Mar 3, 2010
7,462
34,319
Texas
hi guys!
When I try to reset my son's iPhone iTunes tells me that it can't due to an unknown error (49), and the phone is basically bricked as it is stuck on the "connect to iTunes" screen.
I tried everything I could think of, including downloading the actual firmware etc., disconnecting the cable during the verification process etc.
Can anyone help me, before I head to the Apple Store?
 
Try putting the phone in DFU mode.

Steps…
1. Connect phone to computer running iTunes and leave iTunes running.
2. Turn off phone. Leave it connected and iTunes running.
3. Put phone in DFU mode (this will start the phone).
4. When iTunes detects your phone in recovery mode, update and restore as new.
5. If your son had a backup, restore from the backup.

You will know if you are in DFU mode if the screen is black, nothing on it. If it shows the cable with the iTunes logo, that's not DFU mode, it's the standard recovery mode. You want DFU.

Hope that helps.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: yaxomoxay
Try putting the phone in DFU mode.

Steps…
1. Connect phone to computer running iTunes and leave iTunes running.
2. Turn off phone. Leave it connected and iTunes running.
3. Put phone in DFU mode (this will start the phone).
4. When iTunes detects your phone in recovery mode, update and restore as new.
5. If your son had a backup, restore from the backup.

You will know if you are in DFU mode if the screen is black, nothing on it. If it shows the cable with the iTunes logo, that's not DFU mode, it's the standard recovery mode. You want DFU.

Hope that helps.
unfortunately it didn't work, my phone is stuck in recovery mode. I was able to put the phone in DFU mode (screen was blank), but at the end of the installation it failed. I guess that I will need to bring the phone to the store, as I can't even find what Error -49 is.
 
unfortunately it didn't work, my phone is stuck in recovery mode. I was able to put the phone in DFU mode (screen was blank), but at the end of the installation it failed. I guess that I will need to bring the phone to the store, as I can't even find what Error -49 is.
Try a different cable, different port, different computer.
 
unfortunately it didn't work, my phone is stuck in recovery mode. I was able to put the phone in DFU mode (screen was blank), but at the end of the installation it failed. I guess that I will need to bring the phone to the store, as I can't even find what Error -49 is.

Hello,
I'm also having the Error -49. Did you finally solve this problem? If so, can you indicate what the solution was?
Is it a problem with the baseband IC?
Many thanks in advance,
Regards,
Lars
 
Hello,
I'm also having the Error -49. Did you finally solve this problem? If so, can you indicate what the solution was?
Is it a problem with the baseband IC?
Many thanks in advance,
Regards,
Lars

Unfortunately it means that you need a new iPhone :(
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.