How to Fix iTunes Error 4010 (iPhone Could Not Be Restored)
What error 4010 means
Error 4010 is an iTunes or Finder error that appears during an iPhone restore or iOS update. The restore starts, the progress bar moves, and then iTunes stops with the message: the iPhone could not be restored — an unknown error occurred (4010). Your iPhone is usually left in recovery mode, showing the computer-and-cable screen.
The code signals a communication failure: data stopped flowing between the iPhone and the computer in the middle of the restore. In the large majority of reports, the cause sits on the computer side — a worn or uncertified USB cable, a flaky USB port or a USB hub in the chain, other USB devices conflicting with the iPhone, outdated iTunes or macOS, or security software interfering with the connection.
What makes 4010 different from its sibling restore errors is how closely it is tied to the computer-side setup rather than the iPhone itself. That is good news: the fixes below are all things you control — cable, port, software updates, security software — and most people resolve 4010 without ever touching the iPhone’s hardware. Only if the error survives a clean DFU restore on a second computer should you start thinking about a hardware fault.
Common causes
- Faulty or non-certified USB cable: the number-one cause — worn or cheap cables drop data mid-restore.
- Bad USB port, hub, or conflicting USB devices: underpowered ports, hubs, and other plugged-in devices interrupt the connection.
- Outdated iTunes, Finder, or computer OS: old software versions mishandling the restore protocol.
- Security software interference: antivirus or firewall blocking iTunes’ communication with the device.
- iPhone hardware fault: rare for 4010 — suspected only after a DFU restore fails on a second computer.
How to fix error 4010 — step by step
Start with the cable and port — they cause the large majority of 4010 failures. Work down the list in order.
- Change the cable and USB port. Use a genuine Apple or MFi-certified Lightning or USB-C cable — damaged or cheap cables drop data mid-restore and are the most common trigger for error 4010. Plug the cable directly into the computer with no USB hubs, keyboard ports, or extension dongles in the chain, and disconnect any other USB devices that could conflict. Try a different USB port too, preferably a rear port on a desktop PC, then retry the restore.
- Update iTunes, Finder, and the computer OS. On Windows with the Microsoft Store apps, open the Microsoft Store > Library and install updates for the Apple Music and Apple Devices apps (in classic iTunes, go to Help > Check for Updates). On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, restore from Finder and open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. Restart the computer afterward, then retry the restore.
- Force-restart the iPhone and retry. On iPhone 8 and later: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears. (On iPhone 7: hold Volume Down + Sleep/Wake together. On iPhone 6s and earlier: hold Home + Sleep/Wake.) Restart the computer as well if the restore happens on a PC, then put the iPhone back into recovery mode and retry the restore.
- Temporarily disable security software. Antivirus programs and firewalls can block the communication between iTunes or Finder and your iPhone, which is a documented trigger for error 4010. On Windows, go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings, and temporarily turn off real-time protection and the firewall. Retry the restore immediately, then re-enable everything as soon as the attempt finishes.
- Try a different computer. Restore the iPhone on a different computer with a fresh iTunes or Finder install. If the restore completes there, the original computer’s USB subsystem, security software, or iTunes installation was the problem — not your iPhone. If error 4010 follows you to a second computer with a good cable, suspect the iPhone itself.
- Do a DFU-mode restore, then seek repair. Connect the iPhone to the computer. Press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then hold the Side button for 10 seconds. While still holding Side, press and hold Volume Down for 5 seconds, then release the Side button but keep holding Volume Down for about 10 more seconds. The screen stays black — that’s DFU mode. iTunes or Finder will detect a device in recovery and offer a restore. If error 4010 still appears after a clean DFU restore on a second computer, the iPhone likely has a hardware fault and needs professional repair. Note: DFU wipes the iPhone, so restore your data from an iCloud or computer backup afterward.
Did this fix it? Quick checklist
- Using a certified cable plugged directly into the computer, no hubs or extra USB devices
- iTunes or Finder and the computer’s OS fully updated
- The iPhone force-restarts cleanly and re-enters recovery mode
- The restore completes without 4010 (or the DFU restore succeeds)
If 4010 survives new cables, new ports, a second computer, and a DFU restore, stop retrying — the pattern points to a hardware fault. Book a diagnostic at an Apple Store or an authorized repair provider and mention error 4010; it’s a recognized restore code that helps them zero in on the fault.
Frequently asked questions
What does iTunes error 4010 mean?
It means iTunes or Finder could not complete the restore of your iPhone: the full message reads “The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (4010).” The restore process aborted, usually because the USB connection dropped, the software on the computer was outdated, or security software blocked communication with the device.
Is error 4010 a hardware problem?
Usually not at first. The documented causes are connection, software, and security-software issues, and the cable and port steps fix most reported cases. Only suspect hardware if a clean DFU restore still fails on a second computer with a certified cable — that pattern means the iPhone itself is the problem, and it needs professional diagnosis.
What’s the difference between error 4010 and error 4013?
Both are restore communication errors and share almost all the same fixes: certified cable, different port, updated software, disabled security software, DFU restore. In practice, 4010 is more tightly tied to the computer side of the connection — USB conflicts, iTunes glitches, antivirus interference — while 4013 is more often a mid-restore data-flow failure. Try the steps here in order either way.
Why does error 4010 keep coming back on every retry?
Because the underlying blocker hasn’t changed: repeated retries fail for the same reason, most often the same worn cable, the same USB port, or the same outdated iTunes installation. Change the variable — swap the cable and port, update everything, and try a different computer — instead of retrying the identical setup.
Will a DFU restore erase my iPhone?
Yes — DFU mode wipes the iPhone completely. Restore your data afterward from an iCloud backup or a backup on your computer. Make sure you know your Apple ID password before you start.