How to Fix iPhone Update Error 4000 in iTunes?

When encountering “Update Error 4000” on an iPhone, the update process via iTunes stops unexpectedly, often leaving the device stuck without completing the update. This error usually means that iTunes failed to update the iPhone because of a screen lock passcode, especially when updating through a Windows computer.

One of the main causes of Error 4000 is the device being locked during the update process, which interferes with iTunes’ ability to update the iPhone. Other potential causes include outdated iTunes software or problems with the USB connection.

Now that you understand the problem, we will move on to the solutions.

Before proceeding with troubleshooting, it’s important to keep your iPhone unlocked during the update process to prevent Error 4000. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness.
  2. Set Auto-Lock to Never.
  3. Make sure your iPhone remains unlocked during the update.
  4. Proceed with the update via iTunes.

Once the update is successful, you can reset Auto-Lock to your preferred time setting.

If the problem persists, you can try to download the iPhone update directly from the Software Update section on the mobile.

  1. Navigate to Settings and click on General.
  2. Click on the Software Updates option.
    Clicking on General and selecting “Software Updates”
  3. The iPhone will check if there is a new update available for your mobile. Click on the Download and Install Now button if an update is available.

In some cases, the error is triggered if iTunes is outdated. Therefore, it is recommended to update your iTunes application to the latest version.

  1. Open iTunes and click on the Help option in the top right corner.
  2. Select Check for Updates from the list.
    Clicking on the “Check for Updates” option
  3. iTunes will now automatically check and download updates.
  4. Try to update your phone and check to see if the issue persists.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Comments

50
    DB
    DEEETroit Basketballlll Sep 20, 2020

    Thanks

    GJ
    George Newman Jr Sep 20, 2020

    iTunes says my iPhone is available for iOS 14 but after several attempts to update it will not let me get it. iPhone 7+ running iOS 13.7 beta.

      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Sep 21, 2020

      If you still can’t install the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, try downloading the update again:1. Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage.
      2. Find the update in the list of apps.
      3. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.
      4. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and download the latest update.If you don’t see the update in the list of apps or if the issue happens again, you need to update your device with your computer using Finder or iTunes. Make sure to delete the update first. Keep me updated!

    FR
    Farah Rafee Sep 24, 2020

    iTunes says my iPhone is available for iOS 14 but after several attempts to update it will not let me get it. iPhone 8 running iOS 13.7 beta.

      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Sep 24, 2020

      If you still can’t install the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, try downloading the update again:1. Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage.
      2. Find the update in the list of apps.
      3. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.
      4. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and download the latest update.If you don’t see the update in the list of apps or if the issue happens again, you need to update your device with your computer using Finder or iTunes. Make sure to delete the update first. Keep me updated!

    SP
    Stephen Pollock Sep 24, 2020

    I am also having trouble with updating to 14. Is on my computer but won’t transfer to the iPhones(2) starts the update, unpacks the software gets to preparing the phone then get can’t update error 4000 on both phones. Updated 2 IPad’s ok.

      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Sep 25, 2020

      The error most likely indicates your iPhone is already updated with the version of iOS iTunes downloaded. Verify this on your iPhone and attempt the updated using your iPhone by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update.It is also possible your iOS device locked with a passcode during the beginning of the installation in iTunes and this caused the update to fail.If you still want to update your iOS using iTunes, ensure you are using the latest version of iTunes from Apple. Reboot your iOS device and attempt the update through iTunes again by plugging your iOS device into your computer.

        SP
        Stephen Pollock Sep 29, 2020

        Your answers above didn’t work. The problem was fixed by deleting ITunes from my computer then reinstalling. The ITunes that was reinstalled was 12. Something not the 13.?? Version that was on my computer.

        Reply
    JM
    jj miller Sep 25, 2020

    i have an iphone xr software update doesnt pop up in my phone and hwn i try d it through itunes it just simply says an unknown error with the error code 4000 what should i do i done all the steps and nothing will work

      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Sep 26, 2020

      The error most likely indicates your iPhone is already updated with the version of iOS iTunes downloaded. Verify this on your iPhone and attempt the updated using your iPhone by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update.It is also possible your iOS device locked with a passcode during the beginning of the installation in iTunes and this caused the update to fail.If you still want to update your iOS using iTunes, ensure you are using the latest version of iTunes from Apple. Reboot your iOS device and attempt the update through iTunes again by plugging your iOS device into your computer.

        SJ
        Steven Jones Oct 24, 2020

        I verified that my phone does have an update pending by going to Settings…. I’ve always used iTunes (as per Apple) to update the iOS and have never had a problem. Now all of a sudden when going from 14.0.1 to 14.1 I’m getting error code 4000. It happens just as iTunes shows it’s preparing the iPhone for update (after the software is extracted and the phone backed up).
        Mentioned is the phone being locked with a passcode. Like any iPhone it is but is entered at the beginning of the process when prompted to by iTunes.
        I’ve temporarily disabled Bitdefender, that didn’t make a difference.
        Also mentioned is downloading iTunes directly from Apple – no can do. This option is only available for Windows 7 and 8 not 10. So no choice but to go through the Microsoft store.
        At this point I don’t know what else I can do. Apple’s list of error codes doesn’t include 4000 so their website is useless.
        I have a call scheduled for 9 AM PDT today (October 24). I’ll try and report back my findings, that maybe they can help out someone else experiencing this problem.

          SJ
          Steven Jones Oct 24, 2020

          Update: If you turn off facial recognition and stop your phone from automatically locking, you’ll have no problem updating the iOS via iTunes. This is what Apple told me to do and it worked like a charm.
          Of course don’t forget to turn facial recognition and automatic locking back on.

        SE
        Sebastian Dec 21, 2020

        READ THIS:
        Drop using iTunes and just update directly from your iPhone.
        All the possible reasons for failure mentioned in this article will be avoided in this way.

    SG
    SG Sep 26, 2020

    Nothing in this article or the comments helped me but this is the second hit on google for a 4000 error when trying to update iOS/IPadOS, so I thought I would contribute the information that allowed me to update.I uninstalled the MS store version of iTunes based on advice I found elsewhere. I then installed from the direct download available from Apple. When I tried to update to 14.0.1 with that version of iTunes, after the failure, I was given the opportunity to see the logs. In the log, before the 4000 error, there was a 4037 error “Failed to commit stashbag”. Google led me to this post:https://forums.macrumors.co…Which advised installing from the ipsw file directly using shift+update in iTunes. Doing that allowed me to update my iPad to 14.0.1

    Reply
      ZW
      Zack Weidenhof Sep 28, 2020

      Thank you so much! I haven’t even thought to do this. I used the 13.5 jailbreak for a little while. I think that is what messed up my communication with apple servers, but now it seems to be updating completely now, so THANK YOU!

      SJ
      Steven Jones Oct 24, 2020

      How did you download iTunes directly from Apple? As far as I can tell that option is only available for Windows 7 and 8. I’m using 10 and the only option is to get it from the Microsoft Store.

        MZ
        Muhammad Zubyan Author Oct 24, 2020

        First of all, go to this link:-https://sudo.to/2c2Go down till you see “Looking for other versions?” there will be “Windows” written along with that option in the blue color click it. Now it will redirect you to the main downloading page for the Windows version just press the download button and it will start downloading after download install it and you will be good to go. Also just to make it clear, this version is not only for Windows 7,8 it’s for Windows 10 as well.

          SJ
          Steven Jones Oct 24, 2020

          Thanks to Apple I have a better solution that is much easier.
          First turn off auto lock.
          Second turn off facial recognition.
          Third go through the update process and done.
          Once complete make sure to go back and turn everything back on.

          MZ
          Muhammad Zubyan Author Oct 26, 2020

          The article has been updated. Thank you for your input.

          KA
          Kalo Sep 20, 2021

          iPhone 7 for 14.8: That worked for me but not just switch off locking the display, you need to disable pass code totally. At the same time I have 6s and no problem with it. There is no problem if you try this update with MAC.

          AM
          Amateur Oct 31, 2020

          Brilliant. Neither iTune nor the phone allows me to update to 14.1 but put autolock to “never” and “reset Face ID” allows the phone to start update

          JC
          Jemelito Moso Constantino Nov 5, 2020

          yes, i did it also..same solutions from yours 🙂

          DU
          Discus__user Dec 4, 2020

          Wow. Who’d’a thought Apple would cleverly limit their software updates to phones without passcodes on. Thank You!! I turned off the passcode (go through the whole security rigamarole, logging into AppleID, and remove 4-digit login code).Then I plug into PC to trigger update option in iTunes. Itunes downloads, backs up iPhone, then briefly flashes the black&white “connect to computer with cable” icon on phone screen, then the apple boot logo and update progress bar. I get a “updated” message from iTunes, second progress bar on phone.(I assume the first progress bar was dumping the files onto the phone, the second is installing the new files in the iOS…?)Now I go to TouchID & Passcode, re-enter my 4 digit passcode and login to AppleID, and keep fingerprint, and I’m all set.So simple (sort of) once you know. Thank you!!!

          GE
          gellrt Dec 14, 2020

          Thnx, This error happened with my iPhone 11 too, but the solution worked well, now my phone is being updated via iTunes! 🙂

          AN
          Andreas Aug 4, 2021

          OMG! Thank you SO MUCH! <3

      JE
      Jestzer Dec 27, 2020

      This is the only solution that worked that didn’t include entirely erasing my device first. Thanks!

    HS
    Harvinder Singh Sep 27, 2020

    For Me, My iPhone is running the iOS 13.7 update allowed by Administrator (Latest update locked by my Employer via Microsoft Intunes.)

      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Sep 27, 2020

      Ok, so first of all uninstall the Microsoft Store version of iTunes and install the one Provided by Apple on their official website here is the direct link:-https://secure-appldnld.app…Once it’s installed try to update from this version on iTunes. Keep me updated!

    MZ
    Muhammad Zubyan Author Oct 4, 2020

    You are stuck in recovery mode. Please refer to this official article by Apple:-https://support.apple.com/e…

    CR
    craiglaca1 Oct 8, 2020

    If your trying to update to version 14.01 here’s the solution. This was an old issue that has re-emerge again with this update. TURN OFF find my phone. I really wish Apple programmers get it together.

    Reply
      SC
      Steve Curtis Nov 10, 2020

      I tried this along with everything else mentioned above. It still didn’t work.

        MZ
        Muhammad Zubyan Author Nov 11, 2020

        Try removing your iPhone’s passcode and auto-lock features and make sure your iPhone is above 50%. Hope this helps keep me updated.

          KE
          kev Nov 12, 2020

          was getting the 4000 error, tried a bunch of things mentioned to no avail, then disabled the passcode and it finally went thru (ipad version 14.2)

    JM
    Jim Michaud Oct 25, 2020

    Tuning off the passcode works. But my big beef is that Apple should’ve been out front and tell everyone to momentarily turn off the passcode before installing iOS14. This wasn’t a requirement in past updates, so why this time? I shouldn’t have had to Google “ios14 update error 4000” to find out what went wrong. I suppose this is true for the iPad and iPod Touch as well.

    SS
    stethoscope stewards Nov 3, 2020

    Updating from iPhone itself seems to work fine. Will continue to do it this way instead of the updates triggered by iTunes. Thanks for the help.

    SA
    santosh Nov 6, 2020

    During software update or iPhone restore, sometimes we get error code like 4010, 4000.
    Every thig is ok but still we getting error again & again why?????Because
    If iPhone battery level not more than 50% we cannot update or restore the iPhone
    I did this experiment number of times with my 3 phones.If i maintain more than 50% battery, update or restore working in all 3 phones
    If i did not maintain more than 50% battery level, update or restore not working & an error code displays & it says that
    ” The iPhone could not update/restore. An unknown error occurred (4010) or (4000)”I communicated to apple team & i did everything what they said but no result. They also don’t know why this is happening.So that
    Everything is good, no faults in iPhone, USB cable, laptop/ desktop, all security settings ok, but still we are getting error code, this means you iPhone does not meet the above 50% battery level criteria.
    This also we can find while iPhone software updating directly from mobile software update option. (not from Laptop or desktop)
    After downloading software into your phone by using mobile data or Wi-Fi, if battery level is low (imagine 10% or 20%) at this time installation option will be disabled in your phone automatically. Due to low battery.
    After charging the phone to a certain battery level then only installation option will be enabled automatically.
    This is one type of safety for iPhone.When you trying to update or restore your iPhone through iTunes via PC, if you getting some type of errors it is also one type of battery issue.
    Regards
    Santosh

    Reply
      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Nov 8, 2020

      Thank you for your input the article has been updated.

    BR
    Brady Nov 15, 2020

    None of these suggestions have worked for me and I’ve been at this for 8 hours now. I’m just going to melt my phone and start over at this point. But this is what I’ve done to no avail: 1.) Updated Windows10 to the most recent version, 2.) Updated iTunes to the most recent version, 3.) Uninstalled/Re-installed the current version of iTunes directly from Apple, 4.) Powered down my iPhone8 and powered back on. Once I’ve reconnected my phone to my PC and initiated the software update (phone remains unlocked), it finishes extracting it, and starts preparing the iPhone for the update, at that point it pops up that 4000 error. I’ve looked for the last update under Settings>General>Storage and I cannot locate the last update to delete and try to re-install fresh. My last ditch effort would be to try a factory reset of the phone and restore from my last backup…either that or melt my phone. I seem to be a wunderkind when it comes to technology breaking in the most extraordinary ways around me…so any other ideas? Or do I just need to throw in the towel and buy yet another phone after only having used this one for 2 years??

      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Nov 16, 2020

      First remove the autolock feature of your iPhone and then turn off facial recognition. Also, can you confirm that you have charged your phone above 50% before updating your iPhone? Let me know how it goes.

        BR
        Brady Nov 18, 2020

        Yes I’ve done all this and the phone was at 100%.

          MZ
          Muhammad Zubyan Author Nov 18, 2020

          Which version of iTunes do you have? the Windows 10 store version or the Windows client version if you are using the Store version some people reported that switching to the Windows client version fixes this issue. But if you have tried that and it didn’t helped you please consider contacting Apple tech support.

    DU
    Discus__user Dec 5, 2020

    I tried updating from the latest 13 to 14 via iTunes and also on my phone (8-Plus) both consistently said an error occurred. Finally I found a site that said I could reset phone to factory default, install the latest version, then restore from backup. They were half right. The reset worked, my phone updated to 14, then my phone hung up restoring latest backup from iTunes.

    As a result I had to completely rebuild my iPhone from scratch. Fortunately, there’s a program to “explore” the iPhone backup, so I could retrieve photos and notes. Now I know to enable sync/uploading my address book to Outlook.com so I have a copy of contacts.

    (on PC, Windows 10 – iTunes from Apple, not the Windows store. Definitely the latest one. AFAIK Windows store is only for the wimpy el cheapo locked down version of Windows 10. Why anyone would use that, I don’t know…)

    So I have an iPhone slimmed down without all the junk apps I’ve accumulated over 10 years and 4 iPhones… but – Now it tells me I should update to 14.2 and once again my iPhone itself will not update over Wi-Fi and also I get the 4000 error on iTunes.

    WTF???

    FW
    Find Wifi Dec 10, 2020

    Thanks. Turn off the password do the trick for me.

    SS
    Shiva Krishna Sadhanala Dec 12, 2020

    Turn off the password its works

      HS
      Humaid Sarhan Mar 25, 2022

      It’s working. Thank you

      DF
      Daniel Fox Apr 27, 2022

      WORKED !!!! THANKS !!!

    SA
    Saitama Dec 22, 2020

    Hey it wouldnt be fair of me to not confirm that this does indeed work. I was on ios 13 jailbroken when the 14 update came out i couldnt update at all due to something i did jailbroken to block ota updates, so i ended up restoring my phone from the ios 14 update. cool that worked, now the 14.3 update is out and still am having problems with ota so i tired to do it in itunes and got the error 4000. Turning off passcode and faceunlock did the trick first time!

    AN
    ANSARI5X5 Dec 23, 2020

    All I did was turning off passcode and logout of Apple ID then it worked, but people here says it only needs to turn off the passcode. Although my auto-lock was set to never.

    I had iPhone 7 with an iOS 10.3.3 and Windows 10 20H2 Build 19042.685 with MS store version of iTunes V12.11.0.26, and was trying to update it to iOS 14.3. I was trying this process on 22/12/2020.

    Thanks to all the people here.

    AM
    Amy Jan 2, 2021

    I have an iPhone 7 and received the 4000 error. This is what worked for me:

    1) Update iTunes.
    2) Temporarily Disable Security Software.
    3) Make sure iPhone is at least 50% or more battery level.
    4) Make sure USB cord is the ORIGINAL 3ft. cable and connected directly to the back of your computer.
    5) Turn Off Passcode on your iPhone! *** Doing this last step worked finally! ***

    Reply
    DA
    Dario Jun 5, 2021

    Normally this error is caused by a bug in iTunes for Windows.
    To solve it, DISABLE IPHONE PASSCODE and DISABLE SCREEN AUTOLOCK.
    After the update, you can re-enable it. It’s all.

    Reply