Update 2: You may also need to try removing the
127.0.0.1 gs.apple.com entry from your /etc/hosts (Mac), or C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts (PC), file. Still can't find it? Read this page. Thanks to Tyler for this one.I attempted to install the iPhone OS 3.0.1 update for my iPhone today with great disappointment. For the past few hours my iPhone has been a useless brick. The update started normally until iTunes tried to verify my iPhone with Apple. It failed displaying a "3014" error and taking me to a generic "somethings gone wrong" page.
I took a hint that while it doesn't make total sense, it must have something to do with my network, as I have the latest version of iTunes (6.2.1) and it's what everyone keeps tlaking about. I fiddled with my ADSL modem, router, firewalls, everything, with no success.
The Solution
I almost resorted to using iRecovery, an application that goes into your iPhone and changes something so I could go back to using my phone with plain 3.0, but I don't like the idea of having non-Apple software stuff around with my iPhone. Luckily I discovered an easy painless solution: Use another network!
I couldn't really use another network at home, so I downloaded AnchorFree's Hotspot Shield that lets me use their VPN network free of charge, tunnelled through my own internet connection. It worked, I installed Hotspot Shield, started up iTunes and away it went, no problems at all.
What is Hotspot Shield?
Hotspot shield is a piece of software that tunnels your network traffic through Anchor Free's network and back out to the internet, encrypting all the data sent between your computer and their network. This type of technology is called a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, and is primarily used to ensure the data between you and a work network or public wifi connection is secure. In this case however we are taking advantage of the fact that being connected through a VPN is like being connected to a different ISP or network all together. For those of us who have ISPs that are incompatible with Apple's servers, it is the perfect solution.
Thanks alot for this solution, worked a charm :D
ReplyDeleteOh my god! Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteCurrently updating as i type this.
Well done--I am usually scared when I am not sure why things work or don't work but it worked and I thank you--when your ipod is your phone you have to have it working. Bad engineering on AAPL's part I paid good money for this phone.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't seem to be network specific - same thing here - for the second time!! Another update that has killed my phone and for some reason, made it unrestorable? Solution last time was to return to the seller and get new SIM?
ReplyDeleteI don't even understand what Hotspot Shield does but it worked, so thanks heaps.
ReplyDelete@simonk: I've added some details on Hotspot Shield above. I always recommend knowing what software does that is installed on your computer.
ReplyDeleteWow! Whatever this thing does it works! My phone is getting restored, at last.
ReplyDeleteI will think twice next time I decide to upgrade iPhone software as soon as it comes us. This is BS.
Thanks from Italy! It worked also on my iPhone 3GS... I think that the problem was actually the connection, since I also couldn't open the apple.com website... then with the shield I could!
ReplyDeleteOk, thanks again, now my iPhone is back again!
Wow. Crazy I was a little sceptical, but it's working, my iphone is restoring right now. Thanks a heap mate.
ReplyDeleteYou're a genius! I googled "iphone 3.0.1 update error 3014", your post came up first. I was updating ~50 seconds later. Bless you.
ReplyDeleteThanks! That worked for me as well. I had a brick until this.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Finally I'm using 3.0.1 :-)
ReplyDeletethank u soooooo much, i thought i had brinked my phone or something but i havent jail broken my phone so i had no idea what was goin on, it work perfectly thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot from France!!
ReplyDeleteGot back my iphone as the way it was before this crazy update...
Thanks a lot from France (bis): was a network problem, so, good to know.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU... This worked and was all done within 15 mins, thanks to apple i wasted a morning stressing out about not having a phone,
ReplyDeleteWoohoo!!! Thankyou so much!!!
ReplyDeleteSeems like an unlikely solution but after trying all of apple's generic fixit steps to no avail I thought I may as well give it a go.
I hope everyone who is having problems finds this page...
Hey mate,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to extend my gratitude for your efforts!!
You just saved me so much dam hassle with hot spot shield!
You're a legend!!!
Great!!
ReplyDeleteFirst I searched in German but I did not find any good tip, after searching in English I found this site and it helped! Now I can use my iphone again! Many thanks from Switzerland, Chris
you a smart fellow .thanks
ReplyDeleteMate, you're a legend.
ReplyDeleteWorked a treat.
Silly Apple.
Thanks McCulloch,
ReplyDeleteBeen looking for 16hrs trying to find a solution - You're a genious finding or knowing about this application.
It allowed me to fix my iPhone 3GS
I have a few friends who have the iPhone 3G and I will kindly pass on your website.
Mate - Great job
Thank you very much from Spain.
ReplyDeleteYou're the number one!!!
Carlos
Oh man, THANK YOU SO MUCH. What a ridiculous work-around. I don't get it but I like it.
ReplyDeletethanks for the help..but the phone going out first thing monday morning is kinda bad...i also will ythink twice before installing updates
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable...
ReplyDeleteWas skeptical, connected up to my company VPN and away she went :-)
So my home connection to iiNet didn't work but the VPN to work then through Amnet did ...
Thanks for the solution, it works great!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first update for my new IPhone 3GS, hopefully the future ones will be easier to manage...
I join everyone else in thanking you for this solution.. Only a genius could work out the connect between the error and the solution.. I bow down to you...
ReplyDeleteWorked perfectly! Thank you for unbricking my iPhone while traveling and no access to an Apple Store or phone support!
ReplyDeleteGreat fix - I can vouch for this on my iMac - worked like a charm.
ReplyDeleteShame on you Apple, for releasing updates that still have major issues!
Fantastic! I was trying to restore my iPhone when it gave me that horrid "3014" error. Found your post from Google, downloaded the Shield and my iPhone is restoring as I type this. Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I was getting very frustrated with my brand new iphone which I couldn't use and was displaying error code 3014 until I downloaded Hotspot Shield. I don't really know what it does but my iphone is working now. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteOmg, THankyou very much this worked like a charm, really helped me get pass that stupid 3014 error. once again thanks alot.
ReplyDeleteThank you...great work!
ReplyDeletewow... an absolute life saver... tried it in Slovakia and worked too... I would be lost without your article... great job... thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot.......do not know what this hotshield does but it got my iphone restoring again.
ReplyDeleteWas skeptical just like the many others above because I tried a zillion ways and seriously, how could it have been as simple as just changing networks??
ReplyDeleteBut it worked perfectly - thanks so much for this article!!
thank you so much, it works!!
ReplyDeleteBless you! it really helps!!! thank you thank you thank you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much this worked perfectly
ReplyDeleteMate... you're good... installing now.. pretty sure it'll be okay. You just save me from staying awake all night :)
ReplyDeleteThanks soooo much!!!! :D. Life saver!
ReplyDeleteThanks my saver!!!Now I can go back to my grapes!!Happy wine harvest to all of you!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG, my iPod Touch 2g can't be updated to OS 3.1 & i got "error 3014", good thing i found your blog, download Hotspot Shield, basically follow your instructions & it worked, thanx a lot :)
ReplyDeleteI am gonna try this when i am home. But i saw some of the solution that we could switch off the firewall... is that right?
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to resolve the issue by turning off your firewall, but not everyone will be able to resolve the issue that way unfortunately, because the incompatibility with Apple servers may not be in your own network configuration but in your ISP's network configuration. When I turned off my firewall on my home network it did not resolve the issue, however it has resolved the issue for some.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot mate, i will try then, really! Thx so much =] Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, saved a trip to an apple store to update the software on the Iphone..
ReplyDeleteIt's all magic to me, it just works, it's always risky downloading free software but there are no alerts about HotSpotShield on the web.
All Good:))
many many thanks from sydney :)
ReplyDeleteIt worked!!! goodness. cant believe it.. Many thanks. From as far as Singapore..
ReplyDeleteWorked easily. Great work.
ReplyDeleteYou're genius !! Thanks :D I'm thinking about giving up till I found you ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, worked a treat.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME. THANK S A LOT MAN, i was about to jump out of the window, with my new ipod touch because of failed jailbreak..
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
No Mames!!!! Si Funciono despues de 1 hora en el telefono con los pendejos de Apple y nada!
ReplyDeleteMil Gracias!!!!!
Didnt work.
ReplyDeleteI tried to restore my iPod Touch 64Gb 3G a couple of times with error (3014). I deleted the "Cookies.plist" file in this path of my WinXP: "C:\Documents and Settings\[Your_logon_or)user_name]\Application Data\Apple Computer\Cookies". Then I was able to restore it back to the way it was. Once everything completed "Cookies.plist" file was replaced with the new one. Something you could try quickly and easily within 5-6 minutes of restoring process. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat Job - thanks so much. Works here in Thailand too!!! Cheers mate.
ReplyDeleteJust had this Error 3014 today. Could not restore at home, so I did it here at work. Different network worked.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this solution... you;re genius!!!
ReplyDeleteGreetings and Gratitude from Dumaguete City, Philippines....
@jyoti: Sounds like you're having an issue installing the AnchorFree's software. You'll need to contact them, I'm sure their support will be able to help you out.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! That thing really solved the problem for me.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SOO MUCH!
ReplyDeleteOh u r like a god man!!! Thanks so much for sharing this!!!
ReplyDeleteThis also works with iPod -- Mine was experiencing this error and I said "What the heck, I'll give it a try.."
ReplyDeleteIt works -- just download program and it does the rest. After it's connected, try to update your iphone /ipod again. It's really that simple!
Thanks.. It worked for me :)
ReplyDeleteu saved me, thx dude
ReplyDeleteyou are a god.
ReplyDeleteThankyou so so so much :)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Thank you so much for this. iPod Touch failed to update and wouldn't restore either - end of world!!! Tried everything, a whole afternoon wasted - much doom and gloom and gnashing of teeth - blundered into your blog. Didn't really expect it to work, but it did.
ReplyDeleteITS NOT WORKING FOR ME!!!! im so scared right now. help!
ReplyDeleteWorked like a charm ... another success ... from Thailand!!!
ReplyDeletety it works great!!!!! i love youuuu
ReplyDeleteAn alternative fix to this issue is to simply use a different code at the end of your hosts file "74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com" worked for me! Unlike "74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com". I did try the Hotspot Shield approach first but that didn't work for me. To be fair, editing the hosts file is much easier than having to play around with your network settings anyway.
ReplyDeleteaquilono@hotmail.com
It's finally working...Big thank you for yr help..
ReplyDeleteis there a problem with saurik's server? cos using 74.208.105.171 is saying that 'Apple server cannot be connected to right now" and 74.208.10.249 is giving me error 3014 :(
ReplyDeleteany help?
Thanks.
I wouldn't use that specific IP to access their servers, it won't necessarily guarantee to fix your issue as the issue could be in between you and the server, and the servers that Apple use for activation change depending on your location and ISP (smart routing to closer servers). Stick with using a VPN like HotSpot Shield, or you could try a paid VPN like Strong VPN. I use the latter now.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I don't think either of those IPs are Apple, so they are probably un-trustworthy. Apple's gs.apple.com IP is 17.151.36.30.
I don't know what I'm doing wrong! I installed Hotspot Shield, and yet continue to receive "error 3014." Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed that there have been 79 comments, and it's worked for 100% of everyone.
Hey Ryan,
ReplyDeleteAfter installing the Hotspot Sheild, you need to connect to the Hotspot Sheild network. You should be able to do that by running the Hotspot Sheild, and if you're on a Mac there will be a little icon up in the top menu bar that looks like a red shield. Click it, and select Connect. Once you're connected (shield will turn green) then you can try again.
I'm not sure what Hotspot Shield looks like on a Windows PC, but it shouldn't be too different.
Cheers,
Leigh
Brilliant solution! worked for ios4
ReplyDeleteworked like a charm. and btw. any VPN woorks. thank you
ReplyDeleteiPhone 4 update to 4.0.1 also gave me the 3014 error. Hotspot Shield worked incredibly well. Thank you
ReplyDeleteDoes this work with downgrading as well? It keeps giving me a 3194/3014 error code when I try to downgrade it to 3.1.2 or 3.1.3 :/
ReplyDeleteHi Ailoan,
ReplyDeleteThis should work with downgrading as well, although I haven't tried it. Please let us all know if it works or not!
Leigh
MASSIVE FAILURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS METHOD DID NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWorking like a charm using the Hotspot Shield
ReplyDeleteDidn't help for me to delete the cache file.
Just tried updating to 4.0.1 while pointing at Saurik's Server since we can no longer go to 4.0.1 legitimately. I was getting the 3014 error. Used Hotspot Shield and it worked like a charm. I did NOT try a different network though.
ReplyDeleteNOT WORKING DON'T READ ALL THAT CR*P COMMENTS,I HAVE GREEN LIGHT ON CONNECTED AND ALL AND STILL ERROR 3014
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a solution for the problem that my iTouch had for a couple of days now. I've tried everything under the sun. The problem was that my iTouch won't complete the restore process. It kept getting stuck in one of the steps and it's different steps that it's getting stuck on each time. Then one of the forums suggested this. And it finally completed the restore process. It's brilliant. Thanks alot!
ReplyDeleteWow. Not bad, not bad at all. All I want to do is downgrade from 4.0.2 to 4.0 and with massive success too! thank you man, helped me out allot. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIs it working for downgrade form 4.0.2 to 4.0.1 without SHSH?
ReplyDeletethanks pal... this solution worked !! :)
ReplyDeleteWeird. Not working at all for me. Can you tell me what type of restore you all are doing and from where did you download the 4.0.1 firmware?
ReplyDeleteabsolutely working thx to u
ReplyDeletenot working, how do you guys make its work?
ReplyDeleteIm still having many issues, I think its due to the connection not going out, I did once edit a file on my pc that related to connections to apple but cannot for the life of me remember what it was
ReplyDeleteIm still having many issues, I think its due to the connection not going out, I did once edit a file on my pc that related to connections to apple but cannot for the life of me remember what it was
ReplyDeleteAnyone know how to get past error 3194?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't work for me at all, and I can't even understand how it could make any difference?
ReplyDeleteI've tried shift-restore with no Hotspot, with Hotspot, then with and without Hotspot for both these Saurik servers:
74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com
74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com
I have 2 bricked iPhones (iPhone 3G version 3.1.3 and iPhone 3GS v 4.01) and these methods just alternate the failure between error 3014 and 3194
It worked like a charm!!! After hours of struggling finally found the solution. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteIt Works perfectly even on IOS 4.1
ReplyDeleteThanks
U R a STAR ******!!!!! nearly 4 1/2 hours strugle finally came to an end. Thanks to this post I manage to solve my problems after second attempt.
ReplyDeleteall i haave to do is instale hotspot shield
ReplyDeletethen restore my iphone normally
Ok i have a problem.. If anyone could answer me it would be rlly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSo i have an ipod touch 3g version 4.0.1 And i tried to hack it with Limera1n.
Then it didnt work. so i tried to restore it But i keep getting error n # 3014. I treid using ur program but it still didnt work...
If you could help me in anyway! PLZ HELP ME! HERES MY EMAIL ADRESS
ur_busted_creep@hotmail.com
OMG NEVERMIND I TRIED AGAIN! IT WORKED!!!!! THANK U SO MUCCHHHH I LVOE YOU!!!!!!!!!! IF U WERE A GIRL ID KISS U!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Its working! Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteHey Fadel try this
http://adf.ly/77RG
holy gebus i was so scared to try this but its working wow ur the best thanks a bunch :) im a very happy person
ReplyDeleteIt's not working for me :( I have an iPhone 3G and I can't transfer images from my phone to my macbook, it says "No Camera was detected". I tried emailing photos to myself, didn't work. Tried restoring & updating, got the 3014 error. Got hotspot shield and still got the error :( what am I doing wrong? please help!
ReplyDeletei still get the same error 3014 with windows7 on my ipod touch on 4.0 and 3g 3.1.3 both jailbroken just wanna update to 4.1 so i can rejailbreak lol HELP
ReplyDeleteahhh I did the notepad thing where u open the hosts file and BAM it worked ive been trying to fix this for MONTHS!!! heres the link
ReplyDeletehttp://modmyi.com/forums/general-iphone-chat/720564-those-error-1638-update-server-could-not-contacted-error-try.html
Thanks Tyler, I've added the info to the top in an update!
ReplyDeleteThaaaank you from the bottom of my heart! This is the only thing that worked for me, and I tried EVERYTHING else. My iPod touch is back and running. Download Hotspot! It will work!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, this was the solution to update my iPhone 4G from 4.0.1 to 4.2.1 !
ReplyDeleteThanks Leigh and Donna. I was struggling for an hour to fix my 2nd Gen iPod touch...found your post and boom :). Love from India :)
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it! Got the infamous 3014 on iTunes 10.1 with IOS 4.2.1. Installed AnchorFree's Hotspot Shield and voila! Everything is now working just fine after a simple restore.
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch!
Fuck Apple.
ReplyDeleteFuck Apple in their corporate asses. I have a PC that functions for one sole purpose: Syncing and updating my iPhone. I don't use it for anything else anymore. The last time I turned it on was to upgrade my OS from 3 to 4. Since then I haven't touched it. Now I heard about OS 4.2.1 so I turned it on again and connected. I want to emphasize, again, that no network alterations, or any alterations at all for that matter, were made to my computer during the period of time between upgrades.
Nevertheless, error 3014 popped up. A brief examination revealed that this error indicates a connection problem between my network and Apple's iTunes servers. Apple's troubleshooting solution was to open up ports 80 and 443 and to undo any alterations made to my network settings. As no alterations were made, I resorted to adding the two ports for iTunes, even though it worked fine before and without opening any ports manually. But to no avail. I almost gave up (meaning that I was about to erase everything, from my iPhone to my iTunes and even my whole computer, and then reinstalling it all) when I came across this advise. It works!!! Thank you!!! You saved me hours of frustrating Sisyphean Apple cursin' labor.
Worked for me as well. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeletethank u.. thank u.. thank u.. it work like a charm..
ReplyDeleteCan someone explain step by step how this works. I have already installed the sheild now i do not know what to do next. Please Help
ReplyDeleteA million thanks for this tip. I have been getting this error trying to restore my son's new iPod Touch 4G. Been searching all night last night for a fix but all I found doesn't work until this one. Glad I found this 'coz it really really works. Again, thank you very much.
ReplyDeletewell. it doesnt work for me either,. i already tried all the possible ways, upgrading itunes, change the hosts address, even deleted it. still no luck.. i even installing the hotspot shield, but that doesnt give me luck..
ReplyDeletewell. this is not my firs time upgrading iphone, i have my own 3gs black and i successfully restored my own iphone, but now i can't. its weird.. is the color of the iphone is affecting? considering i tried to upgrading the white iphone with ios 3.2.1
hallo, there,
ReplyDeletei've downloaded all the recommended apps mentioned above and i really have no idea how m i going to launch all these.
is there anyone willing to list down the procedures?
many thanks in advacne
Hey Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteJust run the Hotspot Shield installer and then run iTunes and to perform the download again :).
Cheers,
Leigh
Thanks for sharing the issue related to error most of the people blindly go a head with it, they don't check for any errors rather..
ReplyDeleteAll i can say is i god damn love you i had just finished recompiling/naming/organizing all my music and stuff in itunes and was about to start pulling my hair out when everything told me i had to remove and reinstall but hotspot shield works beautifully i cannot thank you enough
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! All I had to do was turn off Kaspersky and update my OS, and now I am good to go. Again, thanks!
ReplyDeleteJon
that took me 1 step ahead but then i got stuck stuck after it was done it said wait and it will restart then it says u cannot use this ipod without restoring it on itunes please restore
ReplyDeleteSeveral re-boots later and it's ok now.
ReplyDeleteThis works great, found it after a few hours searching the web, saved me endless amount of problems and would like to THANK YOU for this information
ReplyDeletewow its working for me,thx so much!!!!!!!!! ure amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBefore I switched over to the new 4S I had this problem. Unfortunately I just resorted to using iRecovery. It was painful, but it was quick and easy. It's good to see this workaround now though on what is still a popular model.
ReplyDeleteInformative post I was searching about it and got this post, good information about Hotspot shield software.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this posting. I spent more than 2 1/2 hours with technical support on this issue and they decided my iPhone was no longer working. I knew they were wrong but this solution worked so easily. Thanks again BIG TIME!!!!
ReplyDeleteyep this did it for me too with the newest version today!
ReplyDeletegreat content