iTunes Restore Error -1
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maheeinfy • September 29, 2012 at 7:00pm
My iPhone 4 is currently jailbroken and running iOS 4.3.3. I tried to restore it to the same firmware version using iTunes, but the process fails halfway with error code -1. Apple's documentation suggests this is a hardware issue, but the device was working fine before the restore attempt. Now the phone is stuck in recovery mode showing the iTunes logo and USB cable. How can I resolve this?
Answers
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iClarified • January 11, 2026 at 8:35pm
iTunes error -1 often occurs when there is a communication issue with the baseband chip during a restore or update. While it can indicate hardware failure, it is sometimes a software-related conflict caused by custom firmware or baseband preservation. To resolve this, you can try using a utility like TinyUmbrella or RedSn0w to exit recovery mode. If that fails, you may need to use iFaith to create a signed custom IPSW using your saved SHSH blobs. If the error persists after trying different computers and USB cables, it is likely a physical hardware failure of the cellular modem.
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maheeinfy • September 30, 2012 at 2:56pm
To fix this issue, you can use iFaith to dump your SHSH blobs and then use those blobs to create a custom 4.3.3 IPSW. Restore the device using this custom IPSW in iTunes. If you are then stuck on the activation screen because you lack a valid SIM card, you can use RedSn0w to hacktivate the device. This method often bypasses the baseband verification errors that trigger error -1 during a standard restore.