How to Fix Error Code 1109 When Restoring or Updating iPhone

A frustrating error message may appear for some iPhone users when they’re using a computer to restore an iPhone or install an update. The error code in question here is “Error Code (1109)” which is cryptic and vague, and if you experience this error it typically comes with a failure to update or restore the iPhone, when using MacOS or Windows to update/restore the device in question.

It’s usually not a fun situation if you’re having to restore an iPhone, and experiencing an error message while trying to restore an iPhone makes matters worse. Let’s work through some solutions for resolving error code 1109 on your Mac or PC if you experience this while attempting to restore or update a device.

When you might encounter Error Code 1109

Typically the 1109 error will appear when you are attempting to perform an update or restore of an iPhone or iPad while using a computer, whether in Finder, iTunes, or Apple Devices.

The update or restore will stop partway through the process and display the error code.

The update or restore does not complete because of this.

Why Error 1109 Happens When Restoring / Updating iPhone

There are a few possible reasons you might see error 1109 when restoring or updating an iPhone, but the most common is a network connection problem or DNS issue.

The error 1109 problem most commonly occurs because of individual computer DNS configuration, routing issues, antivirus software, software firewalls, VPN, or even ISP-level DNS issues. Occasionally it may happen because of a faulty USB connection or interrupted data transfer if the cable is not securely.

How to Fix Error 1109 During Restore/Update of iPhone

There are several possible solutions to resolve the 1109 error during update and restore, depending on the cause. Try these out in descending order:

Temporarily disable VPN, antivirus, proxy, etc

Try turning off any VPN software, software firewall, proxy service, antivirus, or similar apps that may impact internet connectivity and communication with the computer and the outside world.

Change the computer DNS

Try setting DNS to a public DNS like Google (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) or OpenDNS (1.1.1.1). This often resolves the issue if it’s associated with the default ISP DNS settings.

Use a different computer or OS to restore or update the iPhone

Try using a different Windows PC running Windows 10 or newer. Or better yet, use a Mac with Finder, if one is available.

Try a different USB cable / USB port

Some users have reported that using a different USB cable, or a different USB port, has resolved the 1109 error issue for them. This is particularly true if the cable is damaged, or the USB port is underpowered.

Disconnect other USB devices and peripherals

Some users have noticed that if they disconnect any additional USB peripherals or devices using the USB ports that the error stops appearing.

Hard restart the iPhone, reboot the Mac/PC

Next up is the classic troubleshooting step of all electronics: restart the device.

For iPhone, press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the side/power button until the Apple logo appears on screen. You might be holding the power/lock button a while before you see the  Apple logo, this is normal.

For the Mac, go to  Apple menu and choose Restart.

For Windows PC, go to the Start/Windows menu and choose to restart the computer.

Once everything has restarted, try restoring again via Finder, iTunes, Apple Devices app.

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If you’ve tried everything above and the error still appears, there could be network issues that are beyond the scope of standard troubleshooting as detailed here, a faulty USB cable, a faulty USB port, or even some firmware problem or hardware problem on the computer itself. This error message is annoying, but it’s not the most rare thing on earth, as you will find many reports of it on Apple forums and elsewhere, indicating some regularity particularly due to DNS and internet connection issues.

You can visit an Apple Store or contact official Apple Support for further assistance if needed.

The above troubleshooting tricks will usually fix the problem, because for most users they report that DNS settings, VPN/antivirus software, or some network issue is the culprit. Use the steps outlined above, and hopefully you will not see the error 1109 again when using restore or update.

Have you experienced error 1109 when updating or restoring an iPhone? What fixed the problem for you? Share your experiences with us in the comments.