Generally, upgrading your iPhone or other iOS devices to a new version of the operating system, or restoring it from backup, is a smooth process.

What Causes Error 3194?

Apple says that Error 3194 occurs when iTunes can’t connect to Apple’s software update servers that are used to activate the iOS when restoring or upgrading. Activation servers play a vital role, so not being able to contact them will mean your iPhone cannot restore or upgrade. This appears to happen most often when there’s something wrong with the iOS on the device—either the iOS has been modified by jailbreaking or the version of the iOS is expired, no longer supported, or otherwise out of date.

How to fix Error 3194?

Just follow a few steps and, after a few minutes, your device is back up and running. But in some cases, you may an encounter Error 3194 in iTunes or on your iOS devices. To upgrade or restore your iPhone or iPad follow the step-by-step instructions.

Fix Error 3194: Update iTunes

If you’re seeing Error 3194 in iTunes, your first step in trying to fix it is a simple one: update iTunes to the latest version. While this isn’t the most likely culprit and probably won’t solve the problem, it’s simple and quick and worth a try. It’s possible that something in an old version of iTunes is blocking the connection you need.

Fix Error 3194: Change Your Hosts Files

If updating iTunes didn’t work, try editing your host file. This is complicated, so if you’re not able to do by yourself, find apple device repair service near you.

Error 3194 happens when Apple servers can’t be contacted. The hosts file on your computer is related to how your computer accesses the Internet. It’s possible that a misconfiguration in the file could be causing the problem and editing the file could fix it. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Quit iTunes.

2. Open your hosts file.

3. On a Mac, launch the Terminal program, type sudo nano /private/etc/hosts and click Return.

4. On Windows, browse to system32\drivers\etc and double-click the hosts file. For more details on editing the hosts file on Windows, check out How to Edit the HOSTS File in Windows.

5. If you’re asked for the password you use when logging onto your computer, enter it.

6. Find the host file entry for gs.apple.com.

7. If you don’t see gs.apple.com, the hosts file is not the problem and you can skip to the next section.

8. Add # and then a space at the very beginning of the gs.apple.com line.

9. Save the file (Control + O on a Mac).

10. Close the file or the Terminal program.

11. Restart your computer.

12. Try updating or restoring your iOS device again.

Fix Error 3194: Check Network Connection & Security Software

Since Error 3194 is often a networking problem, you need to make sure that there’s not something on your network or in its configuration causing it. To do that, try the following:

• Confirm that your internet connection is working. If you aren’t online at all, of course you can’t reach Apple’s servers.
• Uninstall or disable security software like a firewall (make sure to get it back when you’re done!). Firewalls and similar tools can block connections to certain servers.
• Restart your computer and/or modem.
• If you’re using Wi-Fi, try connecting directly to your modem via Ethernet to confirm that Wi-Fi isn’t the problem.

Fix Error 3194: Try another Computer

If none of those things solves the issue, try restoring or updating your iOS device using a different computer than you tried earlier. This might work, but even if it doesn’t, it helps rule out the computer as the source of the problem. If you can do that, you’re that much closer to figuring out the cause of the error.

Fix Error 3194: Get Help from Apple

If you’ve tried everything and you’re still getting Error 3194, it’s time to bring in the experts. You need to get tech support from Apple.

Perhaps the easiest way to do this is by making an appointment at the Genius Bar at your nearest Apple Store. If you don’t have an Apple Store nearby, Visit iFixScreens.com