Quick Fix iTunes Restore Problem
The Firmware File is Not Compatible

Question: When updating or restoring iDevice with iTunes, an iTunes window pops up and says, the iPhone/iPad/iPod touch could not be updated because the firmware is not compatible. What does it mean? How can I fix it?

- A User from Yahoo Answers

Many users have been stuck on the same situation mentioned above. Are you one of them, and have you gotten a way to fix it? If you haven't, read this guide to learn how to fix the problem of firmware file is not compatible.

Firmware file is not compatible that means the IPSW you got is not the right one for your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, or your iTunes doesn't recognize your firmware file. Therefore, to fix this problem, you need to get a right firmware file or make your computer recognize this file. Here are some methods you can try is as followed:

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Solution 1: Restart Your Computer

Maybe your computer does not recognize the firmware file. So the first thing you need to do is restarting your computer. Then connect your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch to computer again, and then launch iTunes. Try to restore your iDevice again.

Solution 2: Disable Your Antivirus Software

Sometimes, the antivirus software you installed on your computer may cause some issues. So you can disable them when you have any trouble with updating or restoring your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch. This method may work.

For how to disable the security software or change the settings of antivirus software, you carefer to this iMobie guide: How to Solve the Problem between iTunes and Third-party Software >

Solution 3: Upgrade Your iTunes to the Latest Version

Make sure you have upgraded the iTunes to the latest version, if you haven't, follow this guide to make it.

Solution 4: Reinstall iTunes

In some cases, upgrading iTunes can't solve the problem of firmware file is not compatible. But sometimes uninstalling iTunes from your computer, the files and something caused this problem may be removed. So you can try to uninstall iTunes from your computer, and then install it again.

Solution 5: Download the Right Firmware File

If you still can't update or restore your iDevice after trying the 4 solutions mentioned above, you can visit ipsw Downloader to download the right firmware file.

Here we offer you the detailed steps to download right ipsw file as followed:

On Homepage, select the device you want to download for (here we take iPhone as an example) > Select the right ipsw file according to your device mode and iOS version > Download it.

After getting right firmware file for your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch, you need to update or restore your iDevice in iTunes with ipsw files. Follow us to make it with followed steps:

1. Connect your iDevice to computer with USB cable.

2. Run iTunes and then click Device button on iTunes.

3. Hold down Option key (Shift key on PC) and then click on "Update" or "Restore".

4. Select the IPSW file you downloaded and click "Choose".

5. Let the iDevice update or restore as normal.

Have you found that it is very troublesome to restore iDevice in iTunes with IPSW files? If you are also fed up with the boring iTunes, next we will offer you another solution to fix the iTunes backup & restore problem of the firmware file is not compatible – with an alternative to iTunes.

Solution 6: Get an iTunes Alternative to Back Up or Restore Your iDevices

People want to give up iTunes and find an alternative due to many reasons, like, often fail to upgrade/restore because of some unexpected errors, lost important data or files after upgrade or restore, have no choice to backup all the things on device, etc. Therefore, here we recommend you an alternative to iTunes – AnyTrans, which is fitted with many powerful functions in comparison to iTunes, like:

1. Supports transferring and backing up 20+ types of iOS contents, including photos, videos, music, contacts, notes, bookmarks, etc. Whatever you want to back up, you can make it with AnyTrans.

2. Supports transferring iOS contents among computer, iTunes library and other iDevices. This means wherever you want to transfer data to, AnyTrans can help you make it.

3. Aslo supports extracting anything you like from iTunes or iCloud backup, this makes it possible to selectively get anything you like from iTunes or iCloud backup. Absolutely, you also can get them to iDevice again after extracting from backups.

4. Added with the features of Phone Clone and Phone Merge. They help you upgrade to new iPhone or iPad smoothly, because you can transfer data between two iDevices directly without using iTunes or iCloud.

iMobie AnyTrans Overview:

When creating an iTunes backup, you may also meet many kinds of problems as well as restoring your iDevice with iTunes backup. For instance, iTunes can't recognize your iPhone iPad , iTunes backup can't be saved on computer, having not enough space on computer , etc. If you have any problem mentioned above, please check this iMobie guide to fix it with ease. By the way, if you have other solutions to the problem of firmware files is not compatible, be free to share with others and us by leaving a comment in comment section.