How To Fix iTunes Stuck On Preparing iPhone For Restore? Top 9 Useful Hacks!

No doubt the iPhone is one of the best smartphones in today’s era. Despite its multiple different impressive features the iOS users are getting troubled by a few, like iTunes Stuck on preparing iPhone for restore. If you are dealing with the same then look here, we have something that can help you out in learning how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore.

Lately, iPhone users have been found reporting that iTunes is getting stuck while preparing their device for a fresh restore and preventing them from doing so. For example, if you are about to restore your iOS device via iTunes, their iTunes screen is freezing on “Preparing iPhone For Restore” and making the bar not move anywhere. If this irritates you as well, then you can check out below mentioned solutions for how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore.

How to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore: Switch to WiFi, uninstall antivirus software, use different cable, restart your device, update iTunes, force start iPhone, use a system repair tool, restore your iPhone in recovery mode. These are some of the things that you can try to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore. Find the details below!

This article is all about learning different ways of how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore in detail. So, if you don’t want to be bothered anymore by iTunes stucking while preparing the iPhone for restore, then stay tuned! 

How To Fix iTunes Stuck On Preparing iPhone For Restore?

It’s not specified that only iPhone 12 or 13 users may face iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restoring but any iOS user can go through this. Even many might be facing it right now also, but the good part is that you have us to solve your problem of how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore. We will give you fixes that may help you fix this issue without having any data or other types of losses.

Here are the fixes for how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore:

Fix 01. Access Different Desktop To Restore

If you are done with the previous methods and nothing’s been working out and the iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore problem still persists then you can use a different desktop to restore your iPhone device. 

All you need to do is to open iTunes on different computer and link your iPhone with it and repeat the restoring process from the beginning once again.

Fix 02. Use Another USB Cable 

Many of you might not be aware of this, but accessing a device or a system with the wrong USB can simply result in a number of glitches just like iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore that you are facing currently. To cure this one issue, you can cross check once again just to make sure that the cable that you are using is authentic and correct.

A duplicate USB cable can mess up with your device and may result in delay of the process of restoring your iPhone entirely or even partially. So, one should only access an Apple-certified original lightning cable instead of anything else for such restoring purposes. Make sure you are not using a USB hub either; always link your iPhone to your desktop directly.

Fix 03. Uninstall The Antivirus Software

If you cannot restore your iPhone just because iTunes is stuck on preparing the iPhone for restore then you should try switching off your device’s Antivirus prior to performing the restoring process of your iPhone device.

A few times, as a source of keeping your device safe and secure, the antivirus interrupts the connection between iTunes and the Apple server to be an unsafe one. 

After this, your Antivirus Software might block iTunes making iTunes stuck on preparing the iPhone for restoration. So, you better uninstall the antivirus software right away and install it sometime later if you feel it’s needed.

Fix 04. Switch To WiFi Connection

How To Fix iTunes Stuck On Preparing iPhone For Restore?

Your iPhone device’s performance depends a lot on the stability and speed of your internet connection and can be the reason of iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore. In such cases of unstable data connections, iTunes does not get enough amount of internet to connect with the Apple server.

You will perform the same restoring process in much less time than usual just by switching to a stable and high speed internet connection, either it be a cellular one or a WiFi connection. Later on, you can redo the process once again for restoring the iPhone device and observe the results yourself, it’s gonna be faster than the first attempt after switching your internet connection.

Fix 05. Update iTunes 

It’s not necessary that the glitch is in the device or network. The error may also lie in the iTunes software. You can confirm once again to make sure that the iTunes version that you are accessing currently is the updated one. If don’t know how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore by updating iTunes then follow the given instructions: 

  1. Mac Operators

For those who have access to a Mac device, they can update their iTunes through the App Store.

  1. Windows Users

Users who operate Windows can just tap on the Help menu from the homepage of iTunes and select the Check For Updates notification.

  1. Users Who Can’t Find “Check For Update” Option

If you are someone who cannot find this option of “Check For Updates” on the iTunes, then you can download the application through Microsoft Store and it will update the iTunes by default for you to use.

Fix 06. Restart Your Desktop And iPhone

How To Fix iTunes Stuck On Preparing iPhone For Restore?

Restarting any of your desktop or iPhone device is the most simplest methods to give your device a fresh start. It makes sure that everything in your RAM is removed and most probably solves every minor and temporary glitches take place like your iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore.

In order to restart your iPhone in regular way, you can just long press the Power button of your iPhone and then move the slider to the right on your iPhone and it will automatically turn off. Although, if your iPhone is going through some other glitches then you must consider following the below given instructions to fix it by force restarting the device. Make sure you remember to restart your computer, either by selecting the Apple Menu on a Mac device or the Start Menu on Windows.

Fix 07. Restore iPhone Through iTunes/Finder In Recover Mode

This is another method for how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore by updating or restoring your device. It’s popularly known as iOS’s recovery mode. Prior to everything else, you are supposed to launch iTunes/Finder on your PC and make sure it is the latest one. Next, make sure your iPhone is linked to your computer directly through a USB.

Once have done all that you can follow the below given easy steps to restore your iPhone using the recovery mode: 

  1. iPhone 6s or later

Press the Home button along with the Side ones simultaneously until the recovery mode appears on your screen.

  1. iPhone 7 or 7 Plus

Long press the Side button and the Down Volume button until your iPhone launches its recovery mode.

  1. iPhone 8 or later iPhone 13

Instantly press the Up Volume button and let it go and repeat the process with the Down Volume key. Next, press the Side button and long press on it until it makes the recovery mode appear.

NOTE: Do not get off your hands from the buttons once the Apple logo appears on the screen. Keep pressing the keys until the recovery mode pops up.

After that, you will successfully be able to restore and update your iPhone. Among both the options you need to select Restore to end the entire process.

Fix 08. Access A System Repair Tool 

Still couldn’t find how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore? Maybe because your entire iOS system needs a repair. If you are still facing iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore then restoring your iPhone with a third party application can be the best alternate method. You can consider Umendit as the best all-in-one software for iOS repairing purposes.

Umendit offers a number of features, few of them are as follows:

  1. It supports every iOS version till now including iOS 16.
  2. Has user-friendly easy-to-use interface and can be accessed by anyone.
  3. Highest-success rate has been recorded on Umendit.
  4. It can go through and crack any sort of glitch on iTunes.
  5. It has a solid 60-day refund policy to keep their rights secure.

Let’s dive into how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore with the help of an iOS repairing software:

Download Umendit > Install > Open Umendit > Connect iPhone And Desktop > Download Firmware > Next > Start > Get Notification

Step 01: Start by downloading and installing the Umendit software on your desktop. Next you have to select the Standard Repair feature from the home screen.

Step 02: Connect your iPhone to your desktop and allow your computer to detect your iPhone. In case it didn’t detect your device then try following the given steps on your screen to locate your device in DFU/Recovery Mode.

Step 03: After that, download the needed microcode which Umendit provides. Then click on the Next button.

Step 04: Tap on the Start button to begin the repairing process and wait until you get a notification saying that your iPhone has been restored successfully.

This was how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore using Umendit – An iOS repair software.

Fix 09. Force Restart Your iPhone Device

How To Fix iTunes Stuck On Preparing iPhone For Restore?

Different iPhone sets have different ways to force Restart themselves, that you will get to know in below mentioned pointers: 

  1. For iPhone 6 and later models

If you operate iPhone 6 or later versions then you can force restart them by long pressing the Side and Home button altogether for a minimum of 10 seconds or until the Apple logo appears on your main screen.

  1. For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus

For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus users, pushing the Down Volume button along with the Side button for a couple of seconds and letting them go after the Apple logo appears on the iPhone screen is the way to force restart.

  1. For iPhone 8 and Latest models

If you own an iPhone ,8 or newer versions, then you can force restart it by pressing the Up Volume button after you press the Volume Down button followed by a long press on the Side button until your device turns off after the appearance of Apple logo.

Wrapping Up

Till now, you must have learnt different methods of how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore successfully. You can go for any of the above given hacks to prevent your iTunes from getting stuck in the middle of iPhone restoring. Every method mentioned above is already practiced and examined. Still, if you have less time and wish to make the entire use of it, then you can go for how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing the iPhone for restore by restoring your entire iOS system just by repairing it with a third-party application – Umendit.

MyGraphicsGalore hopes that till now we have mentioned every possible way of how to fix iTunes stuck on preparing iPhone for restore, if you still have any other fix apart from the above mentioned ones or any sort of suggestions or queries then you can let us know in the comment section, we’d love to hear from you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How Long Does It Takes For iTunes To Restore iPhone?

Usually, restoring an iPhone through iTunes backup takes Max to max 15-39 minutes and restoring an iPhone from iCloud takes 1-4 hours.

Q. What To Do If iPhone Is Not Restoring?

One can put their iOS device in recovery mode and then restore it with their computer. In such situations, you may need to use the recovery mode in order to restore your iPhone. Your desktop does not identify your device or it says it’s in the recovery mode.

Q. How Long Does It Take Preparing iPhone For Restore?

In regular situations, this process may take up to 15-30 minutes but few of the times this make cover up to one or more hours. The time frame may be based on a few factors like speed of internet that you are using, the connection with the Apple server and the device’s situation as well 

Q. Why Is It Stuck On Preparing iPhone For Restore?

The main cause of being stuck on preparing the iPhone for restore is that iTunes must always go through three phases before it gets restored, and they are downloading, extracting and verifying the microcode. And any minor error while ongoing of this process will make it get stuck. Moreover, factors like accessing different and duplicate USB cables, low speed internet, outdated Finder/iTunes and others can get your iTunes stuck while preparing the iPhone for restore.

Bhawani Singh

Bhawani is a Senior Content Writer at MyGraphicsGalore. He has 2+ years of experience writing about a wide range of technology topics. His role at MyGraphicsGalore primarily involves researching, developing and creating content for How to Social Media Articles and Gadgets FAQ's.

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