That's why we recommend you to backup Mac data before update. If you didn't backup data and unfortunate lost data after MacOS Big Sur update, don't worry; try 4DDiG for Mac Data Recovery. This powerful Mac data recovery tool can easily recover photos, videos, documents, etc. On Mac and recover data from unbootable Mac. Otherwise, follow the steps below to download and install iOS 14 using IPSW: Step 1: Go to our iOS firmware download page to download the iOS 14 IPSW files for your iPhone. Step 2: Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to your computer and launch iTunes. On macOS Catalina, you will find your iPhone under Locations in a new Finder window. Update everything. First try to update your Mac. To update your Mac, open System Preferences, and then click Software Update. Your Mac will check for updates and if there is an update available, click Update. You may also check the 'Automatically keep my Mac up to date' box. Update your iOS device by going to Settings General Software.
If you're receiving 'the iPhone could not be restored because the firmware file is not compatible' error when updating your iDevices, how to fix it? In this guide, you can find a way to solve it.
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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
iTunes Backup & Restore Problem – Firmware File is Not Compatible
Many users have been stuck in the same situation mentioned above when trying to update or restore your iPhone. Are you one of them, and have you gotten a way to fix it? Read this guide to learn how to fix the problem of the firmware file is not compatible.
The firmware file is not compatible which 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 the right firmware file or make your computer recognize this file. We will show you some methods you can try below:
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 the 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.
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 the steps to make it:
- Open iTunes > Help > Check for iTunes Updates. (For Windows PC)
- Open System Preferences from the Apple menu > Click Software Update. (For Mac Users)
In many cases, once you update the software, the problem will be fixed.
Further Read: How to Update iTunes to the Latest Version >
Software Update For Iphone 8
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 by 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 the 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 model and iOS version > Download it.
Download Right Firmware File for Your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch
After getting the 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:
- Connect your iDevice to the computer with a USB cable.
- Run iTunes and then click the Device button on iTunes.
- Hold down the Option key (Shift key on PC) and then click on 'Update' or 'Restore'.
- Select the IPSW file you downloaded and click 'Choose'.
- Let the iDevice update or restore it 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 the problem of the firmware file is not compatible – with an alternative to iTunes.
Solution 6: Fix the firmware file is not compatible issue via a tool
Some users reported the firmware file not compatible couldn't be fixed through the above 5 tips. Technically speaking, these solutions are useful. But they could also fail to get out of the annoying issue.
Here we recommend a professional troubleshooter – AnyFix-iOS System Recovery which is committed to solving most of iTunes issues. Also, it supports a one-stop solution to help iOS users getting out of iOS system trouble. The following steps will clearly introduce how to solve the firmware file not compatible issue.
Step 1. Get the latest version of AnyFix and run it on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer > Choos the System Repairon the top.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Choose the iOS Repair to Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
Step 2. Click on the 50+ iPhone Problems > Tap on the Start Now to continue.
Step 3. Choose one repair mode to repair the iPhone. The Standard Repair won't risk any data loss as we'll recommend you to choose this one.
To Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
Step 4. Put the iPhone into recovery mode > AnyFix will download the right firmware file on your computer > After the download finished, click on Fix Now.
How to Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
Step 5. Once it finished the repair, you can get your iPhone back to normal.
Successfully Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
AnyFix – iOS System Recovery is quite useful on various iTunes issues of which is proved with millions of iOS devices users. AnyFix supports to solve iOS system issues as well. As a professional troubleshooter on the iOS system and iTunes, AnyFix gives users an efficient one-stop solution on various systems and iTunes problems. Give it a try now.
Solution 7: Get an iTunes Alternative to Back Up or Restore
In many cases, once you update the software, the problem will be fixed.
Further Read: How to Update iTunes to the Latest Version >
Software Update For Iphone 8
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 by 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 the 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 model and iOS version > Download it.
Download Right Firmware File for Your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch
After getting the 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:
- Connect your iDevice to the computer with a USB cable.
- Run iTunes and then click the Device button on iTunes.
- Hold down the Option key (Shift key on PC) and then click on 'Update' or 'Restore'.
- Select the IPSW file you downloaded and click 'Choose'.
- Let the iDevice update or restore it 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 the problem of the firmware file is not compatible – with an alternative to iTunes.
Solution 6: Fix the firmware file is not compatible issue via a tool
Some users reported the firmware file not compatible couldn't be fixed through the above 5 tips. Technically speaking, these solutions are useful. But they could also fail to get out of the annoying issue.
Here we recommend a professional troubleshooter – AnyFix-iOS System Recovery which is committed to solving most of iTunes issues. Also, it supports a one-stop solution to help iOS users getting out of iOS system trouble. The following steps will clearly introduce how to solve the firmware file not compatible issue.
Step 1. Get the latest version of AnyFix and run it on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer > Choos the System Repairon the top.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Choose the iOS Repair to Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
Step 2. Click on the 50+ iPhone Problems > Tap on the Start Now to continue.
Step 3. Choose one repair mode to repair the iPhone. The Standard Repair won't risk any data loss as we'll recommend you to choose this one.
To Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
Step 4. Put the iPhone into recovery mode > AnyFix will download the right firmware file on your computer > After the download finished, click on Fix Now.
How to Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
Step 5. Once it finished the repair, you can get your iPhone back to normal.
Successfully Fix Firmware File Not Compatible via AnyFix
AnyFix – iOS System Recovery is quite useful on various iTunes issues of which is proved with millions of iOS devices users. AnyFix supports to solve iOS system issues as well. As a professional troubleshooter on the iOS system and iTunes, AnyFix gives users an efficient one-stop solution on various systems and iTunes problems. Give it a try now.
Solution 7: Get an iTunes Alternative to Back Up or Restore
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 the device, etc. Then how to restore iPhone without iTunes? Here we recommend you an alternative to iTunes – AnyTrans, which is fitted with many powerful functions in comparison to iTunes, like:
- Supports transferring and backing up 20+ types of iOS contents, including photos, videos, music, contacts, notes, bookmarks, etc. among computer, iTunes library, and other iDevices.
- Supports extracting anything you like from iTunes or iCloud backup, it can help you restore the iPhone/iPad/iPod easily when you met a problem like firmware not compatible.
- Also, it helps you migrate your data when you got a new iDevice.
iMobie AnyTrans Overview:
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
Solution 8: Restore in DFU Mode
The Device Firmware Update/Upgrade (DFU) Mode allows all devices to be restored from any state. You can use it to solve more difficult problems, like downgrading the iOS or jailbreaking the device. Here are the guides on how to enter/exit DFU mode.
Hp c4680 printer. Restoring your device in DFU Mode is the last step on iPhone/iPad/iPod troubleshooting, you need to remember that it's potentially dangerous.
The Bottom Line
In this guide, we provide you 8 solutions that you can try to fix firmware is not compatible when restoring your iDevice with iTunes. Hope it can help you. Also, if you have other solutions to the problem of firmware files is not compatible, be free to leave your comments below to share your ideas with us.
Free Download * 100% Clean & Safe
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