Easy method to fix Error 56 on iPhone and iPad

Last Updated on March 23, 2018

The Apple iPhone and iPad are suffering from error 56 with the 9.3.2 iOS update. A lot of fixes are available on the internet, but most of the people are still not satisfied with the usability of this update. The error 56 mainly shows up for the users of iPad, specifically the iPad pro 9.7-inch.error 56 on iphone

Some users are also complaining about this error showing up while updating their devices from a previous iOS version. Restarting sometimes fixes this problem, but it is not a permanent solution unless Apple provides an official patch for the bug.

The actual error that shows up for people using the Apple devices is “The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (56).” This error appears in many other forms too while using the device.

In this post, I’ll be discussing the simple solution for the iOS device users to fix this error.

Fixing Error 56 on Apple Devices

Installing the latest updates

Before trying anything smart, you should always try to go for the official fix. At the time of writing, There is no official fix available. But if you are reading this in the future, you might want to check your device for the availability of a possible fix via the update.

To check for an update on your iPhone/iPad, follow the instructions below.

  • Open up Settings > Software Update.
  • Tap on Check for the update.

Reinstall iOS in your iPhone/iPad

If there is an update available, it might be having the possible fix for the error 56 on the iPhone. Let the update download and install itself. After the update is installed, use the device normally and see whether the error shows up again or not.

However, if there is no update, continue reading further for a possible fix. So to

  • Download the iOS 9.3.1 IPSW file from the Redmondpie website for your appropriate device.
  • Move this file to the Desktop on your PC.
  • Open iTunes.
  • Plug your device into your PC.
  • Turn off your iPhone/iPad.
  • Hold the Power button for 3 seconds.
  • After that hold the Home and Power button for another 10 seconds.
  • Release the power button but not the Home button.
  • A few seconds later, your device will be detected by iTunes in recovery mode.
  • Restore your device to the update 9.3.1 by clicking on Restore while holding the Shift/Option key. Select the IPFW file when asked.

After these steps, the iPhone will restart a few times and will then boot with the iOS version 9.3.1. In this update, there is no error 56 present anywhere throughout the system, so your iPhone/iPad will be bug-free until an official update from Apple arrives.

Photo of author

Written by Utkarsh

Utkarsh Bhatt is a certified tech expert and software engineer for a Fortune 500 Company. He was born in 1995, making him one of the oldest members of the team at EFX. Utkarsh loves solving technical issues and is always the first to jump on any problem that needs solving. When he’s not coding or debugging, he enjoys playing video games (especially Super Smash Bros.) and watching cartoons.

Share on:

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.