iTunes for Windows: iTunes cannot contact the iPhone, iPad, or iPod software update server

Products Affected

Windows, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iTunes

Symptoms

You may see one of the following alert messages when trying to update or restore an iPhone, iPad, or iPod in iTunes 7 or later.
iPhone:

"iTunes could not contact the iPhone software update server because you are not connected to the Internet. Make sure your Internet connection is active and try again."

iPad:

"iTunes could not contact the iPad software update server because you are not connected to the Internet. Make sure your Internet connection is active and try again."

iPod:

"iTunes could not contact the iPod software update server because you are not connected to the Internet. Make sure your Internet connection is active and try again."

Internet access is required to download iPhone, iPad, or iPod software updates. However, if you are able to connect to the Internet with your preferred web browser and you can access the iTunes Store, see the solution below to resolve this issue.

Resolution

Windows XP

1. From the Start menu, choose Control Panel.
2. Open the Internet Options control panel.
3. Click the Connections tab.
4. Click the LAN Settings button.
5. Select the "Automatically detect settings" checkbox.
   
6. Click OK in both windows.
7. Reopen iTunes and connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
8. Update or restore your device.

Windows Vista and Windows 7

1. From the Start menu, choose Control Panel.
2. Select Network and Internet and select Internet Options. Or in Classic View, open the Internet Options control panel.
3. Click the Connections tab.
4. Click the LAN Settings button.
5. Select the "Automatically detect settings" checkbox.
   
6. Click OK in both windows.
7. Reopen iTunes and connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
8. Update or restore your device.

Additional Information

The “hosts” file may also be blocking gs.apple.com.

1. Select the hosts file (normally you can find your hosts file at C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC).
2. Click the Edit menu, and choose Copy.
3. Then, click the Edit menu again, and choose Paste. There should now be a duplicate of the hosts file named "Copy of hosts" (Windows XP) or "hosts -Copy" (Windows Vista/7).
4. Drag the original hosts file to your desktop. If Windows needs your permission to continue, click Continue.
5. Drag the "Copy of hosts" (Windows XP) or "hosts -Copy" (Windows Vista/7) to the desktop.
6. Right-click "Copy of hosts" (Windows XP) or "hosts -Copy" (Windows Vista/7) and choose Open. You may be prompted to choose the program you want to use to open this file. Double-click Notepad.
7. When Notepad opens, click the Edit menu and choose Select All. Then from the Edit menu, choose Delete.
8. From the File menu, choose Save. Close Notepad.
9. Drag the "Copy of hosts" (Windows XP) or "hosts -Copy" (Windows Vista/7) file from your desktop back into the original location. If Windows needs your permission to continue, click Continue.
10. Right-click the  "Copy of hosts" (Windows XP) or "hosts -Copy" (Windows Vista/7) file, and choose Rename. Type "hosts" (without quotation marks) and press Enter.
11. Restart your computer and try connecting to the software update server.

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, then the cause is likely out-of-date or incorrectly configured security software. Follow the steps in iTunes for Windows: Troubleshooting security software issues to resolve the issue.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.