Error 1638 - iPhone software update server can not be contacted.

Hi,
I can't update my iPhone iOS to 4.3.3 with iTunes since a few months i still have the 4.3 version. I am using iTunes with an iMac with all software updated.
I am getting the error "iPhone software update server can not be contacted..."
I made a few research and tried the following fix:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1275 for error 1638 > 1004
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3297 with no success (specifically the Blocked by configuration section - 2 Rebuild network information, the hosts file under /private/etc/hosts had no information that needed to be commented with #)
After all troubleshooting I re-installed iTunes with http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1224
And I am still getting the same error...
What can I do?
Thanks for your help

Same issue still with OS X Lion, last version of iTunes, can't update to iOS 4.3.5 or restore my iPhone 4. iPhone isn't Jailbrake. I am allways getting the error: "the iPhone "****" cannot be updated at this time because the iPhone software update server could not be contacted or is temporarily unavailable." (error 1638).
I'd like to update iOS or restore my iPhone if needed but this doesn't seem to work neither as the problem is related to the conenction to the server.
Can anyone help?

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(The iPhone "Named" cannot be restored at this time because the iPhone software update server could not be contacted or is temporarily unavailable.)
can anyone help me with this issue, every time i try to restore it will come up like this error message.

Restore the iPhone when connected to iTunes by cable.
Still the same TS1275?
Is your iPhone jailbroken?
Or
Has your computer ever been used to jailbrake or downgrade (Tinyumbrella) any iPhone?

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Dear Lawrence Finch:
If you're still around I hope you see this message, as you're the FIRST person (after reading every link, thread, other sites, apple support articles, etc.) to mention JB may be causing this iTunes popup window to REPEATEDLY occur:
"The iPhone software update server could not be contacted."
No, I did not hack anything (are you kidding? Grannies don't hack!), but I unknowingly bought a 3Gs iOS 3.1 from ebay that was not advertised as JB. Since it is like brand new, I was going to keep it (because my old backup is iOS 3.1.2) & was trying to simply restore & update, which (I thought) would remove the JB (that's what everybody says at forums, etc).
Instead, after "erasing all settings/content" (inside phone's Settings to get the prior person's name out of there), it is now stuck in White Apple Mode.
Put it in DFU/Recovery Mode & connect to iTunes but that stupid above message keeps appearing & I have already read/tried EVERYTHING to get rid of that message, starting with:
1. OLD phones (3Gs) with OLD iOS 3.1+ should work FINE with OLD Mac (iBook) with OLD OSX (Tiger 10.4.11) with OLD iTunes (9.2.1[5]). So that can't be the problem.
Here's all the other things apple & others say to check which I already checked:
2. USB ports are FINE, both work FINE, so that's not the problem.
3. No "extra USB devices" are connected, ONLY a mouse, & then the phone (yes, I tried it w/o the mouse connected but that didn't help).
4. No "usb hubs."
5. Latest iTunes for this OSX has already been DL'd (iTunes 9.2.1[5]). If you know of a newer one for this OSX, please advise.
6. No antivirus software.
7. No security software.
8. No routers; only 1 comcast modem, period. Wired Ethernet.
9. No wifi gadgets, no wifi at all.
10. No firewalls, except what is on iBook in the SHARING/System-Prefs. section. It's turned OFF.
11. Did the hosts/terminal thing sudo nano whatever it was. There were only 3 lines, NO gs.apple.com:
xxxxx local host
xxxxx broadcast host
xxxx local host
Oh, & btw, ATT officially unlocked this phone (after I filled out their online forms) but I can't finish the process via iTunes to get their Confirmation that "Device is Now Unlocked," so I can use T-Mo.
So that's it. If you have any other ideas of what to do from here, since from your comment, maybe it's the stupid JB on this phone that is causing the problem (???), please advise.
Many thanks!

The iPhone software update server could not be contacted. An unknown error occurred (-50). I'm using windows 8.1...

{The iPhone software update server could not be contacted. An unknown error occurred (-50)}. {Verbatim} -
I'm using windows 8.1...   -   I can't seem to find an answer to -50 ERROR?? -
     Please, Anybody - - HELP!!???
                                          Thank you                 -              Captkirkoes or Mitch         -          9/25/2014

Hi Captkirkoes,
If you are getting an error when attempting to update the operating system on your iPhone, I would suggest that you troubleshoot using the steps in this article -
Resolve iOS update and restore errors in iTunes
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Brett L

"The iphone software update server could not be contacted. An unknown error occured (-23)"

FYI,
Iphone 4 - iOS 4.3.3 (I would like to update to iOS 5)
Currently in DFU Mode, connected to my Lenovo (Windows OS) laptop.
Now the itunes asked for:
- Remind me later
- Download and update
- Download only.
I try to download and update, after i back up my iphone; when i click update, It's warning from ITUNES
"The iphone software update server could not be contacted. An unknown error occured (-23)"
Anyone can help me regarding this problem?

error 23 indicates a hardware issue with your device. Follow the steps in this article. Also attempt to restore while connected with the white USB Dock Connector cable that shipped with your device, on a known good computer and network to isolate this issue to the device. The mac address being missing or the IMEI being the default value, (00 499901 064000 0), can also confirm a hardware issue. out of date or incorrectly configured security software can also cause these errors.

Can't update my Iphone (the iphone software update server could not be contacted)

Hello,
I've been trying to fix this problem by my self with no luck so I'm writing to you guys, hoping you will have the right answers.
I dropped my iPhone4 today and it turned off, when I plugged it into a charger it showed me a screen of IOS6 (which I didn't had this update updated) and when I "silde right" it wrote that I need to update it by iTunes.
So I opened ITunes while my IPhone was connected that it automatically tried to update it as needed, after 20 seconds of loading I get this error massage:
"the iPhone software update server could not be contacted"
I've tried everything; turning off firewall, update my AntiVirus,restarting my router, restarting pc while IPhone not\connected, changed usb exist (using a back exit atm),changing usb cable and even reinstalled my iTunes (yes, my iTunes is up to date), although when I tried to update my itunes it gives me this error:
"The iTunes update server could not be connacted. Please chek your Internet connection, or try again later. " but I don't think it's related but worth to mention it.
My iPhone is NOT jailbreaked
please help me to fix this problem,
Thanks In Advnace.

Error 20, 21, 23, 26, 28, 29, 34, 36, 37, 40
These errors typically occur when security software interferes with the restore and update process. FollowTroubleshooting security software issues to resolve this issue. In rare cases, these errors may be a hardware issue. If the errors persist on another computer, the device may need service.
Also, check your hosts file to verify that it's not blocking iTunes from communicating with the update server. See iTunes: Advanced iTunes Store troubleshooting—follow steps under the heading Blocked by configuration (Mac OS X / Windows) > Rebuild network information > Mac OS X > The hosts file may also be blocking the iTunes Store. If you have software used to perform unauthorized modifications to the iOS device, uninstall this software prior to editing the hosts file to prevent that software from automatically modifying the hosts file again on restart.

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99.9% of the time, the cause of this issue is the fact the phone was jailbroken/hacked to unlock it for use on networks other than the network the phone was originally locked to. Apple maintains a database of officially unlocked iPhones, and when Apple's servers detect phones such as yours, activation stops & you get the message you got.
So, you need to get a sim card from the carrier the phone was originally locked to, or get it officially unlocked, if you want to activate it. Because it appears that it was not officially unlocked.
Apple has started to get "tough" with hacked iPhones, & simply won't permit their activation.

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it no longer accepts my original passcode.
i've managed to get the phone in to recovery mode but when i try and restore it, i get a message saying: "The iPhone software update server could not be contacted. The network connection timed out."
i proceeded to installed the latest version of iTunes; and turned off my firewall. i also rebooted the computer - to no avail.
Please help!

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ITunes: "The iPhone software update server could not be contacted"

Could someone please help me with a problem that I´m having with iTunes that´s really annoying. I want to update my iPhone 3G with the latest 3.0 software. For the first time ever iTunes is giving me the following message every time I try to update (been for more than 24 hours now):
+The iPhone software update server could not be contacted. Make sure your network settings are correct and your network connection is active, or try again later.+
I also get a message if I try to click on the update itunes( not that I need to, as it updated to iTunes 8.2 earlier this month) but still I figure it´s all part of the same problem:
+The iTunes update server could not be contacted. Please check your Internet connection, or try again later.+
Solutions tried so far:
* Going through my internet connection settings - I´m connected to the internet with no problems!
* Changing from wifi to wired connection - same thing, can´t update
* Reinstalling itunes (twice) - no difference
* Switching off Netbarrier
I don´t know what else I can do. I´m beginning to think it may be related to either iTunes being updated to 8.2 or one of the many recent software updates apple has been sending us of Mac OS. My computer is got all recent updates.
Please help!

Thanks for the response. Yeah I'd seen that a lot of these issues in the past had mainly affected Windows users. Anyway I tried naming a new location and no success and I don´t really understand the last post in that thread. There is no "check for updates" under the help menu. It's only in the itunes menu and that´s what I keep trying to do with the same message.
Anyway it's clear to me now that it's not a local connection issue nor an iPhone server issue. I've since upgraded to the 3.0 software via a Windows PC without any problems and without having to sync all the music and stuff which is a relief. Afterwards, when I put it back into my Mac all it asked me to do was a backup and nothing else had been synced (or wiped) so the immediate problem is out of the way. It's just this remaining issue now that iTunes still won´t connect to update servers although it does connects to the itunes store all ok. Any other ideas before I call Apple on Monday?

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Please help.

Windows user? Maybe you should check your HOSTS file to make sure nothing is stopping you from contacting Apple's servers - though if you're not looking to update you might still be out of luck. Also, maybe disable IP blacklist apps like PeerBlock just in case they're interfering with your connection to Apple.

The iPhone software update server could not me contacted.

Hello, im using an iPhone 3GS , current version is 4.3.5. I get this error when i click Check for Updates.
The iPhone software update server could not me contacted.
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I have not used any jailbreak software on my phone, this is the first time im having problems with my phone.Please reply with a solution if anyone has one.

To all who have this problem, change your time on the computer, mine was still 2011 and i dident realise, i changed it and now it all works fine.Hope this solves your problems.

Error 1638 - iPhone software update server can not be contacted.

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