How to fix error "3194" when restoring or downgrading your iDevice.

When you jailbreak your iOS device and want to restore it back or you were just downgrading your device, you might get this error”3194’. Actually this error occurs when you wanted to restore your device to an older version of OS. In my case I was restoring my jailbroken device to iOS 4.3.3,when the new version iOS 4.3.5 was out. The error occurred because I was restoring my device to an older version and also that iOS 4.3.5 was out so apple had stopped signing this version.

I wanted to go with OS because I had that software copy on my desktop and I really didn’t want to download the new OS. When I first saw this error I was scared to death. However, after googling this topic I noticed that it was quite common.

The Solution:

The solution to this problem is just by going to your host file.

Note: open the notepad as administrator and then from the file menu open the host file. Like this you can edit the file. Also back up your idevice first. 

Go and scroll down and at the end write: 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com

Now save the host file before closing the notepad. Now get your ipod touch into the recovery mode. Its quite easy. Just turn off the device and then press the home button. Keep pressing the home button while you connect your device to the computer. Now you itunes with recognize your device and it will prompt you to do a restore. Go and press shift or option key if you are on a mac and click restore. There select your OS and press restore. You are done. It will restore your device to the factory setting and then after the restoring is done it will ask you if you want to set it up as a new device or restore it from a backup. Select restore it from the recent backup.

The back up takes time depending on your apps and media files. And you are done and enjoy your restored device.