How to fix iPhone error 4013

What is iPhone error 4013

Usually, it is quite rare and uncharacteristic to see any of Apple devices at fault, however, it happens. Some users struggle to restore or update their IOS products through iTunes on Mac as error 4013 appeared and stuck in the tracks. Such a problem may occur on any Apple device based on the IOS system (iPhone, iPad, and or even iPod touch) saying The iPhone [device name] could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (4013). The same symptoms were spotted to merge with other errors named 9, 4005, and 4014 often having the same root of occurrence. As a rule, the issue takes place due to some iTunes or macOS bug not letting the software establish a proper connection to iPhone. In rarer cases, the problem can lie in issues with hardware components inside your device. To figure things out, we invite you to follow our instructions below. They’ve proven solid efficiency and can be used for other errors mentioned above in the majority of cases.

Download repair tool

Sometimes resolving the errors is out of our control and possibilities. This is where third-party tools can make a great impact on aiding the users. If you are facing 4013, 4014, 4005, or 9 errors, but fail to benefit from any of the manual steps, try using Tenorshare ReiBoot – a great recovery tool designed for resolving errors like that. Get to know how one can use it to address the errors:

Tenor Reiboot Dashboard

Tenor Reiboot Download iOS

Tenor Reiboot Repair Modes

Tenor Reiboot Repair Process

Download iOS Repair Tool

1. Download and install ReiBoot for either Mac or Windows.
2. Once done, open the app and plug your device into the computer.
3. The program should recognize your device and offer a couple of options.
4. Choose Standard if you simply want to update your device or Deep repair if you want to fully restore it.
5. Then, download the firmware found by the app for your smartphone by clicking Download.
6. Once the process is finished, click Repair now to start resolving the problems.

Standard is meant to search for basic issues and bugs to address them without wiping out your data.

Deep repair will reset your device to factory settings and delete the entire data stored on it.

7. Wait until the app finishes its repair and restores your device. It will take about 15 minutes to end.

1. Ensure your iTunes and macOS are up-to-date

Pending updates could be the right solution to use. Many software-related problems are fixed simply by downloading fresh updates released by the developers. Therefore, we advise you to check if there is any later version of iTunes and macOS that can be installed. You can do it this way:

To install updates for macOS:

1. Go to Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and choose System Preferences.
2. Then, click Software update and choose Update Now to install the latest update available for your current version.
3. If you don’t see this button, this means your system is already up-to-date.

Usually, other apps like iTunes get updated along with installing the latest macOS version. Even so, it is still worth checking yourself.

To install updates for iTunes:

1. Open App Store from the dock on your screen.
2. Move to Updates on top of the window or left pane and search for iTunes from the list.
3. If there are any updates available, you will be able to click on Install to get them.

Otherwise, your iTunes service is already intact.

2. Check your USB cable

When restoring or updating a device through iTunes, there is a chance the connection cable is damaged or badly connected. Try to look over its physical appearance for visible damage and replug it again. If you remember having problems while charging as well, maybe the problem is found. Try using a different cable compatible with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. The same problem could be with your USB port on Mac itself, so make sure you check it as well. If the cable and USB port seem fine but you continue being struck by the error, follow other solutions below.

3. Force your device to restart

If the process seems stuck and does not show any signs of moving forward, you can force restart your device by clicking a couple of buttons. This may allow your iPhone or other Mac device to come over the glitch and perform the restore without problems. Here is how:

iPhone 8 or later:

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
3. Press and hold the Side button (which you use to unlock your screen) until you see the Apple logo.

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPod touch (7th generation):

1. Press and hold the Side (or Top) button and the Volume Down button together at the same time.
2. Likewise in the previous steps, the Apple logo should appear on the screen.

iPad models with a Home button, iPhone 6s or earlier, and iPod touch (6th generation) or earlier:

1. Press and hold both the Side (or Top) button and the Home button until you see the same Apple logo as it was above.

iPad models without a Home button:

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
3. Then press-hold the Power button and wait until the iPad restarts.

Basically, the pattern of restarting your device is the same only varying by a combination of buttons on different generations of IOS devices. After successfully restarting your device, try to go through the same update or restore procedure again.

4. Try using another computer

If you did not manage to figure this out using the methods above, try to borrow a Mac from your friend or other family members to update/restore the problematic device. This method is worth trying because you never know what is the problem with your Mac itself. It is also possible your USB port is damaged as mentioned above, which you are unable to see. Therefore, give it a shot using somebody’s else Mac.

5. Deeper issues like Hardware

Oh yes, out of all possible reasons you’d like to avoid is probably hardware. Some results from recent investigations established that error 4013 can make its presence known upon corrupted motherboard chip inside under the hood of an iPhone. It is impossible to know whether it is the case for 100%, however, if you tried all the solutions above, but yet no results have been seen, you should consider giving your device to fixing spots specialing in Apple products. It is also important to find a reputable Apple service to get high-quality repair and avoid getting bamboozled for tons of money. You can ask your friends what Apple services they used in your place of living.

Summary

We hope error 4013 or other codes are no longer there to stop you from restoring or updating your device. Despite paying a fair bit of cash and having strong OS stability, some Apple users still tend to trip over such errors while using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. It is simply impossible for any software to be pitch-perfect and work without problems forever. It would be nice if you left your comment below to share any difficulties or moments from your experience while solving the error. We are always glad to hear some feedback from you.