Updating your iPhone, iPad, or iPod can be a chore. As boring as it can be, it can be made much worse if “iPhone error 4013” strikes. You may see this message when restoring or updating your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. It seems scary at first, but there’s a simple way to deal with it. We explain what you need to do in this article, outlining the few steps you should take in order to get your Apple device up and running again.
How to fix iPhone error 4013
Error 4013 usually looks like this: “The iPhone [device name] could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (4013).” This message may refer to an iPhone, yet it can appear with any device running iOS, including iPads and iPods.
Basically, iPhone error 4013 occurs when a problem arises during the updating or restoring process. You may have accidentally disconnected your iPhone or iOS device during the update process, or there may be a software bug that’s preventing the update from being executed properly.
While you may be daunted by iPhone errors, they aren’t as difficult to resolve as you might think. We have provided a simple set of steps to help you fix iPhone error 4013 that you can also apply to iPhone error 9, iPhone error 4005, and iPhone error 4014. When faced with any of these errors, simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Ensure that you’re running the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or PC. Updating iTunes is a simple process. It can be done by going to App Store > Updates on your Mac, or by going to the Microsoft Store Apple’s website
Step 2: Similarly, ensure that your Mac or Windows PC is running the latest version of its own operating software. Go to the App Store to update MacOS (or go to the Apple logo, then hit Software Update). To update Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
Step 3: Force restart your iPhone or iOS device. On the iPhone 8 and later, this can be done by pressing and quickly releasing the Volume Up button, pressing and quickly releasing the Volume Down button, and then pressing and holding the Side button until the Apple logo appears.
On iPads with Face ID, you need to press and quickly release the Volume Up button, press and quickly release the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the Top button.
On the iPhone 7, iPhone Plus, and iPod Touch (7th generation), you have to simultaneously press and hold the Side (or Top) button and the Volume Down button.
With iPads featuring the Home button, the iPhone 6S or earlier iPhones, and the iPod Touch (6th generation) or earlier, you should simultaneously press and hold the Side (or Top) button and the Home button.
Step 4: To update your iPhone or iOS device, connect it to iTunes. If you’re using a Mac with MacOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder and then click on your iPhone or device that shows in the sidebar. On a Mac with MacOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or a Windows PC, you need to open iTunes instead. Once you’ve done either, Click General or Settings and click Check for Update > Download and Update.
Other steps to try
After seeing the iPhone error 4013, these four steps should do the trick to get your device functioning again. In the rare case that these steps don’t get rid of the error, there are a few more actions you can take.
- Your problem might be with the cable, so try using a different USB cable to connect your iPhone to your computer for updates.
- Try connecting and updating your iPhone through another computer. Again, your computer may have some software bug that prevents your iOS device from updating properly, so trying a different computer may help.
Contact Apple. You can always take your Mac or iOS device to the experts from Apple Support if you still have no luck with the protocol and tips outlined above.
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