Apple iPhone Error 4013 on iTunes - How to Fix It

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Last Updated on December 19, 2019 by Husain Parvez

Stuck on iPhone error 4013 when you try to restore the device using the iTunes application on your computer? Here’s everything you need to know about this issue that seems to plague a majority of Apple iPhone users, and what you can do to resolve it.

There’s something about the Apple iPhone that brings sparkle to the eyes of millions who use it all around the world. Whether it is the brand hype created by Apple right from the beginning, or the comfort that iOS brings in terms of user experience, you can’t deny the fact that the iPhone is an irreplaceable piece of technology. However, just like any other piece of technology that the digital age has created the revered smartphone from Apple is also prone to issues and failures every now and then. From an unresponsive touch screen to poor battery performance, there’s a whole bunch of issues that the Apple iPhone users have to deal with, just like most other mobile users do.

Unlike Android OS which depends on OEM brands to create desktop-based software to manage, update, and repair issues with mobile devices, Apple has hosted this responsibility upon iTunes. Through the iTunes application, you can easily synchronize the media, contacts, and additional information between your iPhone and your computer. But the iTunes client isn’t perfect either and has been the cause of several syncing issues, and Apple has officially addressed most of them through the online support portal. One of these common iTunes related issues seems to be the iPhone error 4013 that has been noticed to arise when performing a device software restoration.

What is the iPhone Error 4013 on iTunes?

Although iTunes is infamous for popping up random errors that don’t seem to make much sense, Apple does offer some insight into why this specific error shows up. Reports suggest that the error 4013 or error 4014 appears for users when there’s an issue with the connectivity between the iPhone and computer. The delayed response or no connectivity with the iTunes application leads to the issue and is considered a hardware fault rather than software.

The error usually seems to surface when you’re trying to update your iPhone through iTunes or restoring it through a previously saved backup. Whether it is caused due to the physical disconnection of the iPhone from the computer through the cable, or because of a software glitch that stops the syncing process, the error pop-up banner “The iPhone XXXX could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (4013)” should appear on the screen.

How to fix iTunes error 4013

Apart from the 4013 error on iTunes, the solutions that we’ve listed down below should also help you resolve problems related to error 9, 4014, and 4005 as well. So, here are all of the different solutions that you can try out to get your iPhone restored and back in operational condition.

Solution #1 – Update the iTunes application

Whether it is the error 4013 that appears on the screen or any other error for that matter in regard to iTunes, the first step you must take is to see if the iTunes app is up to date or not. Apple tends to roll out software updates for iTunes in short intervals, so it wouldn’t be surprising if a few major updates go past you, but here’s how you can correct it.

On your Windows or Mac OS X computer, open the iTunes
Press the iTunes button (Help button on Windows) and select “Check for Updates…” from the drop-down menu.
The program will check for an available update, and if there is one in the cue, you should get the pop-up to “Download iTunes” on the screen.

Once iTunes on your computer is updated and installed, reboot your system and launch iTunes again to see if the error 4013 has been resolved.

Solution #2 – Force Reboot the iPhone

For certain reasons related to the software of the iPhone which is causing the error to pop up on iTunes, the first safety measure should be restarting the device.

iPhone X/XR/XS – Press the Volume Up button first, followed quickly by the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the Power button until you feel the iPhone vibrate.

iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus – Press the Volume Up button first, followed quickly by the Volume Down button, and then press and hold the Power button until you feel the iPhone vibrate.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus – Press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button simultaneously until you see the screen turn on or feel the phone vibrate.

Older iPhone Models – Press the Power button and the Home button simultaneously for around 10 seconds until you feel the phone vibrate or can see the display turn on.

Solution #3 – Check the Lightning cable

While it may not have crossed your mind to run an inspection on the cable that connects your iPhone to the computer, it could very well be the culprit behind it all. The iPhone error 4013 in iTunes occurs when there isn’t a success connection established between the device and the iTunes program. Since the lightning cable is the bridge that connects the two, there’s a decent chance that the cable is the reason behind all your woes.

The lightning cable that comes with the Apple iPhone usually takes quite the beatdown over the years. When either end of the cable is bent more times than it can take, the internal components can go haywire, causing the cable to either stop working entirely or interfere with its regular working. The simplest solution to try out, in this case, is by replacing the USB cable with one that is a certified Apple accessory and test to see if iTunes starts to detect the device with it.

Solution #4 – Update the iPhone

One useful fix that has been officially recognized by Apple is that the error seems to come up only when you try to restore the iPhone when it hasn’t been updated to the latest version yet. One way to counter the iPhone error 4013 is by choosing to update the iPhone before you attempt to restore it.

On your Windows or Mac computer, make sure that you have the latest version of the iTunes program installed.
Take the iPhone and connect it to the computer using the lightning USB cable.
A pop-up banner will ask you if you wish to “Update” or “Restore” the iPhone.
Go ahead with the “Update” option and continue on the computer screen to begin the process of recovering your iPhone.

The iPhone should get detected as usual when connected to the computer, but if it doesn’t isn’t detected at all, there may be an issue with the hardware components.

Solution #5 – Connect iPhone in DFU Mode

One last-ditch effort that you can make if none of the previous methods seem to work out, is put the iPhone in DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) mode and connect it to iTunes to see if it fixes the problem.

iPhone X/XR/XS/8/ 8 Plus

Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
Quickly press and then release the Volume Up button and then follow up by pressing and releasing the Volume Down
Now press and hold the Power button until the screen goes black.
When the screen turns on, press and hold the Volume Down button while continuing to press the Power button for 5 seconds.
Release the Power button but continue to hold down the Volume Down

iTunes should now detect your iPhone in recovery mode, at which point you can begin the restoring process.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
Press and hold the Power + Volume Down button for around 8 seconds.
iTunes will now give you a message “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.”

iPhone 6S/ 6S Plus and older

Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
Press and hold the Power + Home button for around 8 seconds.
iTunes will now give you a message “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.”

Solution #6 – Contact Apple

All of the above ways to fix iPhone error 4013 in iTunes have been gathered from reputed sources, which gives us the confidence to say that if you aren’t able to resolve the problem with the solutions above, your last hope is none other than the people at Apple Inc. Reaching out the Apple tech support is your best shot at having the problem identified and then, all willing, have it solved at no additional cost if the device is still under warranty.

Final Words

Whether you’re in it for the style or for the dedicated user-first ecosystem that Apple has created for its entire range of products, an iPhone stands out for a reason. Despite being marketed as the perfect embodiment of a smartphone for the modern era, it is, after all, a piece of hardware and software sandwiched together, which can always stutter, just like all other tech gadgets out there.

Which of the above solutions seemed to work for you to get the iPhone error 4013 resolved, and is there a fix that we’ve skipped over that needs to be highlighted? If so, be sure to share it with us in the comments section right down below, and we’ll surely review it.

Author
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Husain Parvez

Editor at Whytheluckystiff

Sharing a love-hate relationship with Biotechnology in Uni, Husain moved on to his true calling of becoming a tech geek. While briefly being persuaded by the Apple clan, he made it back to Team Android, and has been a loyal comrade since, with a keen interest in IoT, Entertainment Tech, and Gaming.

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