How to Fix iPhone Error 4013

Does your iPhone suddenly display error 4013? If this unfortunate error shows up on your iPhone, it's a clear indication that something's wrong. This error prevents you from performing even the most basic tasks on your iPhone, including texting and calling.

Fortunately, this guide is aimed at walking you through this bothersome error and getting you back up and running. So be sure to read on to find out how to fix iPhone error 4013.

First and foremost, you'll need to establish what's causing your iPhone error 4013 in the first place. There are a few different possibilities, so we'll go through each one briefly. Once you identify the cause, you can then move on to fixing the problem.

What Exactly Is Error 4013 and How Do I Fix it Fast?

Before we get into how to fix iPhone error 4013, let's first take a look at what this error actually is. Error 4013 is what's known as a "hardware error." This means there's a problem with the physical components of your iPhone—namely, the connection between the motherboard and the NAND chip.

This connection is what allows your iPhone to access and store data, so when it's not working properly, you'll start seeing error messages.

iPhone error 4013 will usually appear on your Apple device screen with a message telling you the iPhone couldn't be restored. This often happens to people who unplug their phones from iTunes in the middle of an update or restore. It can also happen if the NAND chip or the connection to it is damaged.

Here are the steps to take to fix iPhone error 4013 in order. Read below to get more detailed guidance!

1. Update your iTunes version
2. Check your USB port and cable
3. Check your security software
4. Try a different computer
5. Force restart
6. Update your iPhone
7. Restore in DFU mode
8. Factory reset your iPhone

How to Fix iPhone Error 4013: 8 Methods

Follow these eight methods in order until you find one that works for you.

1. Update Your iTunes Version

This method is pretty simple and only requires you to update your version of iTunes if it's outdated. Outdated versions of iTunes are often the cause of error 4013, so updating should fix the issue. Here's how:

1. Open up the App Store on your Mac.
2. Click on the Updates tab at the top of the screen.
3. If there's an update available after you launch iTunes, click Update.

2. Check Your USB Port and Cable

The next thing you should do is check your USB port and cable to ensure that both are working properly. Often, damaged or loose cables are the cause of error 4013. To check your cable, follow the steps below:

1. Unplug the USB cable from your system and plug it into another port.
2. If you're using a Mac, try plugging the cable into a different USB port on your keyboard or monitor.

If that doesn't work, try using a different USB cable altogether.

3. Check Your Security Software

If you have security software installed on your computer, it might be interfering with iTunes and causing error 4013. To check if this is the case, follow the steps below:

1. Temporarily disable your security software.
2. Try restoring your iPhone again.
3. If the restore is successful, re-enable your security software.

4. Try a Different Computer

If you're still having trouble, try to connect iPhone to a different computer. This will rule out any issues with your computer as the cause of error 4013.

5. Force Restart

This method forces your iPhone to restart while it's charging. But you want to make sure your iPhone has plenty of battery life to proceed. Then, follow the steps below.

• To turn your iPhone 8 or later off, quickly press in and release your volume button up, and do the same for the volume button down. Lastly, long press the side button until you see Apple's logo appear on screen.
• The button for volume down and the top (or side) button on an iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 7, or iPod touch (7th generation) should be long-pressed until Apple's logo appears.

Please be aware that this method comes straight from Apple. Therefore, it safely restarts your device while still maintaining all data.

6. Update Your iPhone

If you're using an outdated version of iOS, or iOS devices with old software, it might be causing error 4013. To update your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes and select your iPhone.
3. Click Summary, then click Check for Update.
4. Click Download and Install.

7. Restore in DFU Mode

A "DFU restore" is a bit more advanced than a regular restore, but it's often effective in fixing error 4013. This method completely erases your iPhone and installs the latest version of iOS—so be sure to back up your data first! To put your device into DFU mode, follow the steps below:

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable.
2. Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons at the same time.
3. After 8 seconds, release both buttons. (If you see the Apple logo appear, you've held them too long and will need to start again.)
4. Once your iPhone's screen is black, hold down the side button while still connected to your computer.

iTunes should now say that it's detected a device in recovery mode. You can now restore your iPhone.

8. Factory Reset Your iPhone

A factory reset is a last resort, but it might be necessary to fix iPhone error 4013. This will erase all data from your iPhone, so be sure to back up your data first! To factory reset your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Open the Settings on your iPhone.
2. Tap General, then scroll to the bottom and tap Reset.
3. Tap on Erase All Content/Settings.
4. Type in your passcode when asked, then tap on Erase iPhone.
5. Once your iPhone has been reset, you can restore it from a backup or set it up as new.

These are just some of the ways you can fix iPhone error 4013. If you're still having trouble, you can always take your device to an Apple Store or authorized Apple service provider for help.

Other Common Apple Errors

iTunes errors let you know that something went wrong. Sometimes, you might see a message saying "There was an error in the iTunes Store. Please try again later." If you're seeing a different error, find out what to do by following the steps below for your error code.

If you see one of the errors below, your computer might not be able to connect to Apple servers or your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad: 1, 1003, 1004, 1011, 1638, 3014, 3194.

To fix these errors:

1. Update your iTunes software to the latest version.
2. Check that your security software and settings aren't blocking communication with the iTunes Store.
3. Check your Internet connection. Try another site or try opening a webpage in another browser to make sure your Internet connection is working.
4. Wait a few minutes and try again. If you still see the error message, contact Apple Support for help with your connection, then try again.

If you see errors 4005 or 4014, there's something going on with your connection to Apple servers. These errors might appear while you're using a cellular data network. To fix these errors:

1. Check that your iOS device is connected to the Internet. One way you can check this is by going to Safari and loading a webpage. If it loads successfully, then you have an active Internet connection.
2. Update your iTunes software to the latest version on your system and connect your device again.
3. Restart both your iOS device and your computer, try connecting to Apple servers again.

If you see one of the issues below, your computer might not be able to connect to Apple servers or your Apple devices: 1667, 1669, 3048, 3194, 3259.

To fix these errors:

1. Update your iTunes software to the latest version.
2. Check that your security software and settings aren't blocking communication with the iTunes Store.
3. Check your Internet connection. Try another site or try opening a webpage in another browser to make sure your Internet connection is working.
4. Wait a few minutes and try again. If you still see the error message, contact Apple Support for help with your connection, then try again.

If you see error 53, it means that your device is not compatible with the software version you're trying to install. Make sure that your iOS device is connected to your computer, follow the steps below:

1. Update your iTunes software to the latest version on your system and connect your device again.
2. Unplug extra USB devices from your computer if it has more than one port.
3. If you still see error 53, contact Apple Support.

If you see error 53, it means that your device is not compatible with the software version you're trying to install. Make sure that your iOS device is connected to your computer, follow the steps below:

1. Update your iTunes software to the latest version on your laptop or computer and connect your device again.
2. Unplug extra USB devices from your computer if it has more than one port.
3. If you still see error 53, contact Apple Support.

If you see an error when you update or restore your Apple devices, or if iTunes couldn't tell the device to restore because the firmware file is not compatible, follow the steps below:

1. Download the latest version of iTunes that is compatible with your computer.
2. Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Click Update (not Restore) to reinstall iOS and keep your personal data intact.
4. If asked, enter the password for your encrypted backup.

If you still see the error message after updating iTunes, you might need to change the permissions for the Apple Software Update utility. On a Windows PC, you can do this by:

1. Going to C:\Program Files\iTunes and then right-clicking on the iTunes.exe file.
2. Choose Properties from the menu that pops up.
3. Click the Compatibility tab at the top of the window.

Under Privilege Level, check the box next to Run this program as an administrator and click OK.

If you see error 56, it means that your device is not compatible with the software version you're trying to install. Make sure that your iOS device is connected to your computer, follow the steps below:

1. Update your iTunes software to the latest version on your laptop or computer and connect your device again.
2. Unplug extra USB devices from your computer if it has more than one port.
3. If you still see error 56, contact Apple Support.

If you see error 1004 or 1013, it means that there was a problem downloading the software for your device. To fix these errors:

1. Begin by making sure iTunes is up-to-date.
2. Restart both your iOS device and your computer, try connecting to Apple servers again.

If you see error 1671, iTunes is downloading the necessary software, and you need to wait for the download to finish before you can restore your device.

Conclusion

There are a variety of iTunes and iPhone errors that can occur when you try to update or restore your device. Apple error 4013 is one that plagues a lot of users and can be a very frustrating error to deal with.

In this article, we showed you how to fix iTunes error 4013 using a variety of methods. We also included quick fixes for some other common errors. If you're still having trouble, it’s probably time to ask for help from the experts.

Whether your Apple device is experiencing a hardware or software failure, with the assistance of our technicians, highly experienced in iPhone Data Recovery, can help you get your data back even if the Apple store or a local repair shop says your data is unrecoverable!

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Article by

Philip Bader

After more than a decade in Southeast Asia as a reporter and editor for magazines, newspapers, and online media organizations, Philip Bader now serves as a freelance content writer for Secure Data Recovery Services. He writes blogs and web content about data storage technology, trends in enterprise data recovery, and emerging data storage technology.