On the covered Apple iPhone or iPad, 4013 means Apple lists 4013 with the errors to retry, and with the errors that point to the USB connection, cable, port or computer. First, try the update again. Then: Apple's step for 4005, 4013 and 4014 is to try the update again; if it repeats, check the USB connection. Apple's USB checks, trying again after each: use the USB cable that came with the device, or another Apple-certified cable;
switch to a different USB port on the computer, but not the port on a keyboard, which often lacks the power to update or restore; and try a USB port on a different computer. Apple's steps to try first: install software updates on the Mac, or update iTunes or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC, then follow the steps for your error number.
Differential
Likely causes of “Apple iPhone or iPad code 4013”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The connection between the device and the computer was interrupted
What separates it The restore stops partway through with an unknown error and the number 4013
How to confirm Try the restore again with a different cable and a different port
- 2
A damaged or loose USB cable
What separates it The device keeps connecting and disconnecting, and the cable end feels loose
How to confirm Use an Apple cable, or a certified one, and see whether the error changes
- 3
A USB hub or a port that cuts out
What separates it The error appears when the device goes through a hub or a front-panel port
How to confirm Plug the cable straight into the computer's own port
- 4
A software fault on the device
What separates it The restore fails at the same point every time
How to confirm Put the device in recovery mode and restore from there
- 5
A hardware fault inside the device
What separates it The error returns on every computer and every cable
How to confirm Take the device to Apple or an authorized repairer
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the number is 4013 and the stage of the restore at which it appeared
- Which cable, port and adapter were used, and whether a hub or a dock was involved
- The model of the iPhone or iPad and its iOS or iPadOS version
- Whether the device has ever been dropped, wet or repaired outside Apple
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleTry the update again.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleApple's step for 4005, 4013 and 4014 is to try the update again; if it repeats, check the USB connection. Apple's USB checks, trying again after each: use the USB cable that came with the device, or another Apple-certified cable; switch to a different USB port on the computer, but not the port on a keyboard, which often lacks the power to update or restore; and try a USB port on a different computer. Apple's steps to try first: install software updates on the Mac, or update iTunes or the Apple Devices app on a Windows PC, then follow the steps for your error number.
Swap the cable
ReversibleUse an Apple cable or a certified one. A cable that has a bent or worn end is the most common cause of a restore that stops partway.
Change the port
ReversiblePlug the cable straight into the computer, not into a hub or a keyboard port, so that the connection cannot drop mid-restore.
Restart both devices
ReversibleRestart the computer and the iPhone or iPad, and close any other program that talks to the device.
Update the computer
ReversibleInstall updates to macOS or Windows and the Apple app you use, then try the restore again.
Use recovery mode
ReversibleFollow Apple's steps for recovery mode for your model and restore from there, which bypasses a damaged iOS on the device.
Try another computer
ReversibleIf it works on a second computer, the first computer or its USB ports were the problem.
Note the percentage where it stops
ReversibleWatch the progress bar. A failure at the same point each time is more informative than a random one and is worth reporting to Apple Support.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The error on this page
- 4013, a connection interruption during a restore or an update.
- Parts involved
- The USB cable, the port, the computer and, rarely, the device's own hardware.
- Related
- 3194 is the server-side error on the same Apple guide.
- Where 4013 sits in Apple's list
- Apple lists 4013 among the errors to retry, and also among the errors that point to the USB connection, the cable, the port or the computer. That double listing tells you something useful: the error is often only a dropped connection, and a clean second attempt is a reasonable first move before you buy anything.
- Dropped devices and 4013
- If an iPhone or iPad was dropped, or has had its screen or battery replaced by a third party, a restore error like 4013 can come from a hardware fault that the cable cannot cure. If the error follows the device and not the cable, a hardware check is the sensible step.
- A different problem from 2009
- Apple groups 4013 with the USB-related errors, and 2009 is one of its neighbors. Because the two read alike, people confuse them, but the repair for each is the same first step: a better cable, a different port and an updated computer. The difference is that 4013 appears as a restore stops, while 2009 appears as the connection is lost.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a restore fails with 4013 on two computers with two good cables, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store with the device
- !Do not keep repeating restores on a device that fails at the same point, since it can leave it in recovery mode
- !Keep your backup safe and do not erase anything that you cannot restore
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does 4013 mean on a Apple iPhone or iPad?+
Apple lists 4013 with the errors to retry, and with the errors that point to the USB connection, cable, port or computer.
What does error 4013 mean on an iPhone or iPad?+
The device lost its connection to the computer during an update or restore, which is often a cable, a port or a hardware fault.
Is 4013 a hardware error?+
It can be, particularly if it appears on every computer and with every cable, but a bad cable is more common.
Will I lose my data in a restore?+
A restore erases the device, so back up first if the device still turns on and you can reach it.
Can I fix it at home?+
Changing the cable, the port and the computer fixes it more often than not, and recovery mode is the next step.
Should I retry the restore straight away?+
Yes, once, after you change the cable or the port, since a dropped connection is the commonest cause.
What if it fails at the same percentage each time?+
A restore that stops at the same point suggests a software or hardware fault, so try recovery mode and then contact Apple.
Is 4013 the same as 2009?+
They are both USB-related errors in Apple's list, and the first steps are the same, though they appear at different stages.