Last verified: {{VERIFY: DD Month 2026}}
Error 4013 almost always means the connection between your device and computer was interrupted mid-restore — usually a cable, USB port, or hub issue rather than anything wrong with the firmware file itself. Switching to a different cable and a USB port directly on the computer resolves this for most people in under 10 minutes. If that doesn’t fix it, work through the causes below in order.
Before you start
- Back up first if the device is still accessible. Use Apple’s official backup guide.
- Turn off Find My (Settings → [your name] → Find My → Find My iPhone) before retrying the restore.
- Use a genuine or MFi-certified cable plugged directly into the computer, not a hub or dock.
What error 4013 means
Error 4013 is a generic restore-interruption code from Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes. It fires when the connection between your iPhone or iPad and the computer drops during the firmware-writing stage of a restore, before the process can complete cleanly.
What causes it
- A damaged, non-certified, or loose USB cable
- A USB hub or dock introducing an unstable connection
- Outdated Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes software
- Third-party security software or a firewall interrupting the connection to Apple’s servers
- A hardware fault on the device itself, in rarer persistent cases
Fix in order of likelihood
- Switch to a different cable and USB port — plug directly into the computer, not a hub, dock, or keyboard USB passthrough.
- Restart both devices — force-restart the iPhone/iPad and restart the computer before retrying.
- Update Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes to the latest available version.
- Temporarily disable third-party security software and VPNs, then retry the restore.
- Try a different computer if available — this isolates whether the fault is the device or the original computer’s USB/software setup.
If it still doesn’t work
- Error 4013 persists across multiple cables and computers. This points to a hardware fault on the device — consider an Apple Store appointment.
- Restore fails at a different stage with a different code. See the full restore error code index for that specific number.
- You see error 4014 instead on a retry. See the fix for error 4014 — the causes and remaining checks overlap closely with this page.
- Device won’t enter recovery or DFU mode to even start the restore. Confirm you’re using the correct button sequence for your exact model.
Frequently asked questions
Does error 4013 mean my iPhone is broken?
Not usually. It’s most often a cable, port, or software interruption rather than a hardware fault. Only consider hardware if the error persists across multiple cables, ports, and computers.
Will I lose my data if I fix error 4013?
The error itself doesn’t erase anything beyond what the restore you initiated already intended — if you chose Restore, the device is being erased regardless of this error; if you chose Update, your data should be preserved once the restore completes successfully.
Can a USB hub cause error 4013?
Yes — hubs, docks, and passthrough ports are a common cause because they can introduce power or connection instability during the restore’s most sensitive phase. This applies equally to iPhone and iPad restores.
Why does error 4013 happen only on some computers?
It usually points to a difference in USB port power delivery, cable quality, or outdated restore software between the two computers rather than anything about your Apple ID or account.
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