Last verified: {{VERIFY: DD Month 2026}}
Error 4005 is another member of the 4000-series restore-interruption family, alongside 4013 and 4014 — it means the connection to your device dropped during the restore, most often because of a cable, port, or software issue. The same fixes that resolve error 4013 resolve most 4005 cases too.
Before you start
- Back up first if the device is still accessible. Use Apple’s official backup guide.
- Turn off Find My before retrying.
- Use a genuine or MFi-certified cable plugged directly into the computer.
What error 4005 means
Like 4013 and 4014, error 4005 is a restore-interruption code — the connection between your iPhone and the computer dropped during the firmware-writing stage of the restore.
What causes it
- A faulty or non-certified USB cable
- A USB hub, dock, or unstable port
- Outdated Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes software
- Security software interrupting the connection
- A hardware fault, in rarer persistent cases
Fix in order of likelihood
- Switch to a different cable and USB port, plugged directly into the computer.
- Restart both the device and the computer before retrying.
- Update your restore software to the latest version.
- Disable third-party security software temporarily and retry.
- Try a different computer to isolate the cause.
If it still doesn’t work
- Same troubleshooting applies as for error 4013. See the fix for error 4013 for additional detail on each step.
- Error recurs across multiple setups. This points to a hardware fault — consider an Apple Store appointment.
- A different error code appears instead. Check the full restore error code index.
Frequently asked questions
How is error 4005 different from 4013 or 4014?
They’re all in the same restore-interruption family with essentially the same causes and fixes — there’s no meaningfully different root cause tied to the specific number.
Does error 4005 mean I’ll lose data?
The error itself doesn’t cause extra data loss beyond what your chosen restore type (Update vs. Restore) already implies.
Can outdated iTunes cause error 4005?
Yes — always update to the latest Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes version before troubleshooting further.
Does this affect iPad restores too?
Yes — error 4005 and its fixes apply identically to iPad.
This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple Inc. All firmware download links resolve to Apple’s official servers — we do not host, mirror, or distribute firmware files.
