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4013Phone & OS errors

iPhone Error 4013 — Restore / Update Failed (USB Connection)

Finder or iTunes lost the USB connection while flashing the device firmware.

Severity: mediumiPhone with Lightning or USB-C portmacOS Finder / Apple Devices, Windows iTunes

Technical meaning

The restore session was aborted because the device stopped responding on the USB bus before the firmware was written.

Symptoms

  • Restore stops at “Preparing iPhone”
  • iPhone shows the recovery-mode cable screen
  • iTunes/Finder reports “An unknown error occurred (4013)”
  • Device is detected with an odd serial number

Most likely causes

  1. 1Third-party, damaged or non-MFi lightning / USB-C cable
  2. 2Outdated macOS, iTunes or Windows USB driver
  3. 3Security software or a VPN proxy interrupting the connection

How to fix it

  1. 1Force restart the iPhone with the key combination below before doing anything else.
  2. 2Use an original or MFi certified cable and connect directly to a USB port on the computer (no hub).
  3. 3Update macOS or iTunes to the latest version and reboot the computer.
  4. 4Disable VPN, firewall and antivirus software for the duration of the restore.
  5. 5If the port is dirty or bent, clean it carefully with a plastic pick and try another port.
  6. 6Put the device in recovery mode again and restore; use a different computer if it fails twice.
  7. 7Persistent 4013 with damage history indicates a logic-board (USB IC) fault — book a repair.
Zorunlu yeniden başlatma
iPhone 8 ve sonrasi icin zorunlu yeniden baslatma:
1. Ses Acma tusuna basip birakin
2. Ses Kisma tusuna basip birakin
3. Apple logosu gorunene kadar Yan tusu basili tutun

Frequently asked questions

Will a restore erase my data?
Yes, a standard restore wipes the device. Only restore from an existing backup afterwards.
Is error 4013 hardware or software?
Usually software or cable related. If it survives a cable swap and another computer, suspect the USB IC on the board.

Copies: 51,990 · Views: 141,870 · Updated: Sep 10, 2026

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