While we ’re long past the day where a wired USB to Lightning connexion was necessary to instal iPhone software package updates , sometimes it ’s still an easier way to go — for example , if you have a limited data connectedness and no Wi - Fi usable . And if you run intothe fear " iPhone Unavailable " fault , you may not have any other option but to plug your iPhone in and restore it to factory preferences the former - fashioned means .

While this process runs smoothly most of the time , there are scenario where you may carry into a hitch . Unfortunately , when this does chance , the error substance can be somewhat inscrutable , offering little supporter other than to tell you that " An unknown computer error occurred " and point a numeric codification that gives you little brainstorm into what that " strange " job could be . Chief among these is error 4013 .

The good news show is that the cause of these erroneous belief can often be very gentle to posit —   once you have it away where to look , that is . Unfortunately , since they track a broad reach of possible problem , Apple ca n’t really point to any one thing in the message , which is why it simply flags it as an " unknown " erroneous belief . However , there are a few troubleshooting steps that you could examine that will more often than not resolve error 4013 , and even some of its cousins like 4005 and 4014 .

What is iPhone error 4013?

Error 4013 indicate a communicating problem has occurred between your gimmick and your computer . The message can show up when restoring anything froman iPod classicto thelatest iPhones , and it fundamentally means that iTunes ( or Finder in later reading of macOS ) failed to pass on with your machine properly .

Of of course , there can be a lot of reason for this . disconnect your twist in the center of a restore will often result in a 4013 misplay , as will a bad USB embrasure , a dodgy cable , number one wood trouble , and more . Hence , there ’s no one berth to face , but if you overcompensate a few of the following bases , you’re able to rule out the most common causes for this error .

Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Sometimes the cliche is true : sour things off and back on again really does fix everything . Rebooting your Mac or PC should therefore be a first footstep , but do n’t forget to also restart the twist that you ’re trying to update or furbish up from that information processing system . How to do this varies depending on which equipment you ’re using .

Step 1 : Here ’s how to do it for a 2017 or later iPhone simulation , which let in the iPhone 8 , iPhone 8 Plus , iPhone SE ( 2020 ) , iPhone SE ( 2022 ) , and all Face ID - equipped iPhones , as well as all iPad model without a front Home button :

Step 2 : For the iPhone 7 , iPhone 7 Plus , and iPod Touch ( seventh generation ) , jam and defy both the side / top button and the volume down push at the same time until you see the Apple logo appear .

footstep 3 : For the iPhone 6s , iPhone SE ( 2016 ) , and earliest models , as well as the iPod Touch ( 6th generation ) or sooner and all iPad model that have a home clitoris on the front , press and hold both the side / top clitoris and the home button at the same time until you see the Apple logo appear .

stride 4 : Once your iPhone , iPad , or iPod Touch has finish restarting , unlock it with your passcode , connect it to your computer , and try restoring or update it again .

Install the latest version of iTunes

If you ’re running Windows or macOS Mojave ( 10.14 ) or in the beginning , you should ensure that you ’ve downloaded and add the a la mode version of iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC that ’s appropriate for your operating organization . As of this writing , that ’s iTunes 12.12.9 for Windows .

Note that this wo n’t apply if you ’re using macOS Catalina ( 10.15 ) or later , as iTunes is no longer used to contend iPhones , iPads , and iPod on these more recent operating systems . Instead , you’re able to bushel your gimmick through the macOS Finder app , which is a core part of the O .

footstep 1 : If you ’re using Windows 10 or later : If youdownloaded iTunes right away from the Microsoft Store , you could also check for updates from there . To do this , open theMicrosoft Storeapp and chooseGet Updates .

If you install iTunes now from Apple ’s site , you may check for updates and download the up-to-the-minute version from inside the iTunes app . To do this , openiTunesand chooseHelp > contain for Updatesfrom the carte du jour legal profession at the top .

Note that if you ’re install iTunes tonic on Windows 10 or later , it ’s strongly recommended that you grab it from the Microsoft Store , as that provides the latest available version . you could onlydownload iTunes 12.10.11 ( 64 - bit)orthe 32 - bit versiondirectly from Apple . These are also compatible with Windows 7 and Windows 8 .

Step 2 : If you ’re using macOS Mojave ( 10.14 ) or earlier , you’re able to find out for the latest version of iTunes through the progress - in Software Update chemical mechanism or download itdirectly from Apple ’s iTunes Downloads page . The right version of iTunes depends on which version of macOS or OS X you ’re using , as follow :

Apple also offersiTunes 10.6.3andiTunes 9.2.1for even honest-to-god versions of OS X , but if you have to go that far back , we ’d strongly recommending finding a information processing system that can handle a newer version of iTunes , as these are n’t likely to support any iPhone or iPad that ’s been eject in the past five years anyway .

Update your operating system

Regardless of whether you ’re using a Windows personal computer with iTunes or a recent interlingual rendition of macOS , you should also ensure that your operating scheme is fully up to date with the latest Windows updates or macOS software update . This is peculiarly important with macOS , since many of the components that are used to communicate with your iPhone are in the implicit in operating organisation .

footprint 1 : If you ’re using Windows 10 or later on , you’re able to check for updates by decease toSettings > Update & Security > Windows Update .

Step 2 : For macOS Ventura ( 13.0 ) or later , tally for updates by selecting the Apple card in the top - go out corner of your screen , and then selectingSystem options > General > Software Update .

On macOS Monterey ( 12.0 ) or before , this is found underSystem Preferences > Software Updatefrom the same Apple menu in the top - left corner .

remark that if you ’re doing a major macOS version update stop in macOS Mojave ( 10.14 ) or earlier , you should also curb to ensure that you ’re running the latest version of iTunes that ’s appropriate for the raw OS . For example , after update from Sierra to Mojave , you may need to go toSoftware Updateagain to get iTunes 12.9.5 .

Put your device in recovery mode

If you ’re encountering error 4013 while essay to restore your twist back to manufactory preferences , you may be capable to get things working by forcing your iPhone , iPad , or iPod Touch into recovery mode . This is a ironware - layer fashion that bypass the normal iOS / iPadOS method acting of interfacing with your computing gadget , which can help if the mistake is being induce by a computer software bug on the twist side .

stone’s throw 2 : bring up your Mac or PC .

Step 3 : colligate your iPhone , iPad , or iPod Touch to your computer using a USB cable . Ignore error 4013 or any other error that come up . Quit iTunes if it opens automatically after connecting your machine .

Step 4 : If you ’re running macOS Catalina ( 10.15 ) or subsequently , openFinder ; otherwise openiTunes(or reopen iTunes if you quit it in the premature gradation ) .

measure 5 : Keep your gadget get in touch to your calculator while perform the next steps , depending on the mannikin of your gadget . take note that these are the same steps draw in the surgical incision on restarting your machine ; the difference in this shell is that you ’re doing them while your iPhone , iPad , or iPod Touch is link to your computer .

For a 2017 or later iPhone exemplar – including the iPhone 8 , iPhone 8 Plus , iPhone SE ( 2020 ) , iPhone SE ( 2022 ) , and all front ID - equipped iPhones – pressing and quickly release the bulk up clitoris , then do the same with the intensity down button , and then press and hold the side button until you see the recovery mood screen appear .

For the iPhone 7 , iPhone 7 Plus , and seventh - generation iPod Touch , wardrobe and hold the top / side button and mass down buttons at the same time until you see the recovery mode screen appear .

For the iPhone 6s and iPhone SE ( 2016 ) or earlier models , wardrobe and obtain both the home and top / side release simultaneously until you see the convalescence modality screen appear .

footfall 6 : Once the convalescence musical mode screen appears , your gimmick should come out in Finder or iTunes with a pop - up that indicates there ’s a job with your gadget " that requires it to be update or restored . " Select eitherUpdateto attempt to add the latest interpretation of iOS / iPadOS on your twist without erasing it , orRestoreto return it to factory context .

If an update run out , you could repeat the above steps and essay theRestoreoption instead . This will efface everything on your iPhone , iPad , or iPod Touch , returning it to brand new mount , after which you could define it up from scratch and choose to reconstruct a backup from your computer or iCloud , if you have one useable .

Other steps you can try to fix error 4013

Since this is a communications error , there are several other things that could be getting in the way of a successful restore of your iPhone , iPad , or iPod .

footmark 1 : Check your USB cable . Ensure you ’re using an Apple - endorse Lightning or USB - C cable — the one that came with your gadget should work — and that it ’s undamaged . Try a different cable television if you have one on hand . While any reputable brand - name cable should also work fine , many of the brassy aftermarket Lightning cables you ’ll find in stores are designed for charging your gimmick and may not manage information transfer properly .

Step 2 : If you ’re using a Windows personal computer , ensure that your driver are up to date . you may check for Windows number one wood updates published through Microsoft underSettings > Update & Security > Windows Update ; however , if you do n’t see anything young here , it ’s worth also visiting your PC manufacturer ’s internet site and seeing if they have any number one wood updates usable for direct download . You ’ll want to focalize particularly on USB and " chipset " drivers , as these are the ones most likely to impact communication with your iPhone , iPad , or iPod .

Step 3 : Temporarily disable any antivirus or other tools that attempt to scan the devices you connect to your PC . These can get in the way of iTunes communicating properly with your iOS gadget or iPod . You ’re unlikely to need these while restoring your machine , and if that fixes the job , you could always reenable them when you ’re done .

Step 4 : render restoring from a different computer if you have admission to one . This will help to determine if the problem is with your PC or Mac or your iPhone , iPad , or iPod . If the trouble endure across multiple computers and with different cable , it ’s probably your twist , at which point it ’s time to strain out to Apple Support for help .