Fix iTunes Error 4013 & 4014 on iPhone and iPad

iTunes errors 4013 and 4014 usually appear during an iOS restore or update and mean your iPhone or iPad lost connection with Apple’s servers or the computer mid-process. This guide walks through the most reliable fixes, from simple cable checks to putting your device into recovery mode, so you can get the restore finished without losing your data.

What You’ll Need

A PC with iTunes (Windows) or a Mac with Finder (macOS Catalina or later)
The original or a high-quality MFi-certified Lightning/USB-C cable
A stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
At least 2 GB of free space on your computer’s hard drive
Your Apple ID password (required to re-enable Find My after restore)

Step-by-Step

Update iTunes or macOS. On Windows, open iTunes and go to Help > Check for Updates. On a Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. An outdated iTunes version is a common cause of errors 4013 and 4014.
Restart your computer and device. Force-restart your iPhone or iPad (press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears). Restart your computer as well. This clears temporary glitches on both ends.
Try a different cable and USB port. Use the cable that came with your device, or another MFi-certified one. Plug it directly into a USB port on the computer (avoid hubs and front-panel ports). If you have a USB-C to Lightning cable, try that instead.
Disable security software temporarily. Antivirus, firewall, or “cleanup” tools can block iTunes from communicating with Apple’s servers. Pause or exit them, then retry the restore. Re-enable them once the restore finishes.
Check your internet connection. Errors 4013/4014 often mean the download of the iOS firmware was interrupted. Switch from Wi-Fi to a wired Ethernet connection if possible, or vice versa. Also, try restarting your router.
Put your device into recovery mode. With the device connected, force-restart it while holding the correct button combination (see below) until you see the recovery mode screen (a computer icon and a cable). Then in iTunes/Finder, click “Restore” when prompted. This is the most effective fix for these errors.
Use a different computer. If the error persists, try restoring on another PC or Mac. This isolates whether the problem is with your computer’s software or the device itself.
Check Apple’s system status. Visit Apple’s System Status page (apple.com/support/systemstatus) to confirm that the iOS restore service isn’t down. If it shows an outage, wait a few hours and try again.

Common Mistakes

Using a damaged or non-certified cable. A frayed or third-party cable that doesn’t meet Apple’s specs can cause intermittent disconnects, triggering error 4013.
Skipping the software update. Running an old version of iTunes or macOS is one of the most frequent causes of these errors.
Interrupting the restore. Unplugging the device or letting the computer sleep during the process will almost always cause error 4014. Disable sleep mode in your power settings before starting.
Ignoring storage space. If your computer doesn’t have enough free disk space to download the iOS firmware file (often 4-6 GB), the restore fails with error 4013.
Not putting the device in recovery mode. Many people try to restore normally when the device is stuck in a boot loop. Recovery mode is required in that situation.

Tips

Back up before you restore. If you can, back up your iPhone or iPad to iCloud or the computer before attempting a restore. If the device won’t boot, you may still be able to back up via iTunes/Finder if it appears in the device list.
Use a wired internet connection. Ethernet is far more stable than Wi-Fi for large downloads. If you must use Wi-Fi, sit close to the router.
Close other apps. Shut down bandwidth-heavy programs (streaming, downloads, cloud sync) while restoring.
Try a different iOS firmware file. If iTunes keeps failing at the same point, download the correct IPSW file for your device model from a trusted source (like ipsw.me) and hold Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac) while clicking “Restore” to select it manually.
Check the cable connection. Make sure the Lightning/USB-C connector is fully inserted and clean. Lint in the port can cause intermittent disconnects.

Troubleshooting

If recovery mode doesn’t appear: The button combination depends on your device model. For iPhone 8 or later and iPad with Face ID: press and quickly release Volume Up, press and quickly release Volume Down, then hold the Side/Top button until recovery mode appears. For iPhone 7/7 Plus: hold the Side and Volume Down buttons together. For iPhone 6s and earlier, iPad with Home button, and iPod touch: hold the Home and Top/Side buttons together. Keep holding even after the Apple logo appears — recovery mode shows a computer icon, not the logo.

If the restore fails again in recovery mode: Try the same steps on a different computer. If it still fails, the issue may be hardware-related (e.g., a failing NAND chip or a damaged charging port). In that case, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store for diagnostics.

If your device is stuck in a boot loop: Put it into recovery mode (as above) and restore. This will erase the device, but it’s the only way to break the loop.

If you see error 4014 after the restore completes: This usually means the device rebooted but couldn’t activate. Check your internet connection and ensure the date/time on your computer is correct. If it still fails, try restoring again after a full computer restart.

If nothing works: Try a different USB port (USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0), or use a USB-C to Lightning cable if your computer has USB-C. Some older Windows PCs have known USB driver issues — update your chipset drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose my data if I get error 4013 or 4014?

Not necessarily. The error itself doesn’t wipe your data, but if you end up having to restore in recovery mode to fix it, that process erases the device. Always back up first if you can.

Why does error 4013 happen more often on Windows than Mac?

Windows computers are more likely to have conflicting USB drivers, antivirus software that interferes, and outdated iTunes versions. Macs generally have more stable USB and network stacks, so errors are less common.

Can I fix error 4014 without a computer?

No. Errors 4013 and 4014 occur during the iTunes/Finder restore process, so you need a computer to resolve them. You cannot fix them from the device itself.

Does putting my iPhone in recovery mode erase it?

Entering recovery mode does not erase anything. However, clicking “Restore” in iTunes/Finder while in recovery mode will erase the device and install the latest iOS. If you click “Update” instead, it will try to keep your data.

What’s the difference between error 4013 and 4014?

They are very similar and often interchangeable. Error 4013 typically indicates a communication failure between the device and computer, while 4014 often points to a network or server issue. The fixes for both are essentially the same.

How long should a restore take?

Usually 10-30 minutes depending on your internet speed and computer performance. If it takes longer than an hour, something is wrong — cancel and try again with a different cable or computer.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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