Help! iPhone 7 went into boot loop mode and now is stuck in recovery mode and can't update or restore

RECOVERY MODE INFO in relation to being unable to update or restore your device:

If you can‘t update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

From what I'm reading online this seems to be a recurring problem. My iPhone 7 died on me today out of nowhere. The software malfunctioned and the phone went into the same restart-loop. After consulting online support, as well as the Genius Bar at the Apple Store, I was informed that the phone had unexplainably malfunctioned and is beyond repair. I find it hard to grasp that an $700+ phone that is just a little over a year old, dies beyond repair because of a software issue. The "deal" we're receiving with an $340 replacement feels like a ripoff.

Sure. So basically a 4013 refers to a restore issue when your device loses connection in some manner or it can't communicate with iTunes, upon trying to update your device again and/or during a restore.

After getting the iTunes logo screen on your device, then plugging it into iTunes, and putting the device in recovery mode, you'll see a prompt to update or restore.

I select "Update" first as a general rule.

Typically when your device shows a Connect to iTunes screen, it requires an update. Only restore if you must or simply want to.

Update option is selected by me.

So, all appears well until.....these two prompts appear.

At this point, I FIRST try to manually put the phone in recovery mode so that it updates the device only. It will throw the two prompts below, off of the iTunes screen if so and the update will resume.

If this is successful/no errors appear, the device will gain a clean install of the latest software version via iTunes and device behavior will return to normal. You can stop here.

**If however, it demands a restore, I select Restore, then restore and update as per the prompts below:

The process acts as though it's been initiated and begins the process.

*******>>> However, the 4013 code appears (see a fellow user's comments regarding this error prompt box below for more entailed info).

This is the one I bypass:

At this point, I leave the prompt alone, then I manually put the device in recovery mode again.

Once the iTunes logo screen appears on the phone via me manually initializing it on the phone, the 4013 prompt disappears and the restore and update process resumes at the top of the iTunes screen.

At this point, I allow it to finish the process. Should the error reappear, I simply go back to the device and manually put it in recovery mode again. Restore starts up again and completes.

The device will then show the Hello screen and is now not only updated with a fresh clean software version but also, ready for setup and to restore data from your backup. Device should return to standard functionality after.

This process has been very effective for me in resolving this issue for many. It's a fairly common error for users.

Hope this helps ~

Credit: Thank you, Crypt for the screenshots you posted relating specifically to this. Big help in offering visual guidance in this post!

Same. The worst part is we were on the last day of a holiday and all I really want is to get the photos off before I try restoring to Factory Settings. Can't bear to lose them and I have looked at a few tools but nervous to try them as some dodgy reviews.

Apple should really be able to get this data off for you when their software malfunctions.

Hi

What have you got on the screen is it asking you to connect to iTunes?

Please give a bit more information.

did you have iCloud backup turned on before problems?

Have you got an ipad with the photos on?

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

Exact same thing happened to me. I think the phone forced updating by itself and there was an error with the latest firmware for iphone 7 that caused this. Now Im either stuck with the boot loops or the updating error or the recovery mode.

Hi

Turn iPhone off Make sure your pc is running the latest iTunes 12.7.2 or later.

Connect lead to USB on your pc Press just the power button down on iPhone don't let go Connect lead to iPhone keep power button pressed down until pc sees iPhone Then wait for restore you may need to do this more than once Before it works.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

My daughter had this same issue this morning after an update while at school. Took it to an Apple store and they said that the interface was shot after trying to update and recover, with no explanation as to why the interface would crash. I'm not buying it!!

I had the same problem. 28 days after the 1 year warranty expired. My phone went into a "boot loop", as you described, while I was sleeping. My phone has never been dropped, wet, cracked, or damaged in any way. Completely MINT condition, never saw the outside of a lifeproof case. I paid $801.42 for this 128GB iPhone 7, at the Apple store. 56 weeks later, it's useless.

Talked to Apple support online, they told me to restore it using DFU mode. It did the same thing as you described, [error 4013]. I made an appointment to the Apple store (which is 1.5 hours from my home). They said it was a "hardware failure". They told me that it would be about $320 to give me a replacement phone. I informed the tech guy that I was not willing to pay that much for my phone, and that I don't feel like I should pay anything for this same phone again, after paying the hefty $800 price tag to begin with. He said that the $320 was a "set" number, and that there was "no way to change the cost" I asked to talk to a manager. He told me he would bring me a manager. He walked away, and within 20 seconds, he returned. He stated that he spoke to a manager, and that after the manager reviewed the incident, that he would be willing to knock 50% of the cost of the replacement off. making it $160. He told me it was a "take it or leave it, one time deal". I told him I wanted to think about it for a minute.

While "thinking about it" I started talking to other customers in the store. One man had the exact problem as I had. Within a few minutes, I had about 12 people (potential customers) gathered around me listening to my story about my iPhone 7. The salesman noticed that I had their attention, and quickly came up to me and offered me a "14 day period to consider the deal". It was as if he was trying to get me from the store.

It was very, very shady practice.

But, in the end, they had me bent over a barrel, so to speak. I could pay $160 and have a brand new iPhone 7, or I would have to spend $800 to get a comparable Samsung or LG phone. It just wasn't in my budget to spend another $800, so I tucked my tail and ponied up the $160. I need to have my phone for work.

Rest assured, unless Apple does something to make this right, this will be the last Apple product in my household.

I've worked through this exact issue, step by step as you have documented. Your screenshots provide excellent examples of what happened and when.

Upon getting the 4013, I put the device right back into recovery mode while still plugged in. The error went away and the restore finished.

This happened on another device I helped with but I got the 4013 twice after the other steps. Once again, I ignored the error, and straight away, I manually put device in recovery mode each time. Error went away. Restore finished successfully on this one as well.

Phones haven't had issues since or I know I would've gotten a text or call.

*Also, both needed carrier updates. I quickly updated the carrier settings per the prompt, which is not a typical occurrence I find in helping with restoring devices. Interesting in both of these specific situations, that prompt appeared before setting up device after reset/restore process...

Side note: I restored both via latest version of iTunes (12.7 version) at the time and via a MacBook Pro

Can you elaborate on what you meant by when you got the error code 4013? Did you manually do recovery mode on your phone or on the computer?

Any other information that you can provide will be truly beneficial.

Its a same thing happened to my phone, iphone 7+. Stuck in recovery mode, when i update or restore, the phone restrart and on the screen back to itunes logo for restore mode, and at laptop appeared ihone cant be restore, unknown error occurred (9). I did almost 30 times, its happening again and again. Heeelpppp.....

Thank you very much for your lengthy post, one other question that I have is does your loading bar pop up for like a split second? Mine does and when I try to do "recovery mode," which is hold the power and volume down until I see connect to iTunes (iPhone 7), it does not show a progress bar anymore and just continues to show the "recovery mode" image when trying to bypass the 4013 error code.

That's the screen you want it on. That's the restore/recovery screen. What makes all the difference is you initiating it into this mode, even if it is showing on the screen already.

It needs you to manually put it in this mode to connect properly with iTunes and in turn, allow the update and/or restore to process.

Other issues that may interfere if it refuses to override after several attempts and you know you followed the steps exactly as stated & if it continues to "fight" you:

Make sure iTunes is up to date

Make sure computer is up to date

Disable security software as it can interfere

Check your usb cables and connections