In this article, we will look at what to do when your computer/laptop does not see the iPhone when connected via USB or WiFi. We will understand the operating systems Windows 10 and Mac OS.
This article is suitable for all iPhone Xs/Xr/X/8/7/6/5 and Plus models running iOS 12. Older versions may have different or missing menu items and hardware support listed in the article.
The main reasons why the PC does not see the iPhone
The most common sources of the problem are:
- Failures and hardware damage in the gadget.
- Software conflict on the computer.
- Old OS (on iPhone or computer).
- Installation of outdated drivers or lack of them.
- Failure of the iPhone connection socket and USB port.
- Mechanical damage to the USB cable.
Most of the problems described above are much easier to fix than they seem. Let's look at how to make your iPhone work when connected to a computer.
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Don’t know how to solve a problem with your gadget and need expert advice?
Reinstalling USB drivers
One proven way to solve this problem is to reinstall USB drivers for iPhone. You need to remove them using Device Manager and then install them again.
Follow the steps:
Often, if the iPhone is not visible on the computer, this method solves the problem.
Chipset driver update (USB)
All computers have a motherboard on which chipsets are installed. These chipsets are responsible for connecting various devices to the computer. In order for chipsets to function normally, they need drivers.
In some situations, drivers begin to work unstable. Quite often this happens due to Windows system errors.
It also happens that the computer cannot detect not only the iPhone, but also any other flash drives or phones. In this situation, it is necessary to update the drivers for the chipset.
DevID.info
In the first option, go to the resource https://devid.info/ru and click on the green “Download” button to download the “DevID agend” utility. The program performs quick installation and update of drivers.
During installation, you should uncheck the boxes so as not to install unnecessary advertising software.
After launching the utility, select “Start Search”. The software will scan the equipment and then offer to update old drivers.
If there is a new driver version for the chipset, it will be updated. If the problem is not solved, then move on to the next option.
Download and install the chipset
This method involves downloading and installing the driver yourself. Depending on the motherboard, it may be an AMD or Intel chipset. Let's look at an example of installing Intel chipsets:
Auto-selection of Intel drivers
Here you can make Intel itself select the necessary drivers for the system. To do this, use a special utility to scan the equipment and install the necessary programs.
Follow the link https://www.intel.ru/content/www/ru/ru/support/detect.html?iid=dc_iduu, click “Download”. After that, install this utility and perform a search. When the software finds suitable drivers, it will be prompted to install them.
Checking the USB cable
If there are any severe bends or damage on the USB cable, this may be the problem. The information is simply not transmitted because the cable is damaged. The solution is to purchase a new 30-pin cable or Lightning connector, depending on the connector on the iPhone.
Click “Trust this computer”
When you connect your iPhone to your computer, a request appears on the screen where the user needs to be allowed access to data and settings. Here you just need to click “Trust”.
Connect to another USB connector
You can try replacing the USB connector. Especially when you insert the cable from the iPhone into those connectors that are located in the system unit on the front panel.
Connect the cable to the connector located on the back of the system unit. These connectors are soldered directly into the motherboard, so they work as efficiently as possible.
Reinstalling iTunes
To fully manage your Apple gadget, iTunes must be installed on your Windows computer. If this software does not function well, it should be reinstalled or updated.
Official iTunes website: https://www.apple.com/ru/itunes/download/. You can download a new version and then install it over the old one. The software will be updated.
Restart Apple Mobile Device Service
You must disconnect your iPhone from your computer and close iTunes before performing this step. Now you need to restart Apple services, as they may be crashing.
Instructions:
After updating iTunes and restarting the Apple service, the computer should see the iPhone. Open “Computer” and find the smartphone there. In the screenshot of the niche it is at the very top.
Connecting iPhone to another computer
When you connect your gadget to another computer, you can immediately figure out what the cause of the problem is. If another PC sees the iPhone, then the problem may be with your computer, which the smartphone cannot see.
If other laptops and computers do not see the iPhone, then the problem may be related to the phone itself or the USB cable. For reliability, you need to connect the device to two different computers that have different OSes.
The problem may occur due to glitches in iOS. By forcefully rebooting your iPhone, you can fix the problem:
- On iPhone 6 and above, press the “Home” button or the lower volume key.
- Press and hold the “Power” button.
- These elements should be pressed for approximately 10 seconds.
After rebooting the gadget, you can try to connect it to the computer again.
Wi-Fi synchronization does not work
Checking that the iPhone is connected correctly via Wi-Fi
If the wireless data transfer option is not activated in the iTunes settings, then no synchronization with the computer will work.
- We connect the gadget to the computer via USB.
- Open iTunes. If necessary, enter your Apple ID and account password.
- Click on the icon of your device in the iTunes window, select “Browse” in the sidebar.
- We check that on the right side of the window the “Synchronize with this device via Wi-Fi” section is checked. If there is no checkbox, then mark it.
- Click on the “Finish” (or “Apply”) button.
- Disconnect the USB cable, then check that the iPhone and computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
If everything is configured correctly, after following the above instructions, you can start synchronization between gadgets using the “Synchronize” option in iTunes. If data exchange has not started, then we move on to other solutions.
Doesn't sync with Windows
The error may appear due to a problem in the service that is responsible for the functioning of iTunes. You should try restarting this service.
- Close iTunes, disconnect the gadget if it is connected via USB.
- Now you need to press “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” to restart the “Task Manager”.
- Go to the “Services” section, in the list that appears we find the Apple Mobile Device Service section.
- Right-click on the found element and select “Restart”.
- Open iTunes again and synchronize the gadget.
Doesn't sync with Mac OS
The problem may be due to an error in the process that makes iTunes work. We restart it. 
- Open “System Monitor” along the path “Finder”, then “Programs” and “Utilities”.
- In the “CPU” section we find a process called iTunes Helper or AppleMobileDeviceHelper.
- Select the found element with the left mouse button, then click on the cross in the upper left corner of the window and select “Finish”.
- Launch iTunes and sync iPhone.
If all else fails
- Reboot the router, reconnect the iPhone and computer to the network.
- We start wireless synchronization via iPhone. To do this, go to the “Settings” menu, select “General” and “Synchronization with iTunes via Wi-Fi.” Then click on the displayed computer name.
- We update iTunes and iOS to the latest versions.
- We reboot the gadget and computer, then synchronize them again.
- Turn off data transmission over the mobile network, leaving only Wi-Fi on. We try synchronization again.
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Synchronization with a PC will help you unlock the potential of legendary Apple devices. Using a computer, you can equip your iPhone with many useful applications, download music, games, books and other content. Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that Apple devices are not detected via the USB port.
Why doesn't my iPhone see USB?
- The synchronization cable is faulty (broken, contains obvious mechanical damage to the adapters or wires).
Diagnosis of the problem: connect the smartphone to the PC using a different USB cable.
Solution: replace the cable.
- contamination of contacts (ingress of foreign particles, moisture and further oxidation of metal parts).
Diagnosis of the problem: detailed inspection of iPhone connectors and USB devices.
Solution: clean the oxidized contacts with an eraser or brush, carefully remove blockages using cotton swabs or a needle.
- failure of the connection port.
Diagnosis of the problem: try connecting another device to the port.
Solution: connect your iPhone via a different USB channel, check the settings for connecting additional ports on your PC.
- The USB output in the smartphone is faulty (the microcircuit is burned out, the connector is torn out or loose).
Diagnosis of the problem: visual inspection, examination of the breakdown by a specialist.
Solution: contact the service center to replace the part.
- charge controller defect.
Diagnosis of the problem: a message that the cable is not connected, although the plug is in the device connector.
Solution: replacing the controller.
- iPhone software errors.
Solution: flashing or restoring the operating system.
- iTunes application software crashes on PC.
Solution: reinstall the program, roll back to the previous one, or update to the latest version.
- inappropriate current level (when connecting the smartphone to the computer via extension cords).
Solution: sync your phone directly without unnecessary connectors and wires.
It is necessary to carefully study the settings; perhaps they prohibit the exchange of information with the computer. The above-mentioned aspects are universal methods for solving incorrect identification of iPhone 4s, 5 or 5s, 6 via USB channel.
"USB device not recognized" error
If the OS on your computer displays the message “USB device not recognized” when you connect a gadget, you need to change the connection port, reinstall the driver, reconfigure the settings in the registry, remove and reinstall the device in Device Manager. An effective method is to disconnect the PC from the main power board, and not the usual shutdown, but disconnect the power cable for a few minutes. These manipulations allow you to get rid of residual current in the system, which sometimes leads to minor circuit errors, as a result of which some PC functions are disabled and a message appears about the inability to recognize the USB device.
To automatically get rid of USB identification problems, you can use the Windows troubleshooting application - Diagnose and fix Windows USB problems automatically. Suitable for Windows Vista, 7, XP.
Possible problems
1. Controller malfunction
Solution: remove and reinstall all controllers, thereby restoring the USB port.
- “Start” button -> “Run” menu item -> devmgmt.msc command -> “OK” button -> “Device Manager” -> “USB Controllers” item -> apply the “Delete” function in order to all controllers;
- restart your PC. Reinstallation of the controllers will be carried out automatically by the Windows operating system, after which you can safely try to connect the iPhone to the system.
2. The iPhone driver is damaged, Windows identifies the smartphone as an “Unknown Device”.
Solution: Update the driver. Right-click to select “Properties” in the device’s context menu -> “Driver” tab -> “Update” or download the appropriate program from the Apple website.
3. Incorrect USB controller settings.
Solution: “Device Manager” -> call the context menu with the right mouse button -> “Properties” -> “Power management” -> uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” -> “Ok” -> restart the PC.
Configuring additional settings for USB ports 4. Failure of the USB controller integrated into the motherboard.
Solution: replace the part at a service center or purchase an external USB controller. Connect this board to the motherboard via a PCI port, having previously disabled the existing USB controller in the PC BIOS.
When diagnosing why an iPhone is not detected by a computer via USB, it is worth working through all possible reasons, starting with the simplest ones and moving upward. Hardware failures should be repaired by specialists, and only experienced users can intervene in the computer BIOS.
iTunes doesn't see iPhone? Judging by the number of requests, this is a fairly common problem that remains relevant to this day. During its existence, a lot of solutions appeared on the Internet, which we decided to put together.
Why is my iPhone not visible?
iTunes may not see your iPhone for a variety of reasons.First of all, it makes sense to rule out the version of the iTunes software glitch by reinstalling the Apple media combiner. You can download the latest version of iTunes from the official website of the developer company.
Next, pay attention to the USB cable you are using. Perhaps it is faulty. In this case, the solution is obvious - replace the connecting cord and try to connect the mobile device to the computer again.
Also take a look at the iPhone charging port. Perhaps it is clogged. You can remove dirt at a service center or, at your own risk, at home using a brush or toothpick.
Is the problem still relevant? Perhaps iTunes does not recognize the iPhone due to errors in the PC software.
The computer does not see the iPhone due to AMDS failure
Malfunctions of the AMDS service are also one of the reasons why iTunes in Windows refuses to recognize the connected device. In this case, a message may appear “This iPhone/iPad cannot be used because... Apple Mobile Device Service is not running."In this case, you need to restart the Apple Mobile Device Service. This is done as follows:
- Close iTunes and disconnect your mobile device from your PC;
- Open a command prompt by pressing the Windows and R buttons simultaneously;
- In the input field that appears, enter services.msc and confirm your action by clicking “OK”. The service console will open.
- Find Apple Mobile Device Service in the list, right-click on the name and select “Properties” from the menu.
- In the properties window that opens, find “Startup Type” and select “Automatic”.
- Then click the “Stop” button, and then “Run”, restarting the service, and “OK”.
- Restart your computer.
- Launch iTunes and connect your device.
iPhone is not visible because it does not trust the computer
It happens that iTunes does not see the iPhone because once the users answered negatively to the question “Should I trust this computer” when they first connected the mobile device to the PC, “Do not trust”. In theory, once trust is denied, iTunes is blocked from accessing the contents of the mobile device, and trust warnings appear again and again when that iPhone or iPad is connected to the computer. In practice, various failures are possible that make a smartphone or tablet invisible to tuna.Along with updating iTunes to the latest version and reconnecting the mobile device to the PC, resetting trust settings and Network settings can solve the problem.
To reset your trust settings, open the Settings app and go to General > Reset > Reset Location Settings. After this, when you connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer, dialog boxes will appear asking you to “trust this computer.”
If this doesn't help, Apple recommends resetting your network settings. This is done as follows: open “Settings” and go to “General” > “Reset” > “Reset network settings”. Please note that this will also reset Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular network settings, as well as VPN and APN settings that were previously used.
In addition to a software glitch, the invisibility problem may have its roots in the hardware. For example, the cause may be moisture getting under the device body. Check the liquid contact indicator (where it is located is described in the subsection) and pay attention to the material “iPhone fell into water - what you can and should do, and what you cannot.”
If none of the above helped you, the Apple media harvester still ignores the connected iPhone or iPad, also try looking for a solution in one of our old instructions - If you managed to fix the problem, tell us in the comments which method helped you.
If you haven’t found an answer to your question or something didn’t work out for you, and there is no suitable solution in the comments below, ask a question through ours. It's fast, simple, convenient and doesn't require registration. You will find answers to your and other questions in the section.
Readers often contact us with various questions about solving any problems related to mobile devices and software. One of the most popular: “ iTunes doesn't see iPhone, what should I do?".
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You can find a working way out of this situation on the Internet, but you have to make your way through mountains of various information. In this article, we decided to combine all possible solutions and figure out why, after all, “ iTunes doesn't see iPhone«.
iTunes often scares iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users. The program seems confusing, complex and extremely inconvenient. It also throws out various pearls. Either the music is not synchronized correctly, or the applications have disappeared somewhere, or even iTunes cannot detect the iPhone (iPad or iPod Touch).
There is no need to despair (and switch to Android), there will always be solutions to the problem. If iTunes does not see the iPhone, check its functionality:
- Software. Reinstall iTunes by downloading the latest version.
- Cables. Try using a different cable.
- Computer. iTunes does not see iPhone due to a malfunction of the Apple Mobile Device. Another computer may help resolve the problem.
- USB ports. Often the problem lies in the USB port. Try using the connector on the back of the system unit.
If all standard methods do not help, then it’s time to take on the heavy artillery.
Doesn't see because he doesn't trust
iPhone or iPad are completely self-sufficient, stand-alone devices, but they still have to be connected to a computer from time to time to transfer large amounts of data, install software, etc. In this case, sometimes a device synchronization problem arises, which can often be solved using the methods described below.
ON THIS TOPIC:
We will talk about trusted computers, or more precisely, the operating systems installed on them. When connecting an iPhone or iPad to a new computer for the first time (or after reinstalling the OS on an old one), the user receives the request “Trust this computer?” and must answer yes to access settings and content on your mobile device.
If you reject the request, then a synchronization problem may arise in the future., and to solve it you will need to use the instructions below.
On Mac
So, to get a second request and “start trusting” your Mac computer, you need to select “ Transition —> Go to folder"(or use the keyboard shortcut " ⌘Cmd + ⇧Shift + G«),
and then go to the address /var/db/lockdown and delete all certificates in this directory.
On Windows XP, 7, 8, 10
In the case of Windows OS, you will also need to delete the contents of the Lockdown directory. To do this, you will need to enable the display of hidden folders and files ( Start —> Control Panel —> Folders settings),
and then go to the address C:\ProgramData\Apple\Lockdown(for Windows 7, 8, 10) or C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Apple\Lockdown
If deleting certificates from a Windows PC does not solve the problem, you will have to use a more complex method:
1 . Right-click on the shortcut " Computer", select " Properties" and find " device Manager«;
2 . In chapter " USB controllers"Right-click to call up the context menu of the item " Apple Mobile Device USB Driver" and click " Update drivers...«;
4 . In the window that appears, click “ Review" and go to the directory C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers, where we are interested in a file called " usbaapl“, which is what needs to be installed.
If none of the methods described above helped solve the problem, then the cause probably does not lie in obtaining a trusted status for this computer. Try this:
iTunes doesn't see iPhone or other Apple device in Microsoft Windows XP
1
. Close iTunes after disconnecting your device;
2
. Go to Start -> Execute and enter in the window that appears services.msc or open Services In chapter Administration Control panels;
3
. Find an item Apple Mobile Device and in the next window click on Stop;
4
. After stopping in the same window, click on Launch;
5
. After restarting the service, iTunes will be ready to work with your device.
The iPhone is a legendary device and an object of desire for millions of people around the world. However, even with this phone there are difficulties. Let's try to figure it out and what to do about it. The Apple phone is also popular in our country. Despite the fact that this device is much more expensive than its competitors, it is in incredible demand - it is prestigious and elegant.
Why the computer doesn't see the iPhone: reasons
So, you connect your iPhone to your computer, but the answer is silence. First of all,
experts advise examining the cable for possible cuts or cracks. This is especially true for people who have pets. If such an inspection does not produce results, try inserting the cable into a different USB port - this may be the problem.
Also take a look at the phone connector - there is a chance that the contacts have oxidized. To bring them back to normal, just use an eraser by running it directly over the contacts.
If, however, the computer does not see the iPhone due to the cable, and it needs to be replaced, we recommend purchasing an original part - even if it is made in China, it costs a little more than a copy, it will work much longer. Counterfeits are prone to glitches and break quickly.
The computer does not see the iPhone: the problem is in the communicator
If you were able to find out that neither the USB port nor the cable is to blame for the problem, most likely the problem occurred in the phone itself. In practice often
The bottom cable becomes unusable. This part breaks, as a rule, when the smartphone is subject to falls. Probably, one day the phone fell on the back of the case, and this affected the performance of the cable.
If, for example, the computer does not see the iPhone 5 for the reason described above, the work to replace the specified part will cost about 1000 rubles, possibly higher. In this case, the price does not significantly depend on the modification of the communicator. We also note that sometimes iPhone owners change the cable themselves.
However, it is highly not recommended to take such actions without the necessary skill, since there is a high probability that you will not be able to put the smartphone back together unless you have professional knowledge in this area. Thus, something else may fail along the way.
The destructive power of water
Very often the problem occurs when moisture gets into the smartphone. You may object: “The computer doesn’t see the iPhone 3g, but I didn’t go swimming with it.” This is not necessary. It is enough just to keep the communicator in a room with high humidity. This can cause serious problems because moisture still gets into the interior of the phone.
If you recognize your case in these lines, you need to turn off the device and
contact the service center specialists. But particularly inventive users disassemble the communicator themselves and then dry it. However, you can resort to such measures only if you are absolutely confident in your own abilities.
It's all the current's fault
From time to time, the computer does not see the iPhone 4s (possibly another modification) due to problems with the power chip. Unfortunately, this part is expensive, and replacing it can cost about 3,000 rubles, and sometimes more.
In addition, we must not forget that firmware can also show character. Failures are especially frequent in the case of unofficial firmware. You need to return the phone to its “clean”, factory condition.
Possible solutions
When it comes to a USB cable, when replacing it with a working and proven one, it’s good that you can purchase such a useful thing in many electronic stores.
If the problem is internal and you have experience in iPhone repair, you can replace the broken part yourself. If you do not have the necessary knowledge, contact professionals from branded service centers.
iTunes App Doesn't Notice iPhone, or Software Issues
First, reinstall the iTunes application by downloading the latest version from the official website. If this doesn't help, let's move on to setting up the operating system.
If the Windows XP platform is deployed on your computer, you must perform the following steps: close iTunes, having first disconnected the device. Go to the “Start” menu, select “Run”, and enter “services.msc” in the window that appears. A similar result can be achieved by going to the “Control Panel”, the “Administration” section, the “Services” item.
the service will restart and iTunes will be fully prepared to work together with the communicator.
If you have Windows 7 or Windows Vista installed on your computer, the action plan is as follows: go to right-click on “Apple iPhone” and select the “Update Driver” function, which is present in the appeared Next, search for the driver on the computer using the appropriate item.
After this, we are interested in choosing a driver from the list of already installed ones. We turn to “install from disk”. In the dialog box that appears, click the “Browse” button. Go to drive “C”, the “Program Files” folder, then “Common Files”, then “Apple”, the “Mobile Device Support” we need and, finally, the “Drivers” directory. Run the file “usbaapl”.
Click “OK” in the installation from disk window. Click “Next” and complete the driver installation. Open iTunes to check whether the device is recognized correctly.
If the problem occurs in the Mac OS X environment, disconnect the communicator from the computer, first closing it in iTunes. Open a file manager called “Finder” and move several items to the “Trash”: the folder with the “iTunes” application, a shortcut for this program from a special launcher, the files “AppleMobileDevice.kext” and “AppleMobileDeviceSupport.pkg”.
We restart the computer, delete the contents of the Recycle Bin, and restart the computer again. Download the latest version of the iTunes application for the Mac platform. We connect the device and use iTunes. So we have looked at the main cases in which the computer does not see the iPhone, as well as ways to solve this problem. Just a few simple steps can help you get rid of the problems that have arisen, but if this does not happen, you should take the device to a service center for in-depth testing as soon as possible.
