- If iTunes doesn’t recognize or connect to your iPhone, there are some simple solutions you can try to connect.
- Make sure iTunes is up to date, your phone is unlocked, and the iPhone can trust your computer.
- You should also restart the computer and iPhone and make sure the USB cable is not damaged.
Many people have stopped using the desktop version of iTunes altogether, relying instead on wireless syncing, which is often much more convenient. However, if you still connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable, you may sometimes come across an issue where iTunes doesn’t recognize your iPhone. There are a number of likely causes, so here are seven ways you can fix your computer to phone connection when iTunes doesn’t recognize your iPhone.
Make sure iTunes has the latest updates
Are you using the latest version of iTunes? If it’s not up to date, there could be a software incompatibility or bug preventing your iPhone from connecting properly. Apple notifies you that there’s a new version of iTunes automatically when you launch the app, so if you see an update notification, don’t cancel it, install the update instead.
Make sure your iPhone is unlocked
Sometimes it’s the really simple things that can fix a perplexing glitch. If you’re having trouble getting iTunes to recognize your iPhone, close iTunes and then unlock your iPhone and make sure it’s on the home screen (not an app screen). Restart iTunes and see if that resolves the issue.
When successfully connected, you should see your iPhone appear below the menu bar.
Dave Johnson/Insider
Let your iPhone trust this computer
When you connect your iPhone to your computer, you may see a message on your iPhone asking if you can trust this computer. If it does, don’t ignore or dismiss this window: tap Confidence. iTunes will not be able to connect to your iPhone unless you confirm that the phone can trust this PC.
If your iPhone asks if you can trust the PC, tap Trust.
Dave Johnson/Insider
Restart your iPhone and computer
The reason iTunes is not recognizing your phone is likely to be some sort of temporary software glitch. That’s especially true if you can usually connect, but it’s not working right now. To clear most software issues, restart both your iPhone and your computer.
Remove the cable connecting your iPhone and the computer. Then restart your computer in the usual way: click beginningfollowed by the Energy icon and then Restart. After, restart your iPhone. Launch iTunes and reconnect your iPhone.
Replace your USB cable
USB cables wear out, fray and break internally. Even if the business ends appear to be in good working order, the wiring under the jacket could be compromised, especially if it has sharp bends. Try the cable on another device or just replace it with another cable and try again.
Try a different USB port on your computer
Similarly, the USB port that the iPhone is connected to might be unreliable or completely broken. Move the cable to a different USB port, if possible, and see if that solves your problem.
Clean the port of your iPhone
While you can often try a different port on your computer, you don’t have that luxury on your iPhone: There’s only one port. It’s okay; if there’s a problem, it’s almost always that it’s gotten so dirty that the Lightning cable can’t reliably make contact with the inside of the port. If iTunes still doesn’t recognize your iPhone, you might suspect a problem with debris in your port. Carefully clean iphone port and try again.