Q: Apple Mobile Device Driver Missing Under Device Manager

Thanks spenj,

I found that my desktop pc functions as anticipated with this issue, and my Laptop is the device that is quirky!! I belive I must have a conflict somewhere within my laptop setup. Some good feed back from turingtest2led me here:

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3991

Which offer a number of work arounds.

Thanks for the tip.  Your note could use some clarification though because when you say "... expand other devices" I noticed I did not have a group called "Other Devices."  So I figured you might mean to look under all the other device types and lo and behold I found the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver under the "Imaging Devices" label.

Then by updating and doing a manual search in the c:\ program files ... where the usb driver resides, it was reinstalled properly under the USB grouping.

Now my iPad is recognized in iTunes and I AM BACK IN BUSINESS!  Thank you very much.

Me too, I'm having the same problem. I have an iPod Touch 5th Gen, the device itself doesn't display in windows, no apple devices found in my device manager, and no device displayed in itunes but when I plug it in my computer it does battery charge but no notification "Trust this computer?" prompts. I had followed all Apple's and other user suggestion instructions and seek Windows support. This is frustrating all suggestion and trouble shooting guides didn't work out in my ipod. I hope apple can resolve this.

Apple is not going to resolve this by just waiting. You need to take action. If none of the suggestions in this message thread solve your problem make an appointment at the Genius Bar in any Apple store (http://apple.com/retail) and take in your computer and iPod.

Tried this but C: program files/common files/apple/mobile device support/.....no file listed ending in DRIVERS...

Hi,

Believe it or not, the solution to your problem is easier than you think.

the problem is probably caused by a dirty lightning hub. Just use a toothpick to clean your iphone lightning port and you're good to go

Thanks spenj!

I read the previous posts and now wish I had just done this one first.  Removing and reinstalling things takes time and is frustrating.  All I likely had to do in the first place was what you suggested.  This is the area that worked, although I had to click a button to activate the ability to update driver, it was pretty easy.

Windows 10

Itunes 12.2.2.25 64 bit

iPhone 5

The problem seemed to start when I first plugged in my iPhone which hadn't been backed up since June.  Since that time I upgraded my Windows 8.1 that came with the PC to the new Windows 10.  So, I'm thinking when I installed the iPhone for the first time on 10, it loaded a driver from a long time ago and allowed me to view the device like a HDD.  Some thing I like to do in order to transfer pics/video to other programs.  I could see the phone as a HDD, but iTunes wouldn't recognize it and thus, I couldn't back up the iPhone til your suggestion.  Thanks a bunch.

@Messi001  - Thank you!!!!!   this saved me..  found my iPhone under Portable Devices (not even marked as unrecognized or yellow), updated the driver from that location and boom...  immediately recognized and was finally able to open with iTunes.  Had been going nuts trying everything else.

Dear Messi001,

Thank you so much for that. I have been struggling with my iPad not being recognized in iTunes for days. This has fixed it.

I am very grateful.

Al the best,

John

I just updated to windows 10 and not being able to sync to iPhone was one of the issues and looked all over the web for answers.  This solution was spot on and so simple.  Thanks! 

Now I just have to figure out how to get itunes to sync audio files that don't come from Apple Store!

All you need to do to show Apple Device is In Device Manager I selected View->Show Hidden Devices.and it will show Portable Devices and click on that and it will show Apple.

Just go here.   http://www.technipages.com/itunes-fix-iphone-or-ipod-not-detected-in-windows

I spent hours trying all the apple fixes. this took 2 minutes.

OK so I'm not too great on the computer but I finally figured out my issue with this problem. The apple device driver was missing from my computer too. ONLY until I took the connector OUT of my router usb port and then plugged it into the back of the computers usb port did it get fixed. Now the computer recognizes the apple device driver, it opens iTunes and recognizes each apple device when plugged in and my desktop downloads the pictures and videos and removes them from the iPhone. I don't trust iCloud. I would rather back it up myself to my desktop.

Click Start, Right Click on Computer, Click Properties, Click Device Manager, Click Continue,Click Universal Serial Bus Controllers and hopefully you will see Apple Mobile Device USB Driver. 

Anyway, something simple like making sure your iPhone connector is plugged into the BACK OF THE COMPUTER is what fixed my silly mistake. Hope this helps someone else!

I found a simple solution. Go to windows services. Stop and restart the "Apple Mobile Device Service". what was showing incorrectly under "Portable Devices" now correctly shows "Apple iPhone".  Also, the device driver will only show up under Windows\system32\driverstore if it has ever been connected once. If the device driver never connected properly, there won't be one there to find.

Thank you for posting that link.  Once I figured out how to navigate my new computer it worked. So THANK YOU very much.