colboy58

Q: iTunes not showing the option to check for iOS Software Update

I have an iPhone 6 Plus 64GB with iOS 9.3.5 installed, Windows 7 (SP1) HP Laptop. The last few iOS updates (from about iOS 8 or 9, I have done 'over the air' rather than connecting to iTunes on my laptop.

 

This time, with iOS 10 being released and reading online about a number of iPhones being 'bricked' updating 'over the air', I decided to update by connecting via USB/Lightning cable to my laptop and iTunes.

 

When opening iTunes on the laptop, clicking on the device (iPhone) and 'Summary', it correctly showed the current software on my phone (iOS 9.3.5), but no option to 'check for updates'. It also says "Connect this iPhone using a USB cable in order to update or restore it's software", which seems strange, since it is connected via USB and is recognizing the iPhone's correct, current software version. After not being able to figure out why, I found also that iTunes 'check for update' said that v12.1.1 was current. After some searching online, I came across a website that showed iTunes was up to v12.4.3 at the time of writing. I therefore went to the Apple website to update iTunes, as I couldn't do it from within iTunes itself. I found that the latest version is 12.5.1.21 which I downloaded and installed (without uninstalling the previous version first). Still the same problem. I then uninstalled that latest, current version of iTunes on my laptop and reinstalled it. Still the same problem.

 

I have been able to 'Sync' and Backup the phone in iTunes without any issues.

 

Can anyone help please?

 

Message was edited by: colboy58 I was just considering taking a chance and updating the iphone software via the phone's 'Settings' App with the option of doing a 'restore' via iTunes on the laptop if I ran into problems. Then, though, I found that the "Restore Backup" button in iTunes was 'greyed out' and not 'clickable'.

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 9.3.5, null

Posted on Sep 16, 2016 8:19 PM

Close

Q: iTunes not showing the option to check for iOS Software Update

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by darren.s,

    darren.s darren.s Sep 17, 2016 6:04 PM in response to colboy58
    Community Specialists
    Sep 17, 2016 6:04 PM in response to colboy58
    Howdy colboy58,

    Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities!

    I understand from your post that iTunes isn't showing that a software update is available for your iPhone 6 Plus. Since iTunes was previously showing it was also up to date, there is likely an issue with security software on your PC preventing iTunes from communicating with our servers.  Please follow through the troubleshooting steps in the link below to get started:

    Resolve issues between iTunes and third-party security software

    Take care.
  • by colboy58,

    colboy58 colboy58 Sep 17, 2016 9:25 PM in response to darren.s
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 17, 2016 9:25 PM in response to darren.s

    Thanks for your response Darren.

     

    I'll check this out as soon as I get time.

     

    Colin

  • by colboy58,Solvedanswer

    colboy58 colboy58 Oct 2, 2016 7:44 PM in response to colboy58
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 2, 2016 7:44 PM in response to colboy58

    Darren, thanks again for your response. My problem is now resolved

     

    I followed your link & tried the suggestions, but nothing helped from that. I received a new iPad Pro a few days ago & when connecting to iTunes on my computer, it recognized it as my iPhone not the iPad (weird).

     

    Trying to think about what other causes there could be, I pulled the "Lightning>USB" cable out from the USB Port in the back of my new (3mth old) Monitor (where it charges really quick) and connected it into the USB Hub plugged directly into my Laptop - problem solved. For some reason, it recognised the iPhone, but blocked some features mentioned earlier.

     

    Colin