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iTunes doesn't "see" iPad

I have a new Macbook Pro 2.66 / 8 GB, 15" and an iPad and an iPhone. The problem is that every now and then - about once a day or so, iTunes doesn't see the iPad or iPhone when they are plugged in. The device starts charging but there is no indication that a sync is occuring.

Following the instructions here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1747 I reinstall iTunes and replace the AppleMobileDevice kexts and then things are fine, but after another day or so the problem occurs again. I have not been able to determine what might be causing that. Any idea?

Macbook Pro 2.66 i7, 8 GB, 15", Mac OS X (10.6.3), iMovie 09, Aperture 3, Fuji Finepix HS10, iPad 64 Wifi, iPhone 3GS 32

Posted on Apr 29, 2010 11:31 AM

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Aug 15, 2010 4:34 AM in response to caleuche

Same Problem here, new iPad, new iMac, it doesnt recognise the iPAd unless I do a reinstall of iTunes, it DOES recognise it as long as I dont switch off the iMAC. So if I leave the computer on, stop iTunes and run it again later it recognises the iPAd, and everything is OK. So something happens when switching off the MAc altogether.

Can anyone (from Apple) help?? the problem is NOT solved in the Apple support site.
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Aug 15, 2010 10:15 AM in response to Mickeyh

Apple does not monitor these forums. Therefore, asking here for Apple to help is not really going to accomplish anything. If you are within your Apple Care time period why not all them? Otherwise schedule an appointment at an Apple store with a Genius.
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Nov 1, 2010 7:01 AM in response to caleuche

I have always liked apple b/c everything always "worked" together. Between the iphone4 and now the ipad I have a few hours invested in this issue. What I have eventually found to work the best is to put your device into recovery mode, (hold the sleep button and home button at the same time) and use itunes to restore the device. If you have your info backed up you shouldn't lose anything, or if it is a new device you should have no info to lose. If you are in the middle, with your info not backed up on itunes (like I was) you're SOL.

Good luck, and hopefully the issue is sorted out sooner rather than later
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Nov 23, 2010 8:18 PM in response to caleuche

I was having this problem today too. I have an iMac running 10.6.5 and iTunes 10.1. I plugged in my iPad last night to upgrade it to iOS 4.2 and lo and behold iTunes would not recognize it! It was quite unnerving. After taking an earlier poster's advice, the fix was quite simple:

1. Delete /System/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext
2. Delete /Applications/iTunes.app
3. Re-install iTunes

iTunes instantly recognized my iPad and it is now happily installing iOS 4.2. 🙂
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Nov 23, 2010 8:55 PM in response to Powers Foss

The error I was getting in my iPad when I plugged it into my Mac was "Not Charging" and my iPad would not appear in iTunes. No matter what I would do, restart the Mac, restart the iPad, it didn't help. It was only after taking the steps in my previous post that fixed everthing for me. I lost no data in the process at all. Phew! Thanks for the help, folks!
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Dec 2, 2010 9:59 PM in response to caleuche

When did Apple decide to adopt the Microsoft customer service model, anyway? When I went to purchase the iPad over the phone, they couldn't sell it to me using my me.com e-mail address. How absurd is that? So I buy it anyway, and iTunes won't recognize it to set up the iPad. This is truly frustrating, and seems to be a new business model specifically designed to make returning as a customer for more hardware a bad idea.
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Dec 20, 2010 12:32 PM in response to Powers Foss

@Power Foss, your iPad says "Not Charging" because your are not running through a USB 2.0 port(why apple restricts this on 4.0 I don't, my iPhone 2g charges just fine in the same port) and my iPad says that all the time, but it actually charges very slowly. I am also having this same problem just today too
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Dec 24, 2010 8:02 PM in response to Powers Foss

Powers Foss wrote:
I was having this problem today too. I have an iMac running 10.6.5 and iTunes 10.1. I plugged in my iPad last night to upgrade it to iOS 4.2 and lo and behold iTunes would not recognize it! It was quite unnerving. After taking an earlier poster's advice, the fix was quite simple:

1. Delete /System/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext
2. Delete /Applications/iTunes.app
3. Re-install iTunes

iTunes instantly recognized my iPad and it is now happily installing iOS 4.2. 🙂




This worked for me as well!! Thanks!
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Jan 30, 2011 11:51 AM in response to Major Hooters

Had very similar problems to those described here. Also tried all the solution posted here re re-installing iTunes

Final solution for me was to use a different USB cable.
I think it was the connection at the iPad end being very slightly loose. My other iPad was fine using the older cable, but not the new one. The cable felt tight enough, but I noticed if I pressed it up towards the screen then iTunes would see it and begin syncs, but connection was still not brilliant.

New cable no more issues.
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Jan 30, 2011 12:35 PM in response to Powers Foss

Powers Foss wrote:
I was having this problem today too. I have an iMac running 10.6.5 and iTunes 10.1. I plugged in my iPad last night to upgrade it to iOS 4.2 and lo and behold iTunes would not recognize it! It was quite unnerving. After taking an earlier poster's advice, the fix was quite simple:

1. Delete /System/Library/Extensions/AppleMobileDevice.kext
2. Delete /Applications/iTunes.app
3. Re-install iTunes

iTunes instantly recognized my iPad and it is now happily installing iOS 4.2. 🙂


I have tried the solution above twice with no success along with trying different cables. My iPad is stuck on the "connect to iTunes" screen and I am starting to become very frustrated by all of this. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Thanks.
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Apr 12, 2011 1:35 AM in response to travisstew

Just the same for me (Lenovo Laptop XP SP3)!! It's absurd, but true!
I unplugged my IPad, switched off wi-fi, plugged in my Ipad... and it worked!

Thanks a lot to Travisstew, it's a veeeery odd behavior, better to go and tell to the Apple genius team....
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iTunes doesn't "see" iPad

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