Problems syncing iPhone SE after the latest iTunes update while still on High Sierra

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Problems syncing iPhone SE after the latest iTunes update while still on High Sierra

So I'm an old-school fella who prefers copying files from my decade old mp3 collection to my iPhone. Since I'm working with a lot of A/V production software on High Sierra which aren't anymore supported in the newer versions of the OS, I'm at version 10.13.6 and there's zero possibility for me to upgrade to either Mojave or Catalina.

However, I foolishly upgraded to the latest iTunes, which currently doesn't allow me to browse the content of my iPhone, or to add new files. The little icon representing my phone when it's plugged in - gone. Apparently in Catalina now Finder should be used to do those, but my Finder doesn't show my iPhone (connected or not), which I connect through its USB cable as per usual. I saw screenshots that it should appear under devices, on my OS it doesn't.

Alternatively the Apple website directs me towards using Apple Music, which I can't find either in the Apple Store, nor anywhere else as an accessible download, as I suspect it's not compatible with High Sierra and it's only a part of the Catalina package.

What now? How can I still manage the contents of my iPhone, which was also upgraded to version 13.1.2 (the latest one I'm aware of). Seems like I've been either forgotten or completely left behind.

iPhone SE

Posted on Oct 15, 2019 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

Level 10

274,546 points

Oct 15, 2019 12:24 PM in response to minotaur77345

For iOS 13 you need iTunes 12.8.2.3 running on OS X 10.11.4 or better.

Assuming a suitable version of iTunes is in place then in Finder use the menu item Go > Go to Folder..., copy the following text, paste it into the dialog box and press enter:

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/Current/Resources

Unlock your device and connect it to USB. Double click on MobileDeviceUpdater in the folder that has opened. It should notify you of a software update. Install it and iTunes should hopefully recognize your device.

tt2

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Answer 2

Oct 15, 2019 4:10 PM in response to turingtest2

Wow. This flawlessly worked. I'm grateful, thank you!

Just for future reference, would you briefly tell me what did I do wrong previously that this was necessary? I honestly have no idea what I've done wrong...

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

274,546 points

Oct 16, 2019 3:43 AM in response to minotaur77345

You did nothing wrong. The updater ought to run automatically when you connect an unlocked device to your computer that it doesn't already know how to communicate with. There are other threads where people are seeing the same box pop up unexpectedly and are worried their computer will be updated to Catalina if they proceed. This has been an ongoing issue since the release of iOS 12, which I can only assume is relatively rare in the great scheme of things but which I see several times a day in these forums.

tt2

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Answer 4

Oct 16, 2019 4:03 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the detailed info! In fact the one thing I could've done differently is connect the iPhone _after_ having it unlocked (I never paid attention to that, I think I paired the laptops with the phone once and it worked locked or unlocked if plugged in), on my secondary system after a restart, when I attached the USB while the phone was unlocked, it automatically brought up the window, installed what was necessary and now everything works as before.

In case this helps anyone...

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

274,546 points

Oct 16, 2019 5:39 AM in response to minotaur77345

A locked unpaired device should be detected anyway, but once the device has been paired by approving the "Trust this computer" alert on the phone it should connect fully to iTunes whether locked or unlocked. Major iOS upgrades obviously have the potential to bring changes to the handshaking process.

tt2

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Problems syncing iPhone SE after the latest iTunes update while still on High Sierra

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