syncing iPhone (ios14) with High Sierra using itunes

For iOS 12 or later you need iTunes 12.8.0.150 or better running on OS X 10.11.4 or better. See How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support if required. iOS 13 & 14 require iTunes 12.8.2.3 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.

I've assumed that if iOS 14 is supposed to be supported by High Sierra then this method which worked for iOS 13 will work for iOS 14 too.

tt2

For iOS 14 or later you need iTunes 12.8.2.3 or better running on OS X 10.11.6 or better. See How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support if required.

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.

You can also try reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3 over the current install.

tt2

What version of macOS/OS X are you running? This link should work if you have a suitable version.

• iTunes12.8.2.3.dmg (2019-10-23) Current build for OS X 10.11 El Capitan - macOS 10.13 High Sierra

tt2

I plugged my iPhone into the USB port on my MacBook and there was a prompt to download something to continue and I think it was a iTunes update because it updated before I could continue. iTunes 12.8.2.3 After I did this my iPhone icon showed up on iTunes.

When I click on the dialog box that says "A software update is required to connect to your iPhone", it thinks for a minute, then says " Installation failed. Can't download the software because of a network problem".

In my case, I'm trying to sync a iPhone 10XR, with 14.0.1 iOS, to a MacBook Pro (Early 2011), that has High Sierra OS, which is the highest OS I can run, to iTunes version 12.8.2.3, which is the latest update.

The funny thing is, my Photo app recognizes my iPhone, and of course I can import all my pictures and videos.

I have audio from my Voice Memos app I need to transfer to iTunes. I guess I can try transferring them to a Windows based machine. I'm an audio engineer, so I can conceivably connect a mini-jack adaptor to my phone and record the audio real time to my Digidesign M-Box, then transfer the AIFF audio files to iTunes from an external hard drive, then covert them to MP3s, whew!

Or maybe Apple can create a patch on the next iOS update that solves this problem.

I am having the exact same problem: "When I click on the dialog box that says "A software update is required to connect to your iPhone", it thinks for a minute, then says " Installation failed. Can't download the software because of a network problem".

I have an iPhone XS, with 14.0.1 iOS, to a MacBook Pro (Early 2011), that has High Sierra OS, which is the highest OS I can run, to iTunes version 12.8.2.3, which is the latest update.

My Photo app recognizes my iPhone, and I can import all my pictures and videos, but it still is not recognized in iTunes.

I tried the /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/Current/Resources, but when the software update starts, it never goes all the way through and says installation failed.

Any help would be appreciated. Did you get your problem fixed yet? Thank you for your help!

I just did and no luck. I still get the "installation failed" message. Wifi works and I even tried a direct connection. Internet is working. Anything else to try? Could this be a current glitch? Thanks again

frie0272 wrote:

I just did and no luck. I still get the "installation failed" message. Wifi works and I even tried a direct connection. Internet is working. Anything else to try? Could this be a current glitch? Thanks again

Yes, it could be a glitch at Apple's end. You can try again tomorrow or contact Apple Support to see if they can offer any advice.

tt2

Turingtest2's suggestion just worked for me. Many thanks.

I got a new (2nd hand) iphone 8 today. I connected it to my iMac to transfer the contents of my old iPhone but the i8 and the Mac could not "see" each other.

I called Apple technical support and was incorrectly told that the High Sierra on my Mac was incompatible with the iOS 14 on my i8. I was advised to upgrade to a newer version of the Mac OS (I do not want to do that) or transfer the data via iCloud and WiFi (a very slow process).

I stumbled across this thread. Followed the steps set out by Turingtest and hey presto - it worked perfectly.

Well done and thank you.

Hope Apple technical support read this.

CharlesArzate wrote:

My MacBook Pro is in Spanish, could that be the problem why I can’t do this ??

That shouldn't be an issue. What version of OS X/macOS is it running? You can try reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3 if you've tried the method I've posted earlier without success.

tt2

Same problem here, but it's Nov 17 2020! I'm still wondering if there is some sort of Apple bug. My message is the same network issue, can't download the update file for iTunes - but I'm running iTunes 12.8.6.3. I should be good, right? Unless the updater has a problem with something that would seem widespread and quickly fixed. Can anyone help? I've tried all of usual things (restarting, exhausting all options I know to install iTunes update) a number of times, and I can't get around it.

Let me clarify with new info - iTunes will not recognize the iPhone now running 14.2 (updated tonight using iPhone ONLY thru network). But FINDER WILL recognize this 14.2 iPhone and prompt for the update.

There is Software "Security" update 2020-006 10-13-6 perhaps waiting to update iTunes error, although the security update mentions IOS in ways I'm not sure what mean - maybe that these were iOS date releases.

Security Update will not install. Period. It refuses is all circumstances. "Could not connect to the server(-1004)".

I beg for any insight!

Thank you turingtest2 your solution worked for me. I can now sync all my ripped music on iTunes back onto my iphone 12 pro which was lost when i upgraded from iphone X.

I am running macOS high sierra 10.13.6 on a 2010 iMac with iTunes 12.8.2.3

I even downloaded the latest version of iTunes to my pc laptop which did connect to my phone but couldn't bring myself to start ripping again so had one last look for a solution and found your post, worked brilliantly in minutes, thanks again.