itunes not detecting iphone 12

Oh okay. That is odd the issues you're experiencing and it could just be the iOS difference. Both the 8 and 12 are on 14.1 and while iTunes on my AMD system works perfectly fine with the 8, it just won't detect the 12. Googling only came up with your issue so perhaps, we are really lucky and this is only occurring to us.

Received the USB-A to USB-C adapters. My 1st PC with the MSI motherboard is currently offline. Used my 3rd PC with an Asus B450 motherboard which doesn't have USB2.0 ports. Here are my testing results.

1. Computer detects the phone and I was asked to trust the computer in both iTunes and on the phone.
2. Phone charges but at first, iTunes hung after I trusted.
3. Ended the task in Task Manager.
4. Restarted iTunes and it prompted the following: iTunes cannot read the contents of the iPhone "insert name of iPhone". Go the the Summary tab in iPhone preferences and click Restore to restore this iPhone to factory settings. It gave this prompt 6 times when disconnecting and reconnecting.
5. Unplugging and plugging in the phone again finally allowed iTunes to detect it but when trying to perform a backup, it would fail stating the phone was disconnected. Phone was not disconnected and was still charging through the USB port.
6. Tested using my aftermarket flat USB-A to Lightning cable that worked with iPhone 8 and works with iPhone 12 in my 2nd computer.
7. iTunes either doesn't detect it or it gives the prompt to restore. Gave the restore prompt 3 times when disconnecting and reconnecting.
8. Switched back to the USB-C to Lightning cable and now, iTunes gives the following prompt: An iPhone has been detected, but it could not be identified properly. Please disconnect and reconnect the iPhone, then try again. It gave this prompt once.
9. Disconnected and reconnected the phone and then iTunes detected it and I was finally able to do a backup.
10. Was also able to re-sync my music library to this 3rd computer
11. Tested connection again by disconnecting and reconnecting. Still intermittent connection issues with the same prompts.
12. Disconnected and reconnected 6 times and iTunes finally connected properly again. Same thing happens with either cable. and tested on all 8 USB3.0 ports.

This is unacceptable so I will stick to connecting to my 2nd computer to performs syncs.

Hello prosteak. No, no sync issues AFAICT. After upgrading to iOS 14.2 the other day I thought I would try and see if my computer would recognize the phone with an older Apple USB-A-Lightning cable to see what would happen (it didn't work before as per my OP). This time iTunes saw the phone and out of sheer time-wasting curiousity I decided to backup my phone to the computer. This worked as well.

This is a strange and peculiar problem. I just received today a USB-c-Lightning cable from ESR and am going to experiment with that. I will post findings later.

@notout50 Hi there. So I called Apple support today and was told some people have to plug and unplug the USB-C cord at least 6 times for it to work and acknowledge the iPhone is connected (I mentioned previously that mine just automatically shows it’s charging when connected, but the computer and iTunes don’t acknowledge the iPhone is actually plugged in, as in nothing pops up, I don’t get a “trust this computer” message or anything, not even a sound that indicates a device is connected.) The plug/unplug method didn’t work for me. The rep then suggested I reset my location and privacy settings which also didn’t work. At the end of the call he suggested I come into a store because he felt the charger or phone had a defect. Keep in mind, the normal USB cord we’ve been using for iPhone X, 11/7/8 actually works for me and the computer and iTunes acknowledge the phone is connected when using this cord. (iTunes pops up and I get the “trust this computer” message.) I’m just not understanding why so many of us are having issues with the USB-C cord the 12 came with (as well as other issues some have mentioned) and they’re making it seem like we’re the ones doing something wrong. Please let me know if the methods I just mention work for any of you because I’m back to using my old USB. Thanks!

Just wanted to chime in and mention that I am seeing the same issue.

Ryzen 5 with an Asus X470 motherboard. Itunes will detect the iPhone 12 mini briefly (i can sometimes even click into phone settings) but it will disconnect almost immediately. I have no problem with my prior iPhoneX

I have tried both the USB-C from the box and an older apple lightning cable with the same behavior.

n0p037 - your solution works for me. My old iPhone 7 cable works with USB 3.1 port at the back of my PC. Running Ryzen 7 processor. The USB-C cable came with my iPhone 12 Pro Max doesn't work with a built-in USB-C port.

Strange! Hopefully Apple can fix this with patch release.

Just got an Iphone 12 pro Max today. Plugged it into my Asus Vivobook with the Ryzen 7/Radeon Vega card. Usb C doesn't show up in itunes. Swapped out for a legacy lightning cable with usb A. Works just fine. Sounds like Itunes needs to add drivers for USB C.

My solution was the exact opposite (see my post towards the beginning of this thread). Using my legacy Apple cable, my iPhone 12 was NOT recognized by iTunes. Using the Apple supplied USB-c to Lightning cable and plugging in to a USB-c port on my desktop, the phone was then seen.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the “geniuses” at Apple announce some months ago that iTunes was to be discontinued and no longer updated?

bernyca wrote:

Just spent an hour on the phone with tech support about this. I was told that macOS High Sierra is not compatible with iOS 14.2. I have a hard time believing that it's not a bug. If it is truly not compatible, it shouldn't have taken tech support an hour to tell me that.

I believe tech support gave you the wrong advice.

For iOS 12 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 above.

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

Had the same issue with my new iPhone 12 and iTunes. Went to Finder, selected my iPhone and clicked "Trust". Was able to sync with iTunes under my normal USB cable after that....the same one I used with my iPhone 8. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the response. Nothing happens when I click on MobileDeviceUpdater.

My itunes is on version 12.8.2.3. Using a macbook pro 2010 running HighSierra 10.13.6. Iphone 12 mini running iOS 14.2.

I am sometimes able to get the phone to show up in itunes. When it does show up, biggest issue is that when I try to back it up to my computer, after about a minute I get a message saying "itunes could not back up the iPhone ... because the iPhone disconnected". After this happens, it's difficult to get the phone to show up again in itunes.

Thanks. I’ve done all that. I’ve tried different cables in different ports. the phone always shows up in the USB port it is plugged in to, just not in iTunes.

Based on the behavior (I get the same message at about the same time when backing up my phone to my Mac), I believe it’s a software issue.

bernyca wrote:

Thanks. I’ve done all that. I’ve tried different cables in different ports. the phone always shows up in the USB port it is plugged in to, just not in iTunes.

Based on the behavior (I get the same message at about the same time when backing up my phone to my Mac), I believe it’s a software issue.

I've no doubt you are right, I'm just trying to cover all the bases.

tt2

I have a similar issue...

iTunes for Windows 12.11.0.26 DOES see my iPhone 12 Pro, but it does not list any of the music that's on the phone — 72GB of music. As far as iTunes is concerned, there is no music on my 12 Pro. Of course, it is on the phone as I can play anything as long as I using the phone's music app. The problem lies within iTunes for Windows, which works perfectly with my iPhone 6, which contains the same 72GB of music. May be time to check out a third-party PC application for managing the phone.

For iOS 12 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 above.

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