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I get a message "The File can't be found" when I plug in my iPhone via USB

When I connect my iPhone to my MacBook Pro via USB I get the message "The file can't be found" and I have to click "Ok" before the phone mounts in finder. This has only occurred since updating to Big Sur 11.0.1 and it doesn't seem to cause any other problems but is mildly inconvenient.


Anyone else experience this?



MacBook Pro

Posted on Nov 15, 2020 5:05 PM

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Posted on Nov 23, 2020 6:28 PM

For me, this was fixed (from Apple Support): 

Plug in iPhone (and, sure, dismiss the pop-ups).


Open up the Image Capture application.

In the … (circle w/ dots) to left of trash can icon.

Click on the dots, and, in the drop-down for ‘Connecting this iPhone opens:’

 select  ‘Other’.


In the ‘Finder’-like file navigator, 

Use the left panel to select the Applications folder,

and then, in the right panel, select Image Capture.

Then, in the lower right of the navigator window…

click the ‘Choose’ button.


Close the Image Capture application (CMD-Q)


Try plugging the phone in again.  It should launch Image Capture, and 

put up thumbnails of your photos.


If you don’t want that to happen…

Try re-doing the drop down for what to do upon connection…

and select ‘no application’


Oddly:  that’s probably where it was set when you started this cleanup!


For me… nothing happens on plug in now!  Just the way it was supposed to be!

And the pop-ups… they’re gone, too!


... at least... that all worked for me. on Big Sur 11.0.1 // iPhone6 12.4.9

171 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Nov 23, 2020 6:28 PM in response to 31M20

For me, this was fixed (from Apple Support): 

Plug in iPhone (and, sure, dismiss the pop-ups).


Open up the Image Capture application.

In the … (circle w/ dots) to left of trash can icon.

Click on the dots, and, in the drop-down for ‘Connecting this iPhone opens:’

 select  ‘Other’.


In the ‘Finder’-like file navigator, 

Use the left panel to select the Applications folder,

and then, in the right panel, select Image Capture.

Then, in the lower right of the navigator window…

click the ‘Choose’ button.


Close the Image Capture application (CMD-Q)


Try plugging the phone in again.  It should launch Image Capture, and 

put up thumbnails of your photos.


If you don’t want that to happen…

Try re-doing the drop down for what to do upon connection…

and select ‘no application’


Oddly:  that’s probably where it was set when you started this cleanup!


For me… nothing happens on plug in now!  Just the way it was supposed to be!

And the pop-ups… they’re gone, too!


... at least... that all worked for me. on Big Sur 11.0.1 // iPhone6 12.4.9

Nov 17, 2020 11:55 PM in response to joecoleman

Same thing here. MB Pro 13 2018, Big Sur 11.0.1. Connecting an iPhone X running iOS 14.2. When connecting the iPhone I get a double popup dialog box with the message "The file can't be found". This started after the update to Big Sur. I can dismiss them, and can access the phone via Finder. Anoying, but apart from resolving the issue I would like to know why.

Nov 17, 2020 8:01 PM in response to joecoleman

When I plug my iphone into a late-2014 iMac, updated to 11.0.1, I get endless windows popping up saying "The file can't be found." The computer is unable to mount the iPhone (iPhone X, software up to date). The windows continue until I unplug the phone. This is a pain since I usually upload photos from phone to computer and now can't. I'm skeptical of the claim at the top of this page about "the most advanced desktop operating system in the world..."

Nov 22, 2020 5:21 AM in response to joecoleman

Me too... (just 2 pop up windows) all my family's iPhone's are fine but mine was as if the iPhone had never been backed up to the computer before... and when I synced and backed up - all my previously synced content was erased (music/movies) and my contacts were not longer in the cloud - under the info tab. This was the first time I had gone form Mojave... so I wonder if it's the new non-iTunes culture, looking for something - but that doesn't explain other phones in the house working ok. Just me. Annoying as when I resented, I ended up with 3 versions of all my contacts...(!)

Mar 23, 2021 3:23 PM in response to lrees

After resetting the Image Capture setting to either None or Image Capture try the following:


Try resetting the iPhone's settings via its General ➙ Reset preference pane:


WARNING: be careful to NOT click on the "Erase All Content and Settings" button just below it. That's a big NO-NO.


Also see léonie's reply in this topic: Photos questions here! Duplicate photos i… - Apple Community


Mar 31, 2021 11:47 AM in response to Mscarol7

Boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and try to connect with Image Capture from there. Reboot normally and check again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Jan 29, 2021 1:13 PM in response to D.Cornelius

I have a MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019), BigSur 11.1, connected to an Apple Thunderbolt Display (27").


I was experiencing the "The File can't be found" when plugging in my iPhoneX.


Yes, this worked for me. Thank you!


However...my SPEAKER SELECTION is now Swapping on disconnect:

While playing music (Apple Music or Spotify) and I disconnect my iPhoneX, my speaker selection switches from Display-speakers to MBP-speakers for about 2 seconds, then back to the Display-speakers. 🤷🏾‍♂️


This speaker-swap only happens when:

  • Music is actively playing
  • the Display-speaker is currently selected
  • and I disconnect the iPhone


I am constantly playing music on my current setup, connecting/disconnecting my phone the entire day. This only started happening after applying this fix.


Not sure if I should create a new thread for this issue.




Feb 12, 2021 8:33 AM in response to cpnchaos

You can find any application via Spotlight Search. You know, that lupe you find amid the system icons on the top right corner of your screen. Klik on the lupe, and start typing the name of the application..



The circle with the dots in that application will only reveal if you have the iPhone connected to your Mac.


I get a message "The File can't be found" when I plug in my iPhone via USB

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