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

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..."

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

This does not work for me. The Image Capture application has no options like you describe. Perhaps because I turned off Spotlight since it was going totally crazy. There are no menu options for Image Capture, either. Here is what IC looks like on my iMac with BigSur 11.0.1:

Here is it one more time:

1 - with your iPhone connected to your Mac with it's USB cable launch Image Capture.

2 - click on the iPhone in the side bar.

3 - in the toolbar click on the button with the three dots in the center.

4 - select "No Application" from the dropdown menu.

That will stop the File No Found error messages.

I also am getting endless windows saying the file can’t be found when I plug my phone in and it doesn’t stop until I unplug my phone. How can I fix this if I can’t even hit ok to clear the window because they keep popping up?

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.

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...(!)

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

The Image Capture application isn't meant to take screenshots. It's to import image files to your computer from cameras, phones, etc.

https://support.apple.com/guide/image-capture/transfer-images-imgcp1003/mac

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

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.

Use Spotlight to find it. Upper right hand corner, Magnifying Glass. Typ in "Image Capture", you will see it. I'm not sure if it has a different name in localized versions of Mac OS. I can also see the app in Launchpad. The icon looks like this:

You don't see the dots if the phone is not connected to the Mac. Connect your device, and launch Image Capture.

This is what you see when NO device is attached to the Mac:

Then, with the device connected .... can you see the cirle with the three dots ....?

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.

Exactly the same issue here.

Every time I plug in my iPad Pro to iMac (late 2015) I get 2 Finder "The file can't be found" messages.

I do not have an issue with my iPhone, and the problem also does not happen with my MacBook Pro