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My laptop with Big Sur is not recognizing my iPad when connected

So a few weeks ago, I could not connect my iPhone XR to my MacBook Pro. It was not being recognized in my iTunes for me to transfer music from my laptop to my phone. I was able to research it on Google and found the issue was with the Big Sur OS update and it had something to do with photos on my laptop. Short story: I was able to correct the problem but don't remember how I did it and now I have the same problem with my iPad Pro. My laptop is not recognizing my iPad when connected. Anyone?


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Posted on Feb 22, 2021 5:13 PM

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Posted on Feb 22, 2021 5:26 PM

iTunes does not exist in Big Sur. You sync via the Finder if you are running Big Sur or Catalina on a Mac. See if anything in here helps.

If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support

7 replies

Feb 22, 2021 5:40 PM in response to Demo

Yes and with Apple support over the phone as well to no avail. I had the same problem with my iPhone after Big Sur update and was able to find the solution online and it had something to do with Photos but I can't remember what I did and can't find that page as it was several weeks ago.

Feb 22, 2021 6:21 PM in response to 426stm

I’m not suggesting that it can’t be fixed. I’m just saying that I don’t know what else to try. I don’t work for Apple. I’m just trying to help.


If it was related to photos do you use the Photos app on your Mac with your devices? Do you have the photos app set to not launch when the device is connected? If you do, you could try launching the photos app and change that in the preferences so that Photos launches when the iPad is connected.


I’m just taking a shot in the dark but if the photos app starts when you connect the iPad, then that would mean that the Mac is sewing the iPad.

My laptop with Big Sur is not recognizing my iPad when connected

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