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iTunes won't recognize my iPhone or iPad.

It has been awhile, but when I tried to sync my phone to transfer some audiobooks [not from the Apple store], I couldn't get iTunes to show the device at all. I'm connected via USB and I know the connection is good since iTunes asked me if I wanted to trust this phone with iTunes. But I never say the devices icon and the Devices menu item shows only grayed out options. I'm running MacOS 10.13.6. High Sierra with iTunes version 12.8.2.3, and iOS 14.4 on my mobile devices. When I read the Apple support article on this issue, I saw something about it only working with MacOS 10.14 and above. Is this true?? Then how am I supposed to transfer content to my phone without updating my MacOS? I have other reasons for not wanting to do this. Any other ideas for fixing this? I have used iMazing to do the transfers, ut this is just an extra step.


TIA,

Janet

iPhone XS, iOS 14

Posted on Feb 28, 2021 3:28 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 1, 2021 5:18 PM

For iOS 14 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.


If these steps haven't worked you can also try reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3 while your device is connected and unlocked.


tt2

Similar questions

7 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 1, 2021 5:18 PM in response to Janet Martino

For iOS 14 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.


If these steps haven't worked you can also try reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3 while your device is connected and unlocked.


tt2

Mar 27, 2021 5:48 PM in response to turingtest2

I'm into this same issue on my old Mac Pro (El Capitan 10.11.6, itunes 12.8.2.3), I've been following similar threads responses and so far I think the problem is with MobileDeviceUpdater as well.

I'm seeing the msg "BootedOS device needs updated MobileDevice.framework; ignoring device" when launching iTunes from term.

If i go to `BootedOS device needs updated MobileDevice.framework; ignoring device` and try to execute it from term i get the following:


dyld: warning, LC_RPATH @executable_path/../Frameworks in /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/A/Resources/MobileDeviceUpdater.app/Contents/MacOS/./MobileDeviceUpdater being ignored in restricted program because of @executable_path


I really don't know how to move forward from here but i've spent a couple of months without being able to sync my phone with ios 14 to this mac.

Thanks.

Mar 27, 2021 6:25 PM in response to santicollazo

Sadly the niceties of terminal and Mac logs are lost on me. Do you have third party security software that could be getting in the way? Have you tried reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3? My understanding is that MobileDeviceUpdater should run automatically when you connect a device that iTunes isn't ready for. Running it manually seems to have helped a lot of people when it doesn't launch by itself.


tt2

Mar 30, 2021 6:48 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for the Response tt2, yes I have tried reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3. I've seen that running MobileDeviceUpdate manually helped many people that's why I tried to figure out why it is not working in my case and the only clue I could get so far was by running it through terminal and get the errors I mentioned above.

I don't think any third party security software could be interfering since this mac I mostly use it for syncing and I keep it lightweight but I will double check.

iTunes won't recognize my iPhone or iPad.

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