Is iOS 17 compatible with itunes 12.8.2.3 under macOS Sierra 10.12.6?

I have gone throught the Xcode solution, and it worked perfectly (High Sierra here, and downloaded Xcode 15.2). For those who can't download Xcode for whatever reason (but I have had no problem with that), I've uploaded the package to run (MobileDevice.pkg) on my personal server (the problem is, you have to trust me that it's the genuine file):

[Edited by Moderator]

I wish there was a way to find the answer to your question and similar questions. Instead,people want to scold you for running old software. Many of us have valid reasons for using older software (I keep a High Sierra machine specifically for iTunes and and older version of Numbers; I have a newer laptop that has Music since iTunes isn't supported and I detest the newer Numbers UI that pretends its a phone).

I'll have to assume that iTunes 12 and iOS 17 aren't compatable, sadly.

I'm having this problem too. How frustrating!!

Imac mid 2010 - High Sierra 10.13.6 - Itunes 12.8.3.1

Iphone 11 Pro - IOS 17.0.1

I found this thread which looks like it solves the problem, but it seems too advanced for me really!

Maybe someone else can make use of it:

Link: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/461301/mac-os-10-13-6-and-newer-mobile-devices-not-working-with-itunes-12-8-3-1-mobiled

Jakojako87 wrote:

I'm having this problem too. How frustrating!!

Imac mid 2010 - High Sierra 10.13.6 - Itunes 12.8.3.1

Iphone 11 Pro - IOS 17.0.1

I found this thread which looks like it solves the problem, but it seems too advanced for me really!

Maybe someone else can make use of it:

Link: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/461301/mac-os-10-13-6-and-newer-mobile-devices-not-working-with-itunes-12-8-3-1-mobiled

You shouldn't have to do anything that complicated.

Apple should post updated versions of iTunes for Macs and for Windows at the download pages off of the https://www.apple.com/itunes/ site right away.

Apple should also document the requirements to manage each version of iOS – not indirectly, on Technical Specifications pages for new iPhones (though that information should be there, too), but in any reasonable place where people are likely to need it, and to look for it.

It's insane that people are having to try to "read the tea leaves" to figure out what's supported, what isn't, and how to make what IS supported, actually work.

P. S. – I wouldn't bother with the workaround in that StackExchange thread. Trying to get the update to iTunes, even if you have to pull out your hair to do it, seems a LOT easier.

It looks like Apple has updated the Technical Specifications for the iPhone-15-family phones.

If I remember correctly, when Apple first published those specifications, they said that on High Sierra or Mojave, you needed iTunes 12.9. There was no 12.9 at the https://www.apple.com/iTunes site.

Now the specifications say 12.8, suggesting that the 12.9 was an error. Perhaps that's the version that's built into Mojave, and whoever wrote the initial specifications didn't realize that the version for High Sierra was different.

In any case, now that the specifications refer to a version that is readily available, and there are reports (here) that (under some circumstances, anyway) iTunes will update itself to handle iOS-17-based phones, maybe things are starting to look up a bit.

I’m sure it wasn’t a performance issue. Maybe a toolset one, or maybe they just didn’t want to be bothered to develop and test updates for El Capitan and Sierra.

For what it’s worth, I believe that any Mac that can run Sierra can also run High Sierra. Which might offer one possible path forward.

Yes I can connect my iPhone to iTunes via Wi-Fi because the Wi-Fi option was already activated before I upgraded my iPhone to iOS17.

I don't know where this setting is stored but if there was the possibility of enabling it, it would solve the problem and I hope that Apple does not have the bad idea of disabling Wi-Fi synchronization with Sierra in a next version of iOS17.

When I tried to open Xcode 15 after downloading it said my macOS 10.13 wasn’t supported. Needed macOS 10.15 and higher. Saw on a thread that someone on 10.13.6 used Xcode 14.3.1 and was able to get that mobile device package to work so I’m downloading that Xcode version now…..fingers crossed.

Same/similar issue on High Sierra, and I opened a separate thread

NOT seeing iphone SE (2020) since iOS 17 … - Apple Community

Hi,

I encountered the same problem but in iTunes if the "Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi" box is checked, you can sync iTunes and your iPhone without a USB cable.

I’m on High Sierra 10.13.6 and iTunes 12.8.2.3 and haven’t been able to get my iOS 17 to connect.

Spent over an hour with Apple support and over 2 hours in Apple Store.

Getting very frustrated.

Would be great if someone can give a definitive answer to this. Not just speculation about 'old software'. There is no way i would upgraded my phone to 17 if I knew it was going break my link with my iMac running itunes 12.8.2.3

I'm currently unable to change my music, create a back-up on my iMac, etc.

From what I have read, its not possible to step back from 17 now either. I really hope this is not the case. How do I get back to 16?

That's great news! What version of iTunes did you end up with? I'm on High Sierra 10.13.6, with iTunes 12.8.3.1, but still with no connection between my iPhone XS on iOS 17.1 and iTunes. I reinstalled High Sierra today, which now allows my to download photos again through the Photos app and Image Capture (didn't work yesterday). When I reinstalled High Sierra, iTunes wouldn't even give me the pop-up about needing a software update to connect to the iPhone. I reinstalled iTunes 12.8.3.1, and now it gives me the pop-up, which still fails with a network problem. Sigh. I'm on a late 2009 27" iMac, which has been quite problem free until now.

I ended up with High Sierra 10.13.6, with iTunes 12.8.3.1 too, after installing all of the available software updates from the App Store. So it seems we’re running the same software.

The only things different are the hardware, namely my aging MacBook Pro mid 2012 and an iPhone 13.

But I can’t see how that would affect you differently? Surely it’s a software issue? This is the problem with technology isn’t it? So many variables always.

Hope you get it working anyway!