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

My iPhone is on 17.1.2 and I'm using iTunes 12.8.3.1 and High Sierra. I am able to sync music ok. The info from Apple was that High Sierra could still sync with IOS 17, not Sierra so IDK. I think your screen is glued on but if you're planning on keeping that iMac for a while it might be worth it to crack it open and put an SSD in there, they are so cheap now, and that model probably runs BigSur decently.

Hi, Thank you for your answer.

If you have access to the Wi-Fi option it is because the iPhone is already appearing in iTunes. I don't have that option visible because the iPhone is not recognized, it only opens Photo.

What Apple is doing is a huge shame. They don't care about anything the user may have for files. I have 1100 CDs inside the phone in addition to what I bought on iTunes. Apple does NOT have any right to block my access to MY MUSIC and synchronization with my computer (I bought a phone from them for U$A1500!!. The value of the Apple company is thanks to its customers: US). The BIGGEST shame is that with the WINDOWS 7 system (WELL BEFORE EL CAPTAIN), the iPhone is recognized perfectly.

APPLE IS TELLING US: BUY WINDOWS FROM MICROSOFT!!!

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.

I have been frustrated by this for awhile and your post inspired me to try it again. I am certain I followed the directions previously, so I wasn't hopeful. Well low and behold, I retraced the steps and it was a Christmas miracle. The phone is connected to iTunes. Thanks for sharing your success.

I cannot download Xcode. I do not have a developer account and refuse to pay for one.

I’ve spent hours upon hours troubleshooting this stuff. It shouldn’t be this rigorous. If the technical specs say iOS 17 works with High Sierra 10.13 through Mojave 10.14.6 using iTunes 12.8 or later then it should work.

Users shouldn’t have to troubleshoot this on their own.

I’ve been on the phone with Apple support and in the store. They’re all lost.

I just don’t get why I’m stuck in a login loop. I’m putting my correct Apple ID and password in cause it kicks the 6 digit two-factor authentication to my phone. Input into the MacBook, next screen asks if I want to Trust and I say yes. Then it puts me back in log in screen.

I can only log into Apple from my phone and iTunes app on MacBook. It’s infuriating.

It feels like I’m being forced into upgrading my Mac when there seems to be a solution out there that I’m being blocked from attempting myself.

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.

Dont open the xCode installer, right click on it.

Right click on Xcode, Show Package Contents

In folder /Contents/Resources/Packages drag MobileDevice.pkg to desktop and install

No need to restart. Now your device should show up in iTunes.

Yeah I got the package installed. When I plugged in my phone I had to do a software update for iTunes (even though I was on most recent version) apparently.

That finished and now when I open iTunes I get the “You can’t open the application “iTunes” because it is being updated.”

restarted computer. Still have error. Will have to look at this tomorrow as it’s late enough tonight and don’t want to be up for another 2+ hours.

I wish this fix was more widely discussed. The amount of hours I spent on the phone and in the Apple Store were not helpful.

i did communicate this to the engineer I spoke with, telling her that she should spread this to others. Who knows if that was done or not.

makes you wonder how many people who had this problem ended up buying a new Mac when they didn’t need to yet.

I recommend downloading iMazing, it basically does what apple won't allow. I tried it and it works. There is a free trial where you can transfer up to 50 files, after that you have to buy for around $40, but I reckon it's worth it. Cheaper than paying thousands for a new Macbook.

No resolution yet. Apple support confirmed to me this week that iOS 17 is not compatible with OSX High Sierra or earlier. Apparently the file system has changed since iOS 16 so it's tricky to patch and make it work now.

I have been so impressed with Apple for many years for standing by its customers... but it seems perhaps no longer. Not sure if it's intentional (i.e. making it hard to upload purchased CDs to your iPhone trying to push people onto Apple Music instead).... I would like to think it's an accident. I hope so.

Please Apple release a patch for this or at least be up-front about what's going on. Easy compatibility within the Apple universe is why I switched to Apple in the first place.

Random_Identity wrote:

No resolution yet. Apple support confirmed to me this week that iOS 17 is not compatible with OSX High Sierra or earlier. Apparently the file system has changed since iOS 16 so it's tricky to patch and make it work now.

Apple's specifications for the iPhone 15-series phones say that you can use a Mac running High Sierra to manage them. At first they said you needed iTunes 12.9, but then they corrected that to say:

"Syncing to a Mac … requires:

macOS Catalina 10.15 or later using the Finder [or]

macOS High Sierra 10.13 through macOS Mojave 10.14.6 using iTunes 12.8 or later"

So theoretically it is only Macs running the latest version of El Capitain, or running Sierra, that got shut out. I think any Mac that can run Sierra can be upgraded to High Sierra, which would soften the blow for many Sierra users.

People's actual experiences trying to get iPhones running iOS 17 to sync with Macs running High Sierra seems to be all over the board, judging by the various topics here.

Apple support is incorrect. I have High Sierra on my MacBook and my iPhone is on iOS 17 and connects to my iTunes.

I spent 4 hours in the Apple Store earlier this year and all they were able to do was get my old MacBook to High Sierra.

Another commenter in this thread pointed me to Xcode 15 and after downloading and installing this, my iTunes/MacBook can see my phone.

Apple “genius” bar folks aren’t computer engineers and are completely out of their element with this specific issue. Or, they’re aware and they don’t tell users so customers are forced to upgrade their MacBooks when they don’t need to.