Finder in Big Sur 11.7.7 doesn't recognize or connect to iPhone
Retina 12" MacBook running MacOS Big Sur 11.7.7, trying to connect an iPhone 14 -- but the iPhone doesn't appear in the sidebar in Finder, and there is no iTunes for this version of MacOS. How can I make the Finder recognize the iPhone?
To be more specific:
Helping young relative who has forgotten her passcode on her iPhone 14. Wants to wipe the phone and restore to factory settings (didn't have any important data on phone). I plug the phone (using a USB-C to regular USB converter cable) into my 2015 Retina 12" MacBook running Big Sur 11.7.7. The iPhone is supposed to appear in the list in a Finder window sidebar (I think under the "Locations" tab), but it does not appear. What can I do to make the connection happen? Note that there is no iTunes for this version of MacOS, so connecting an iPhone via the Finder is the only route.
One option might be to update the OS on the computer to the latest available version (11.7.10), but would that solve the problem? Note that the iPhone is not on its home screen (she doesn't remember the passcode to log in), but instead has been booted in "Recovery Mode" with the image of a laptop and cable on a black background. Also tried connecting with the regular pre-login screen on the iPhone, also with no luck. Is the problem instead that the phone needs to be on its home screen for the computer to recognize it? If so, then how can we restore the phone to factory settings, if she can't login any more?
What is the solution?
Earlier Mac models
