Can’t sync with iTunes after iOS 17.1.1.update

Russ577 wrote:

My computer is quite old. Using Mac OS Sierra version 10.12.6

If you stay on Sierra, I think you're out of luck. The Technical Requirements for all of the iPhone-15-family phones (which shipped with iOS 17) say that you need at least High Sierra.

As far as I know, every Mac that can run Sierra can also run High Sierra. Upgrading to High Sierra might allow you to manage your iPhone again … if you're lucky. (There's still the matter of finding the new version of iTunes which will let you manage an iPhone running iOS 17.)

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Russ577 wrote:

Sierra version 10.12.6. Latest version of iTunes. Any help?

I have reason to believe that Macs running El Capitan and Sierra can't manage iPhones running iOS 17. If you look at the Technical Specifications for the iPhone 15, Apple has raised the minimum macOS version to High Sierra. It appears they have also raised the minimum macOS version for iPhone 13 and 14 models that they kept in the line after they introduced iOS 17.

So people with Macs who can't upgrade past El Capitan are out in the cold.

I believe that any Mac that can run Sierra can upgrade to High Sierra. (Some can upgrade further than that.). So, if a Sierra user

1. Upgraded to High Sierra (How to download and install macOS - Apple Support)
2. Installed iTunes 12.8.3 (if necessary) (https://www.apple.com/itunes/)
3. Let iTunes download and install any patches to itself that it wanted to install to manage the iPhone

that might restore the ability to use iTunes to sync with the phone. (At least until iOS 18 comes out – who knows if, and how far, Apple might raise the bar on the associated Mac, again?)

I have discovered a temporary workaround which seems to work. 5 successful iTune sync's so far.

Configurations:

iPhone 13 with iOS 17.2.1

Mac Pro running macOS Mojave 10.14.6 (the newest that this Mac Pro desktop can run).

iTunes 12.9.5.5 running on the Mac Pro

Temporary Workaround

=================

1) Disconnect iPhone 13 from Mac Pro

2) Reset iPhone 13 by:

A) Quit all applications on the iPhone 13

B) Force restart of the iPhone 13

1. press/release volume up 2. press/release volume down 3. press/hold side button until Apple Logo appears

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

3) Enter passcode on iPhone 13

4) Connect iPhone 13 to Mac Pro with a USB-A to Lightning cable

5) DO NOT select the iPhone on the Photos application that automatically opens. <== Important Key Step.

6) On iTunes wait until iTunes recognizes the iPhone, then select it.

7) Press the Sync button on iTunes.

8) Enter the requested pass code on the iPhone 13 screen

9) Backup of iPhone starts and then iTunes progresses through the Sync steps 3-6 for Contacts, Calendar etc.

NOTE: If I skip Step #5 and select the iPhone in Photos then the sync steps 3-6 hang and do not complete.

Yankeebees wrote:

I can confirm IOS17 versions will still sync with iTunes on Windows computers (even Windows 7), but not MacOS Sierra. Luckily for me my Macbook still has Windows 7 Bootcamp, so now I have been forced to use Windows by Apple.

High Sierra and iTunes 12.8.3 supposedly can manage iPhones running iOS 17. I believe that any Mac that is able to run Sierra can upgrade to High Sierra, and to iTunes 12.8.3. So it may be too early to conclude that Apple has forced you to use Windows.

If you upgrade to High Sierra, I strongly advise you to make a current, bootable backup of your Sierra system first. You can get High Sierra and iTunes 12.8.3 here:

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

Download iTunes 12.8.3 for Mac

I just got off the phone with a "Senior Advisor" named Joseph. He was a straight up guy and said this is a known problem, it is with the Apple Watch. He had me unpair my watch from my phone and the sync worked perfectly. He was honest enough to say that it is a problem and they are working on it. With that said he said for now you can leave the watch unpaired and sync will work fine or leave it paired and use the MDcrash report workaround. He was disappointed because the last update was supposed to fix the problem. P.S. I am in no way happy with this. but I am happy I got an honest tech.

I have been able to solve the issue as follows:

MAC computer: open the Activity Monitor found in the Applications/Utilities folder. In the app, search for MDCrashReportingTool. Highlight the process name and click the ⓧ icon. Select Force Quit from the popup menu.

The solution was presented by Ron_NJ Author - please see the following link:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255358449?sortBy=best

Having said all of that it still remains a software bug which Apple engineering need to fix!

What version of MacOS are you using on the computer? iOS 17 may require a newer version of iTunes/Music to sync or backup using the computer. I know when I updated my iPhone to iOS 16, I had to update my Mac to Ventura to get the Mac to sync and backup my iPhone. (I haven't updated to iOS 17 yet.)

SCTS wrote:

Purchased a refurb iPhone 12 from Apple and while setting it up today I also found out that that it wouldn't let backup his phone to my iMac running High Sierra (10.13.6). The new phone is running 17.2.1. When I tried to select the new iPhone in iTunes it said I had to update iTunes to version 12.10.10. What? I can't find a version any higher than 12.8.3 anywhere. Where is this 12.10.10 prompt coming from?

That sounds like the version that you needed for Windows for iOS 16. For IOS 17, Apple raised the requirement to iTunes 12.12.10. Apparently they didn't keep numbering in lock-step on the macOS and Windows sides.

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iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus - Technical Specifications - Apple

Syncing to a Mac or PC requires:

• macOS Catalina 10.15 or later using the Finder
• macOS High Sierra 10.13 through macOS Mojave 10.14.6 using iTunes 12.8 or later
• Windows 10 or later using iTunes 12.12.10 or later (free download from apple.com/itunes/download)

----------

The middle line originally read "… iTunes 12.9 or later" – raising the question of where, exactly, one could get 12.9 for High Sierra. Now it appears that the 12.9 was a typo, although people running iTunes 12.8.3 under High Sierra have reported mixed success in getting it to recognize iPhones running iOS 17. (Apparently there is some update that iTunes needs to download and install to let it work with devices running iOS 17.)

I did not read through ALL the posts, but on the ones I perused, did not see a resolution. For about the 4th time I contacted Apple Support, got transferred to a specialist, and he was GREAT! He was aware of the issue, a fix has not yet been implemented (seems to have broken with iOS 17.1.1). I also have an Apple watch, he had me turn it off, then try again. Syncing worked just fine. For anyone that DOES NOT have an Apple watch, there is a secondary way to get it to work (turning off some apps crash reporting or something) but in my elated state I did not stick around for the details. I am using a 2010 iMac which now syncs just fine with my SE 2020! (now to turn my watch back on)

I was having this syncing issue as well. late 2015 27" iMac running Catalina. Once I updated to iOS 17, I was unable to sync with the computer and load my music and photos onto the phone.

iOS 17.3 was released yesterday and has fixed the issue!!!!!!!! I am successfully able to fully sync with no issues!

Thanks you Apple!

I really wish you were right.

But, again, according to Apple geniuses, IOS 17 is no longer compatible with iTunes, no matter the macOS version, no matter the iTunes version. Period. You need to use the Finder (they said).

If your system cannot sync using the Finder, you cannot sync. (And again, I wish this was not the case, and I am still looking for a workaround)

I asked them about High Sierra, specifically, as this is the lattest macOS version that supports my laptop, and they said "No sir. Sorry sir."

Anyway, I downloaded High Sierra Installer and will try next weekend. (Thanks for the link! Will keep you posted ;-)

Once I updated to the latest iPhone version (iOS 17.3), it has been syncing. I will say this....it does look like it's going to get stuck again on "Step 2 of 4", but give it some time and it actually does sync.

I'm on a MacBook Pro with Mac OS Sonoma (14.3), and an iPhone 13 with iOS 17.3.

Once I updated to the latest iPhone version (iOS 17.3), it has been syncing. I will say this....it does look like it's going to get stuck again on "Step 2 of 4", but give it some time and it actually does sync.

I'm on a MacBook Pro with Mac OS Sonoma (14.3), and an iPhone 13 with iOS 17.3.

Yes, it worked!

After installing High Sierra, you have to make sure you also install every security update up to 2020-006. It didn't work for me until I did that.

Now it's alive and syncing…

macOS High Sierra 10.13.6

iTunes 12.8.3.1

iPhone 13 mini / IOS 17.3

If you have Sierra and want to manage an iPhone running iOS 17, you may need to upgrade to High Sierra. Either that or get a third-party application like iMazing.