Can’t sync with iTunes after iOS 17.1.1.update

I have over five hours of “Apple Support Time”, and well over 40 hours of my own time. I totally concur with the time I have invested also. Oh, mine is still broken.

iPhone 15 ProMax (1tb) and windows 10

After the update on my iPads to 17

.1.1, iTunes not functioning as usual. I selected an album, played the first tune and then could not access another one, the graphics and tracks disappeared and couldn’t navigate around iTunes or play any further tracks. iTunes still listed in full in Settings, but wouldn’t play from there either. Apple support took screenshots and have forwarded this to an engineer. Both iPads are working correctly, it’s either something that’s happened to the account or iTunes within this update. I’m awaiting the outcome.

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?)

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.)

This is an Apple induced issue which must be corrected by Apple quickly.

The iPhone 13 Technical Specifications excerpted below clearly specify I'm using a support configuration.

iPhone 13 with iOS 16.x synced correctly with iTunes on a Mac Pro running macOS Mojave 10.14.6 (the newest that this Mac Pro desktop can run). iTunes on the Mac Pro is version 12.9.x

Now with iOS 17.x on the iPhone 13 the Mac's iTunes will complete the Step 2 Backup step but hangs on Step 3 with "preparing to sync" and never progresses. The Contact and Calendar sync (and probably Music and other Sync items) are NOT performed. These are critical applications to synchronize between the handheld iPhone and desktop Mac.

========

From iPhone 13 Technical Specifications

iPhone 13 - Technical Specifications - Apple

System Requirements

• Apple ID (required for some features)
• Internet access17
• 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)

JIHO 069 wrote:

According to Apple, High Sierra and iTunes 12.8.3 cannot manage iPhones running iOS 17.

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

If Macs running High Sierra can't manage iPhones running iOS 17, then what is this statement doing in the iPhone 15's Technical Specifications?

Did it work for you?

My iPhone is running iOS 16, and I'm not currently interested in upgrading it to iOS 17.

I had the same problem before. Now I have found out a way to solve this problem that is when step 2 is trying to synchronize for a long time and stays in the same position, you just unplug the wire and then plug it in again. Your problem will be solved.

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

SCTS wrote:

Still, the mystery of why iTunes in High Sierra would prompt me to update iTunes to 12.10.10; and as mentioned, there isn't a 12.10.10 version available for the Mac.

Sounds like a real-screw up on Apple's part. iTunes 12.8.3 might prompt you to download a patch to itself, but I can't see why it would refer to "iTunes 12.10.10."

If you are running a version of iTunes prior to 12.8.3, you might want to get 12.8.3 from

https://www.apple.com/itunes/

and see if it is any better-behaved.

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

It should get the library from the phone, not the computer. When I did the backward install, there was no issues because the file that iTunes reads is on your phone already.

Updated by iPhone SE to 7.2.1 today and, while still no love from iTunes, iMazing (version 2.14.6) does mount the phone, performing backup and file transfers, including music. My OSX is 10.11.6

Thank you, this worked for me.

Updated iPhone SE 2nd gen from ios 16.7.? to iOS 17.2.1.

Running iTunes 12.13.13 on windows 10.

The same issue for me. Your method worked for me. Thanks!