You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: PHMCM1
PHMCM1 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

iTunes won't see iPhone 12 ProMax since iOS 17.1 (2008 MBP, 10.11.6, iTunes 12.8.2)

2008 MacBook Pro

El Capitain 10.11.6

iTunes 12.8.2


While I don't recall when I updated to 17.1, however I know for sure I was last able to back-up my phone on iTunes mid-November 2023. Then sometime in December I tried to sync my iPhone, I don't fully recall the beginning of this because this problem as it has happened before and usually a reset or update fixed the problem.


But I believe it showed the iPhone icon in iTunes, and I believe then prompted the message on my MacBook saying "a software update is needed to connect to iPhone 12 Pro Max" or "passcode needs to be entered on iPhone" I did it, then i believe no more icon of device in iTunes. The next items I for sure performed


  1. Rebooted my phone, and restarted MacBook - no change
  2. Unplugged and plugged back in USB - icon showed for half a second in iTunes, then gone again (this is the only time the device icon has reappeared until recovery mode)
  3. Changed cords - no change
  4. Plugged into my wife's MacBook Pro (I think 2012-2014 era, with newer iOS)
      1. prompts "a software update is needed to connect to iPhone 12 Pro Max" - performed
      2. sees my iPhone (in her finder, because of the new OS of her MacBook Pro)
  5. Plugged her phone into my MacBook Pro - sees her iPhone (older iOS) in my iTunes
  6. Plugged my phone back in and checked in Photos - See my Phone in Photos, but still not iTunes
  7. Updated iPhone to 17.1.2 - no change
  8. Performed various resets of my iPhone and my MacBook Pro - no change (Although after I reset, when I plug in my phone it usually prompts the message on my MBP that the passcode needs to be entered to communicate, and/or prompts message to Trust computer on my iPhone -- but never sees my iPhone after putting in the passcode or trusting)
  9. Performed reset of locations, etc. (in privacy of iPhone) - no change (but always prompts Trust message when 1st plugged in after this reset)
  10. Deleted iTunes and reinstalled - no change
  11. Updated iPhone to 17.1.3 - no change
  12. Used Activity Monitor "X"-ed CrashReporter - no change
  13. Performed Force Restart/Quit of iPhone (Vol Up, Vol Down, and side button hold), with Photos opening up, not selecting iPhone in Photos - still not seen in iTunes
  14. Put phone in Recovery Mode - iTunes sees iPhone, but only in recovery mode. (if I quit recovery mode, or perform recovery, it still won't see iTunes to sync)



Can anybody help, or is it just a waiting game until Apple fixes the issue?

iPhone 12 Pro Max

Posted on Jan 28, 2024 11:52 AM

Reply

Similar questions

4 replies
User profile for user: PHMCM1
PHMCM1 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Feb 23, 2024 5:12 AM in response to PHMCM1

This fixed the problem. The issue seems to be in the update that is needed to allow a new iOS on the phone to communicate to the older iTunes set up.


My devices and OS

  • 2008 MacBook Pro - El Capitain 10.11.6 - iTunes 12.8.2
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max - iOS 17.1.3


  1. Download XCode 15 Beta 2 ( https://developer.apple.com/download/all/?q=xcode%2015.2 )with a free developer account (even if the app doesn't work with for your operating system version)
  2. Once downloaded unzip the file (with app of choice)
  3. 2 finger/right click on Xcode-beta.app and click on "show package content"
  4. inside the app contents, folder Contents, then folder Packages
  5. double click and install MobileDevice.pkg
  6. once installed restart laptop and iPhone
  7. once you trust the device on your iPhone/iPad, etc. you'll see device in iTunes


Thank you to the author of this article for this fix, it's been 4 months. Glad to finally be able to sync my phone again https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/461301/mac-os-10-13-6-and-newer-mobile-devices-not-working-with-itunes-12-8-3-1-mobiled/




Reply
User profile for user: PHMCM1
PHMCM1 Author
User level: Level 1
12 points

Feb 23, 2024 4:55 AM in response to PHMCM1

This fixed the problem. The issue seems to be in the update that is needed to allow a new iOS on the phone to communicate to the older iTunes set up.


  1. Download XCode 15 Beta 2 with a free developer account (even if it doesn't work with your operating system)
  2. Once downloaded unzip the file (with app of choice)
  3. 2 finger/right click on Xcode-beta.app and click on "show package content"
  4. inside the app contents, folder Contents, then folder Packages
  5. double click and install MobileDevice.pkg
  6. once installed restart laptop and iPhone
  7. once you trust the device on your iPhone/iPad, etc. you'll see device in iTunes


Thank you to the author of this article for this fix, it's been 4 months. Glad to finally be able to sync my phone again https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/461301/mac-os-10-13-6-and-newer-mobile-devices-not-working-with-itunes-12-8-3-1-mobiled/

Reply

iTunes won't see iPhone 12 ProMax since iOS 17.1 (2008 MBP, 10.11.6, iTunes 12.8.2)

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up