A software update is [NOT] required to connect iPhone - why the error

Question

A software update is [NOT] required to connect iPhone - why the error

The official links and all the useless answers say "update", but an update has never actually been required for me EXCEPT when I first updated to from my old iPhone 7. I've had the latest version of Mojave or Ventura as well as the latest IOS version on whatever phone I own (now iPhone 14) and keep getting this error when the phone is first plugged in to the laptop, now a 2020 M1 Pro.

The phone always connects ok (one must click/approve "trust" requests) and my automatic backup takes place, as do the other bits including syncing my music. The only issue seems to be the bug in [all versions?] of MacOS where MDCrashReportTool must be forced to quit using Activity Monitor to get past "Step 3 - preparing..."

Shouldn't we call this error a bug?

MacBook Pro 13″

Posted on Feb 24, 2024 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

215,346 points

Feb 24, 2024 1:40 PM in response to Makeiteasyagain

Many times when I run an update or upgrade I get this window when I first plug in my iPhone:

I click Install and that's the last time I need to do anything until I run the next update/upgrade. I've never tried the Not Now button to see if I could still connect my iPhone. Clicking on the Install button only takes about 5 seconds so it's no big inconvenience.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

157,896 points

Feb 24, 2024 1:55 PM in response to Makeiteasyagain

The message that Old Toad is showing only comes up if you have a very recent version of iOS on your iPhone, AND your Mac's version of iTunes or Finder needs an update in order to communicate with the phone.

AFAIK, I have not seen anything official about this from Apple.

Whether or not we can classify this as a "bug," I don't know.

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Answer 3

Feb 24, 2024 8:22 PM in response to Old Toad

I refuse to install an unspecified update. If it told me what needed to be updated and it was anything other than moving to the next major release of MacOS, I'd simply do it. But it never identifies the update, I've got the latest update to my current MacOS, and it doesn't say "update your IOS version". And as noted simply saying "not now" always seems to work.

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Answer 4

Old Toad

Level 10

215,346 points

Feb 24, 2024 2:00 PM in response to Tesserax

So it's it iOS update that gives me the window. I thought it was the macOS update. Learn something new here every day. Thanks!

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A software update is [NOT] required to connect iPhone - why the error

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