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-g Author

Level 4

3,263 points

new iPhone 16 pro Max will not mount macOS -- cannot access it to Restore from my BackUps

I just received an iPhone Pro Max 16 direct from Apple-com

I discovered it is not compatible with my iTunes or macOS Ventura 13.7

in other words:

I did a BACK UP of my 13 Pro Max in iTunes (in Mojave 10.14.6) and another BACKUP in Ventura 13.7 via the Finder window location: iPhone 13 icon

When I connect the iPhone 16 in iTunes (Mojave) it doesn't mount

When I connect the iPhone 16 in Finder (Ventura) it doesn't mount

When I connected the iPhone 13, it quickly mounted in both scenarios

After talking with three level one Apple techs who were clueless -- I was put through to a SR Tech -- he quickly told me the problem was a compatibility issue and that I needed to have the latest OS and hardware to mount the iPhone 16 and perform a Restore from my iPhone 13 from my local disks

Problem is the latest macOS won't install on my 'ancient' iMac 2017 hardware

I was recommended to accesses iPhone 13> Settings> General> Transfer or Reset iPhone> Prepare for New iPhone> Get Started (and run my 200GB backup/transfer through iCloud) -- I don't use iCloud for various reasons

but it is the only method available I have (according to the SR Tech) to "clone" my iPhone 13 over to my new iPhone 16 -- I imagine that will take forever ... starting tonite

will update my progress here after the process completes -- if that works or doesn't work -- then I can worry about how to run a BACKUP on the iPhone 16 with no compatible hardware or macOS (until Apple fixes the issue)

if anyone knows how to do this iPhone13> iPhone16 transfer please advise...(I would love to take iCloud out of the process and work hard-wired off local drives

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 8:26 PM

Top-ranking reply

getimos

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Sep 21, 2024 2:30 PM

THIS IS THE WAY!! Thank you! Same problem on macbook pro from 2017 running ventura 13.7. Couldn't get iphone16 pro to connect until I tried this. Need more upvotes on this

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45 replies

-g Author

Level 4

3,263 points

Sep 20, 2024 9:38 PM in response to Limnos

Limnos:

> In general you start to run into issues like this when you have radically different generations of hardware... buy a newer computer.

>...they assume everybody, of course, is only going to be running the newest OS versions.

>So, good luck.

I hope that was written tongue in cheek -- breaking iTunes for progress maybe -- but Finder, no, I don't agree with rendering Finder obsolete here for a monthly iCloud subscription to make an iPhone 16 work

I seriously doubt Apple expects me to buy a new computer and load the latest operating system to use their new iPhone 16 Pro Max -- more likely they are working on a solution to restore Finder operation since we are a few days out on a new generation iPhone hardware and a point zero iOS

IdrisSeabrigh

> Did you check to see if there is an update available for your new phone?

good one, it still is booting to its Hello screen

-g Author

Level 4

3,263 points

Sep 21, 2024 8:03 AM in response to tayyabansari

tayyabansari

>I'm having the same issue with my new iPhone 16 pro max and its very frustrating I Mac book bro has Ventura 13.7

thanks, that is very useful (I am not the only one) -- I was believing I had a iPhone 16 Pro Max with a bad hardware problem

the SR Advisor info I started this thread with -- that the 16 REQUIRED Sequoia and latest Mac to mount the 16 in Finder is wrong -- according to the 16's system requirements on the Apple link

further, the advice I got from a level one advisor -- to do the activation on the 16, including my Apple ID, to see if that would make the 16 mount in Finder -- was also bad advice -- now I'm INUNDATED with new Mac added to account using location and iMessage services over all my iOS and MacOS machines (and I have a lot of them)

in the past, I've always mounted and began the Restore from a factory state

lastly (and I'll back out of this unless I have an update):

a year ago, I received a bad new iPad Pro direct from Apple

it wouldn't complete the activation process

phone advisors had me pulling my hair out for five days duplicating the problem for them on multiple OSes and Mac hardware, including screen shares, and several SR Advisors who also told me the iPad was incompatible and it REQUIRED the latest OS and hardware to activate

I knew better then and I know better now ... taking it to the Apple Store I instantly duplicated the complaint and they gave me a new iPad Pro on the spot

guess what -- the replacement iPad instantly worked with the 'ancient' OS and hardware I was using: iTunes in Mojave (a supported OS)

seeing is believing...

-g Author

Level 4

3,263 points

Sep 21, 2024 8:47 AM in response to -g

SUCCESS W/ macOS CATALINA 10.15.7 (with at least mounting in Finder)

First I had RESET the new iPhone 16 Pro Max to a factory state (iOS 18.0)

Settings> General> Transfer or Reset iPhone> Erase all content and settings

then connected it to a MacBook Pro (2012) running Catalina (10.15.7) and iPhone populated in Finder window> Location as iPhone -- and got prompt to update required to connect iPhone

after the update -- the iPhone repopulated in Finder window and I got the usual interface to Update/Restore/Backups

I need to backup my iPhone 13 Max Pro to this 10.15x machine to begin the local transfer over to the new iPhone...

Sep 21, 2024 1:33 PM in response to -g

I spoke to Apple Senior engineer today told him everything, it was a long call, I thought the same in the beginning that phone has a bad hardware but fortunately this is not the case. Anyhow, I borrowed a new MacBook Pro from a friend then I copied my backup from My MacBook Pro 2017(Ventura 13.7) to 2020 MacBook Pro (Sequoia), it mounted smoothly and got the phone restored.

They gonna call me back tomorrow the senior engineer needs some logs from my Mac to diagnose everything. They probably send the an update for both MacOS and iOS.

nickieb

Level 1

8 points

Sep 21, 2024 5:47 PM in response to -g

This hack worked on my 2017 27" iMac using Mac OS Ventura 13.6.9. I used a USBa to USBc adapter and plugged in the C to C cord into it. Thankfully the computer was able to recognize it that way. I found this after using three different cords and trying the two different ports in the back to see if that was the problem. Thank you VERY much for posting this!!!

Roywboy

Level 1

9 points

Sep 22, 2024 10:29 PM in response to -g

I had the same issue with IPhone 16 Pro wouldn't mount to 2017 iMac for backup/synch. Went back to town, Apple had sold out of all its USB A to USB cables so guessing lots of people having the same issue. Managed to get one from another shop, and works fine again. Not sure why, and I guess a fix will come out at some time for older Mac's. But for now go buy a new cable.

Sep 29, 2024 10:24 PM in response to jmcwitch

If this is of any help, when using USB-C to USB-C, it doesn't mount and time to time I receive the error message : Impossible to use this Thunderbolt accessory.

Hardware : iPhone 16 Pro, Macbook Pro 2017, Cable from the iPhone box

Oct 9, 2024 12:48 AM in response to Chris_LFGE

I initially had the same issue came to this thread and then started trying different USB-A to USB-C cables and funnily another cable worked. It sounds crazy, but cables seem to differ in their features. Please make sure you try different cables.

Oct 12, 2024 3:03 PM in response to -g

Omg!!!!, I’m going through the same thing. On the phone over 8 hours since yesterday and still don’t even have my 16promax connected properly yet! I kept telling them my eSIM wasn’t activated yet and they were too **** to even know what I was talking about. They then had me do a rest which caused me to lose everything. I’d also love to read some answers

[Edited by Moderator]

Oct 12, 2024 3:05 PM in response to -g

Ok, so I’ve read so many of your comments, which are great. However, I didn’t even get that far. Verizon so totally screwed up my setup for my new 16promax, that I’ve lost so many things and hope I can get them back

Oct 16, 2024 9:46 AM in response to Limnos

"so then the solution (according to Apple) is to buy a newer computer" that is not true I just talk with Apple and they are working on this issue , my 2024 iPad connects just fine with my 2017 MacBook pro . Probably on the next update it will be fix

Bird311

Level 1

12 points

Oct 19, 2024 2:46 PM in response to binziebody

Just had this same problem with my new iPhone 16 Plus and a 2017 MacBook Pro running Ventura 13.7. Switching to a USB-A to USB-C cable solved the problem. I am now able to connect and view the iPhone in the Finder.

Oct 20, 2024 10:41 AM in response to TeslaJoe

The following is my version of how I connected my and my wife's new iPhone 16 Pro phones running IOS 17.0.1 successfully with my 2017 MacBook Pro running Ventura 13.7... (I was unable to connect my iPhone 16 Pro to my computer using a USB-C to USB-C cable)

Solution:

I used a USB-A to USB-C cable and connected it to my computer with a USB-C to USB-A adapter. This immediately allowed my computer to connect to my iPhone as normal and resolved the connection problem. The connection was established and backup made possible.

thxpro

Level 1

12 points

Oct 28, 2024 7:09 PM in response to -g

This has been resolved with macOS Ventura 13.7.1 After you update to Ventura 13.7.1 connect your iPhone 16 Pro or 16 Pro Max via USB-C and you will immediately receive a notification to download the software for your Mac to communicate with your iPhone.

Nov 22, 2024 8:44 AM in response to Adrian Andrews

Adrian Andrews wrote:

I'm a bit late to the party, and you may have already solved this, but I thought you were given the option to copy from old to new via Bluetooth at set-up.

It's never been possible to transfer files between a Mac and an iPhone via BT.

new iPhone 16 pro Max will not mount macOS -- cannot access it to Restore from my BackUps