iPhone 16 Pro Max does not show up in Mac finder

You have to put the phone into DFU mode first. Once done, your Mac will detect the new IPhone 16 pro then begin to reinstall IOS. That will fix the connection problem. Be sure to backup beforehand.

• Are you using the cable that came with the iPhone?
• Are you using Apple’s firewall, or anyone else’s?
• Do you have an antivirus or other “protection" apps on your Mac (other than Malwarebytes)?
• Do you have any apps that purport to make your Mac faster, or to clean your Mac?
• Open Finder, choose Settings from the Finder menu and choose Sidebar from the Finder menu - make sure all boxes are checked

This!

I had the same issue with my 16 Pro and iMac 2017 27" (latest firmwares on both devices, tried multiple cables, etc...)

Once I put the usb-c cable in a usb-c to usb-a adapter, everything worked flawlessly.

Using the supplied USB-C cable, I could not connect my new iPhone 16 Pro Max to my iMac 2017 connecting either of the 2 Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports. I am currently running Ventura 13.7 on the iMac and IOS 18 on the iPhone. Chatted with Apple support and went through all their suggested gyrations, e.g., rebooting devices, latest updates, etc. Nothing worked. Apple suggested I take my 2017 iMac to the store. I said bah humbug. Turns out, you can connect the phone using a USB-A to USB-C cable. Apparently the Thundebolt ports do not support iPhones but the 4 USB-A ports do. So there is no problem with iMac Ventura recognizing and handshaking with IOS 18. Hope this helps !!!

Confirmed! A USB-A to USB-C cable worked! Though not all. I tried a few USB-A to USB-C cables but the more robust one seemed to get my iPhone 16 Pro to mount on my 2017 iMac running Ventura, but only after installing an update.

Side note: my iPad Mini has no problem mounting using any USB-C cable.

Having the same problem connecting iPhone 16 pro to a MAC 2017 running Ventura 13.7 (latest OS that is available to it)

1. I HAVE BEEN using USB-A to USB-C cable. It does NOT resolve the problem for me. Cables are fine. Ports are fine.
2. Problem showed with first attempt to connect, using IOS 18 that came with the phone and continued after upgrading to the version of IOS 18 that I was asked to update to. Rebooted each; no change.
3. I AM able to connect an iPhone 11 running IOS 18.0 to the MAC and do everything normal (backup, sync, etc.)
4. I AM able to connect the iPhone 16 PRO to my MACbook pro (2023, Sonoma 14.5), and back it up. Of course, this does not help me sync photos and music which are on the MAC.

INTERESTINGLY, when I connect the iPhone 16 to the MAC (with USB-A to USB-C cable), it activates the battery charging. So there is recognition at some level.

I’m not sure this will help, but I use the AnyTrans program by iMobie with my phone and PC. It works with WiFi in addition to a wired connection. There is a Mac version as well. For me, the initial connection can be finicky sometimes but once you get used to how it works, then it’s not a problem.

Download 18.1 on iPhone

I just had to chime in on this issue, as I find it to be utterly incomprehensible. Apple support acted as though they had never heard of this issue. I thought this new phone would allow me to get away from having to use a USB-C to USB adaptor that then allowed the USB to "lightning" cable which I have been using at least since iPhone 7 thru 13. But no, not only does the supposed USB-C to USB-C cable that came with the iPhone 16 not work, from what I'm seeing, I will now need two converters, a USB-C to USB, then USB to USB-C and finally the USB-C to USB-C that came with the phone. Again, incomprehensible and unacceptable. And, apple support had the helpful suggestion that if I had a NEW MacBook to "would probably" work. What is going on here? Why would a USB-C on my laptop and a USB-C on my phone need any type of converter? The whole point of USB is standardization! So, which is it? Is my laptop USB-C not really USB-C compliant or is it the phone?

Waiting on converters to see if that "fixes" Apples noncompliance.

The USB-C to USB-C works perfectly fine on the wife's slightly newer MacBook.

Same exact problem that everyone else is getting I've tried 2 brand new iPhone 16 pros with updated iOS 18.0.1 to my 2017 iMac running Ventura 13.7 with 4 different USB-C cords into two different ports. Two different iPads connected nicely as well as an iPhone 14 pro which all show up no problem in finder. I called apple support and did all the trouble shooting which has been recommended here and from searching online, nothing has helped. I will go to the apple store tomorrow but I suspect it's some kind of issue with the new iPhone 16 or the iOS. I've never had an issue like this with all my previous iPhones, iPads or iMacs so it's unique to this iPhone.

CynicChick wrote:

This problem is happening to me with my iPhone 16 Pro on iOS 18 connecting to my 2017 iMac running Ventura 13.7. Only one I can get to work is a lightning cable using one of the little adapters to convert lightning to USB-C. Reading this post, sounds like Apple knows about the problem, but hasn't sent out a fix yet. Tick Tock Apple, if you know about it, get a fix out asap please. There must be tons of us needing this update.

Apple does not read forum threads. If you want to let Apple know about it, as it is an issue that should be reviewed, contact Apple support directly.

Apple’s formal support can be reached several ways:

• You can provide feedback to Apple at→ Product Feedback - Apple where your issue or suggestion will be recorded, but you will not get a reply

For personalized support:

• Click on “Support” at the top or bottom of this page
• Go to Contact Official Apple Support

Note that both of the above have options to receive a callback or chat

And please report back what they say.

Addition to previous comment...Have hubby's 2017 MBA running Monterey. I attached a USB-A to Lightning cable with a lightning to USB-C to connect to my iPhone 16 Pro and it showed up in his Finder. But doing this with my 2011 MBA High Sierra did not.

Download 18.1 iOS onto iPhone