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pamela85 Author

Level 1

29 points

iPhone 16 Pro Max does not show up in Mac finder

My new iPhone 16 Pro Max is not found in Finder on my 2017 MacBook Pro running Ventura 13.7. I have tried multiple new Apple USB-c cables, in all 4 ports on the computer. The phone will not charge if plugged into the Mac but will charge if plugged into the wall. My iPad Pro M4 and iPhone 12 show up in finder and charge no problem using all the cables and ports. I updated phone and Mac to latest software, reset location&privacy and network settings on the phone, & booted in safe mode as directed in various troubleshooting articles online. Rebooted phone and Mac after every try. Apple support had me retest most of the above. Support says Ventura 13.7 (the latest for my older Mac) does support the new phone but have not been able to solve it. I have a Genius Bar appt to test the phone’s usb port (which Apple thinks is not the problem) Any suggestions of other things to try? If Genius Bar can’t fix it I will return the phone (sadly).

iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 21, 2024 1:57 PM

Top-ranking reply

pamela85 Author

Level 1

29 points

Posted on Sep 22, 2024 4:50 PM

This work around solved it for me! You essentially convert one of the Macbook Pro 2017 USB-C ports into a USB-A port. I used:

Apple USB-C cable that came with the phone

Best Buy Essentials Adapter: USB Male to USB-C Female (others may work)

Apple Adapter: USB Female to USB-C Male (others may work)

Connect the Apple cable that came with the phone, to the phone. Connect the other end of it to the female end of the Best Buy adapter. Connect the male end of the Best Buy adapter to the female USB end of Apple’s adapter. Connect the male USB-C end of Apple’s adapter to any USB-C port on the macbook pro 2017. Presto, the iphone appears in the finder.

Guess I’ll still go to the genius bar tomorrow to tell them about this strange solution. Hopefully they will address this in a future software or firmware update.

I’m currently syncing my 35000 photos from Mac to the phone. Thanks to -g and their readers for revealing this approach for those of you running Ventura 13.7 on a 2017 macbook pro. Good luck!

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43 replies

Oct 13, 2024 11:12 AM in response to edson_raice

edson_raice wrote:

This is so frustrating. Even in between Apple devices people are still struggling to connect. Now I have to buy new MacBook because I bought new phone? This is sickness to my stomach. This guys they never get it right. So classic

As several posters in this forum have said that it works with their iPhone 16 and Ventura, perhaps you should troubleshoot the problem with your specific configuration rather than scream in anguish.

Oct 25, 2024 5:41 PM in response to pamela85

Thank you so much! This solution is beyond wacky, but it works and it makes sense. It totally depends on the direction of the cables too. I had it reversed at first with the USB C male to USB A female cable on the phone side and it did not work. Then I saw the picture. A picture is worth a thousand words. :) I tried it without the adapter using just a USB C male to USB A female cable connected to a USB A male to USB C male cable.

MacBook Pro USB C port -> USB C male to USB A female cable -> USB A male to USB C female adapter -> USB C male to USB C male cable -> iPhone

Oct 26, 2024 1:46 PM in response to pamela85

Ok I'm now travelling and not able to try anything with my 2017 27" imac running Ventura which won't allow my phone to connect to Finder. And it's quite inconvenient for me currently to contact Apple based on all the above posters who mention they've done this and sounds like they've spent a fair amount of time trying to fix this with Apple Support who sometimes suggests buying a new mac.

Now I'm trying to connect my iPhone 16 Pro to my mid-2011 MacBook Air running High Sierra (10.13.6) which is the highest OS for this MBA and it won't show up in Finder. It shouldn't be that we can't connect our new iPhones to our Mac's without buying more adapters and or cables. My MBA only has 2 USB-A ports (1 of which is used with the dongle for my mouse) and no USB-C ports. I have 2 cables that have USB-C male at one end and USB-A male at the other. Both are used for other devices that utilize high speed charging and based on that I assumed should work but they don't.

I haven't read in this thread about anyone using a MBA running High Sierra (most are up to date and 2017 models). IF Apple requires us to have up to date computers this should have been spelled out before purchase.

I'm hoping there is a quick software update to fix this. I keep checking every day but have so far not found any. Until this is fixed, I cannot back up my new iphone as I am trying to get away from iCloud. But I'm thinking this is why such an issue is happening possibly; Apple wants everyone to be using iCloud for backups etc.

Oct 26, 2024 2:44 PM in response to pamela85

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.

Oct 29, 2024 6:08 AM in response to pamela85

This will be helpful while I’m at home using my iMac. However, I am a snowbird that spends the winters in Florida and I’m not about to get a new MacBook Air just because of this issue so it’s very frustrating that I cannot use my MacBook Air with my new iPhone for this while I’m away for upwards of five months every year. I can’t imagine how many other Apple users. This is impacting. It is wrong of Apple not to put through a fix specifically for this issue without requiring people to buy a sewer MacBook.

Sep 24, 2024 1:48 PM in response to pamela85

I have the same problem in Sweden. iPhone 16 Pro, ios 18, MacBook 2017 w latest update.

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

Many thanks to everyone!

Oct 1, 2024 12:37 PM in response to pamela85

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.

Oct 1, 2024 12:53 PM in response to llotus8

Read my post below

Oct 3, 2024 12:52 PM in response to kontiki25

What if you have a 15 inch MBP from 2017, which doesn't have any USB A ports?? This is frustrating and disappointing as ****, really hope Apple fixes this soon.

z_user

Level 1

9 points

Oct 8, 2024 8:11 AM in response to Matosrivera001

The reason we are trying to make the connection IS to back up the phone. And no, I don't want to do an iCloud backup.

Oct 13, 2024 6:44 AM in response to pamela85

I have the iPhone 16 Pro Max and a 2017 iMac. I plugged a USB-A to USB-C cable into the iMac and Ventura 13.7 recognized/connected to the iPhone just fine.