Why is my iPhone not available for synching?

Your computer is apparently struggling as Etrecheck reports "poor" performance and SSD write speeds that are about 40% what they should be. This could be due to running out of disk space or the scores of background processes you have running, including virtual machines and others mentioned below.

More details of note from the Etrecheck report:

“Configuration profiles found - This computer may have configuration profiles installed.”

Is your Mac a “managed computer,” managed by an employer or someone else? If so, that could explain some of your oddities, including the iPhone not linking properly.

“Low disk space - This computer is running low on free hard drive space.”

Low disk space (you have about 10% free, it should be at least 20% free) can cause all manner of slowness and beachballs. I’m not sure it can explain the iPhone not appearing, however.

“Unsigned Files: Launchd: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.prey.agent.plist 

Executable: /usr/local/lib/prey/current/bin/prey

This “prey” software looks like your managed computer installation, a security tool. Suggest you uninstall it to troubleshoot your multiple issues and see if that eliminates one or more of them.

I would uninstall Cocktail, Little Snitch, and Malwarebytes. Cocktail and Malwarebytes should be ok, Little Snitch has caused problems like yours for other users as reported here. Any of those three can be problematic if there was a flawed installation or they are out of date. Also, programs like Cocktail sometimes “clean” out user files that cause misbehaviors in MacOS, and if that happened an OS reinstall might be needed. They can all be reinstalled if shown not to be related to your issues. I would regardless turn off all Malwarebytes background automatic scanning, that is a known drain on Mac resources.

“[Running] Proton VPN WireGuard - version 6.5.1 (ProtonVPN AG - installed 2026-05-01) Application: /Applications/ProtonVPN.app - version 6.5.1 (ProtonVPN AG - installed 2026-05-01)”

Definitely uninstall Proton Wireguard VPN. VPNs can mess up any computer.

You have ON1 tools installed for photo editing. I am not familiar with them but might it recognize your iPhone as a camera and somehow lock it up and make it unavailable for other functions?

“Performance: System Load: 10.02 (1 min ago) 17.28 (5 min ago) 11.86 (15 min ago) Nominal I/O usage: 5.43 MB/s File system: 17.03 seconds Write speed: 1338 MB/s Read speed: 3069 MB/s”

“EtreCheckPro version: 6.8.16 (68098) Report generated: 2026-08-02 09:50:33 Download EtreCheckPro from https://etrecheck.com Runtime: 14:49 Performance: Poor”

Performance is “poor,” and your write speeds are less than 40% what they should be. Clearly your Mac is struggling, this could be due to the scores of background extensions you have installed, being loaded down by things like Little Snitch, or just running low of free disk space. Also you have multiple cloud syncing processes happening and programs like Little Snitch or the other security tools you have (including the VPN) can grind those processes down to a halt.

Given that you have other problems, like not being able to see your iPhone on the desktop and Safe Mode not working, part of me wonders if it would make sense to back up (make two backups, maybe one with Time Machine and one with SuperDuper), then erase/format your Mac following Apple's instructions at

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

then on first boot your Mac will look like a new empty Mac and you can migrate from one of the backups ONLY USER ACCOUNTS AND FILES (NOTHING ELSE) but install nothing. Then test. If all is well, you can reinstall apps one or two at a time, testing after each. By the way, this is the standard Apple solution for Macs that are misbehaving but have no hardware issues that can be identified. Before doing this, you might want to have someone at the Apple Genius bar or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider run diagnostics to make sure there are no hardware issues as this is an older Mac.

It's up to you, you can also try running uninstallers for all the above to see if the problems then go away. But you do need to free up a lot more disk space for this Mac to run smoothly.

uemit wrote:

Thanks, good to know.

But is this it? Do I have to live with the knowledge that I can't sync my iPhone ever again?

Make a detour to safe-boot, and then boot normally and try another known-good USB cable in another USB port (make sure there is no lint there -- do other USB devices work via that port?).

...and don't use any 3rd party virus apps (Avast, AVG, Bitdefender, Intego, MacAfee, Norton, Sophos, Kaspersky, ESET NOD32, Trusteer, PC Matic etc) and 3rd party "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up" apps (CleanMyMac, Cleaner One, MacKeeper etc). They produce obscure errors like this and are not needed (MalwareBytes and AppCleaner are exceptions but should be used manually and cautiously).

An EtreCheck report would eliminate much guesswork, so paste the complete report here using "Additional text" option, so we can examine it for possible clues:

Using EtreCheck to Troubleshoot Potential… - Apple Community

If your iPhone is not showing up in the Finder Sidebar, then go to Finder menu > Settings > Sidebar tab, and check the box to show CDs, DVDs, and iOS devices.

More info: Customize the Finder sidebar on Mac - Apple Support

Go to Finder > Settings > Sidebar tab > Locations > make sure "CDs, DVDs and iOS Devices" is checked.

The fact that you can see your iPhone in the Photos app is a good sign.

macOS Sequoia 15.7.8 came with a separate update for Finder to improve the iPhone connection. I suspect that macOS Tahoe 26.6 has the same update. On my Mac, the Finder update prompt was hidden behind other windows. Try to minimize all windows to see if you can see this Finder update.

Otherwise, in Finder, click Finder > Settings, select the General tab, uncheck "CDs, DVDs, and iPods", reboot your Mac and check that setting back on.

uemit wrote:

Maybe I'm slowly going crazy but I do not have 'Accessories' like you do (MacOS 26.6 and iOS 26.6 here)?

And when I search the System Settings through its built-in search only 1 entry shows up but double-clicking it leads to the generic Privacy & Security landing panel without anything selected or highlighted. It behaves like a dead link.

Do you ever say what exact Mac is this...(?)

Intel is different than M-series macs

You are not going to see the same Settings there on an Intel mac even running the current 26.6

In the side bar move your mouse to the right side to reveal the hidden caret and spin it open— if that is the extent of your issue..

Connecting an iPhone is the same as it’s been for years.

Sync content between your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Since you have a Mac laptop, you may need to allow the iPhone to connect. Check System Settings > Privacy & Security.

There is also an initial ‘trust’ prompt on the iPhone that you need to allow.

About the 'Trust This Computer' alert message on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

uemit wrote:

I’ve done the Etre report and nothing points towards a hardware issue.

It shows a few software issue but definitely nothing physically wrong with my MBP.

I’ve just tried safe-boot and even with MacOS 26.6 the same sluggish behaviour is happening. I’m going to force restart now.

Post back here with your Report, as per > How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

uemit wrote:

Maybe I'm slowly going crazy but I do not have 'Accessories' like you do (MacOS 26.6 and iOS 26.6 here)?

That option is present on M-series Mac laptop computers, but not present on Mac desktop computers. In your initial post, you stated you have an MBP, but if you have a desktop Mac or an Intel MBP, then the option will not be there.

Sounds like you may have more significant problems.

For what it's worth, connecting a phone works normally on macOS 26.6 for me, as it always has. I rarely connect my phone with a cable, so when I do so the first thing that I see is the allow accessories prompt (this is an M4 Pro MacBook Pro).

After allowing it, it shows up in the Sidebar as expected (though I do need to apply the iOS update for 26.6).