Connecting iPhone 17 to 2019 desktop Mac

The USB-C Charge and Sync cable that came with the iPhone 17, should plug directly into one of the TB/USB-C ports on the back of your 2019 iMac.

For syncing tips, see > Sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using your computer - Apple Support

morvenfromca wrote:

What do I need in the way of cables or whatever to connect my iphone 17 to my 2019 desktop mac computer

A USB-C (iPhone end) to USB-C cable, with or without a USB-C to USB-A plug adapter for the Mac end, dependent on the USB port(s) your Mac has for you to connect to.

morvenfromca wrote:

My iMac is a Retina 4K 21.5 inch 2019 and here is the list from my booklet that came with it of 'Connections and Expansions'

3.5 mm headphone jack

SDXC card slot

4 USB-A slots

2 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:

DisplayPort

Thunderbolt (up to 40Gb/s)

USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)

Thunderbolt 2, HDMI, DVI and VGA supported using adapters (sold separately)

10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)

Kensington lock slot

All of this is Greek to me, but I know that the cord that came with my iphone 17 when I upgraded from iphone 11 does not fit any of the slots on the back of my imac, which the cord from my previous phone did. I've gotten bad advice from various sources and had to return cables which were of no use, so I was hoping to get a definitive answer here.

The cord that came with your iPhone 17 absolutely fits either of the two Thunderbolt ports on the back of the 2019 iMac unless of course you don't have a 2019 iMac or the cord you think came with the iPhone 17 is not the one that actually came with it. Did you maybe misplace the iPhone 17's cable?

Can you take a picture of your iPhone 17's cord and post it here?

The iPhone 17 comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable:

The ports on the back of the 2019 iMac are USB-C port and will accept either side of the iPhone 17's cable.

For other USB-C cables you can find many on Amazon.com, I like Ugreen or Anker branded cables. High quality and good pricing.

click here ➜ Anker USB C Cable, 40 Gbps USB 4 Data Cable, Thunderbolt 4/3 - Amazon.com

or here ➜ UGREEN 240W USB C to USB C Cable for Thunderbolt 5, USB4 Gen4 80Gbps, 3.3ft - Amazon.com

A USB-C (iPhone) to USB-A (Mac) Cable.

morvenfromca wrote:

My iMac is a Retina 4K 21.5 inch 2019 and here is the list from my booklet that came with it of 'Connections and Expansions'

...

4 USB-A slots

2 Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for:

...USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10Gb/s)

Any of these ports will work.

So either a USB-C to USB-A sync cable works.

or a USB-C to USB-C sync cable will work.

...All of this is Greek to me, but I know that the cord that came with my iphone 17 when I upgraded from iphone 11 does not fit any of the slots on the back of my imac, which the cord from my previous phone did. I've gotten bad advice from various sources and had to return cables which were of no use, so I was hoping to get a definitive answer here.

Please see the guidance provided by our friend, @den.thed.

They included a pic of the ports on the back of your computer.

The USB-C to USB-C cable that came with your iPhone 17 does indeed fit into either of the two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports that @den.thed circled.

Forget about the iPhone 11 cable, it has a Lighting connector and will not plug into your iPhone 17.

The USB-C to USB-C cable that originally came with the iPhone 17, will plug into one of the 2 TB/USB-C ports on the back of your 2019 iMac.

Option 1: Is to get an aftermarket USB-C to USB-A charge and sync cable, then plug that into one of the 4 the USB-A ports on the back of the iMac.

Option 2: Is to get a USB-A to USB-C adapter and plug the original iPhone USB-C cable into it and then plug that into one of the 4 USB-A ports on the back of the iMac.