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User profile for user: Spotnik
Spotnik Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

iTunes will not recognize ANY of my three devices

This evening I attempted to sync my iPod touch (4G) and it would not show up in iTunes at all. I tried different ports, different cables, resetting the device, shutting down and restarting my iMac (which is only a few months old). NO recognition whatsoever.


Other devices (my optical drive and my backup drive, audio interface) connect to the iMac via USB just fine. No incidents. In fact, the iPod appears to be charging, so it's connecting. Just not syncing.


So, I tried my iPad. It's only 9 months old. No recognition, no sync, nada. It doesn't exist in iTunes. I reset the iPad. Still nothing. It charges but won't sync.


So I tried my iPhone 5 (just a couple of months old) same response. Nada. no recognition. What's weird about the iPhone is that I was connecting via Wi-Fi, and THAT sync capability disappeared too. I can't even restore Wi-Fi sync because I have to be connected using the sync cable to do that.


Three devices, no sync capability. The mac otherwise works just fine.


Should I or can I reinstall iTunes? Is that even possible? Otherwise, I am at a loss. What's worse is that I'm not finding many other incidents on Apple support--except for one or two unresolved ones and that's not very encouraging.

Posted on Jun 24, 2013 6:49 PM

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15 replies
User profile for user: SayntMykull
SayntMykull
User level: Level 1
0 points

Jun 24, 2013 7:26 PM in response to Spotnik

I am having the same issue.


When my iPhone 5 is plugged into the wall USB charger the phone charges so the phone's charging port is not the issue, and neither is the cord I am using.


When I plug any other USB device into my MacBook, they all work. So the USB port on the computer is not the issue.


However, when i plug in my iPhone 5 nothing happens. It won't appear in iTunes or iPhoto. I turned my phone completely off and plugged it into the USB. The apple logo appeared and the phone rebooted. However, even though it was rebooted by plugging it into my MacBook, it still isn't recognized or even appearing as connected.


Anyone have any advice?

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User profile for user: mvest20
mvest20
User level: Level 1
115 points

Jun 24, 2013 11:22 PM in response to Spotnik

Try trashing the iTunes preference files. First, quit iTunes completely by choosing iTunes in the menu bar, then Quit from the options. Don't just close iTunes using the red x icon, it needs to be Quit completely. Open Finder, hold down the Option key and click on the Go menu. While still holding the option key, select Library from the drop down, and then choose Preferences in that folder. Scroll down the list until you find a group of files that start with "com.apple.itunes." I would recommend deleting all of these files, and make sure that you empty your trash. Re-open iTunes and see if the issue persists.


If that does not resolve it, the next step may be to re-install iTunes. If you haven't done so already, it also may be worth restarting your computer.


Good luck, and let us know the results!

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User profile for user: Spotnik
Spotnik Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 25, 2013 7:16 AM in response to Spotnik

Sorry, but trashing the iTunes preference files didn't work, though your instructions were clear enough. The only thing I wondered about was the prefs for the ipod and whether those should/could be trashed too.


One other observation--I had a problem with iPhoto last night as well (when it rains, it pours) and found a similar solution on the discussion. Not only did that fix iPhoto, but iPhoto was able to read the contents of my iPad just fine. So, my iPad is at least being recongized by another application--just not friggin' iTunes!


Oh, and I tested my iPod on my wife's Vista machine--iTunes read it with no trouble (once the drivers were installed,that is...) So, I'm leaning towards a reinstall of iTunes...unless there are other suggestions to try?


Would anyone from Apple care to weigh in? Particularly with the iTunes reinstall, since I guess that's a bit of an ordeal on OS X.

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User profile for user: mvest20
mvest20
User level: Level 1
115 points

Jun 25, 2013 8:10 AM in response to Spotnik

I did a little more research this morning, it might be worth trying the steps in this article before going with the full-blown uninstall. If you do decide to do the full uninstall, you won't get an official response from Apple in these user forums. You will need to either take it into an Apple Store, or call AppleCare for assistance with that process.


Hopefully the support article referenced above will help out.


Good luck.

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User profile for user: Spotnik
Spotnik Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 25, 2013 1:28 PM in response to mvest20

mvest20,


I believe I did see this article--I could look into it when I get home tonight, but since I'm on 10.8.x (Mountain Lion) I'm not sure whether it would be safe, or if the same components would even be there. Thanks for looking into it.


If trashing the prefs helped one person, there's got to be some thing similar (and also embarrasingly simple) to fix here as well.

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User profile for user: mvest20
mvest20
User level: Level 1
115 points

Jun 25, 2013 8:52 PM in response to Spotnik

It's possible, but it's hard to tell exactly what the problem is. I'm very frustrated that I can't find the article that used to be posted for the uninstall/reinstlal process of iTunes, but it sounds like that may be the next step. Did you have a chance to try the uninstall of the Apple Mobile Device support as per the article referenced above, and if so, was it successful?

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User profile for user: Spotnik
Spotnik Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Jun 26, 2013 6:02 AM in response to mvest20

The directions ask you to drag the iTunes icon to the trash first, but apparently that is not possible because of the way it's integrated. So I was unable to follow them to the letter (and hesitant to simply drag the mobileapplications file to the trash by itself)


However, I did manage to find uninstall instructions on the OSXDaily site (which is wonderful). It's a console command that I won't repeat here (and incur the wrath of Apple) but once executed I reinstalled iTunes, and so far at least my iPad has been recognized and is happily syncing as we speak. Presumably the others will as well.


Thanks for your help, and I hope this helps anyone else who enounters this bizarre behavior! I love my Mac, but...

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User profile for user: DazImac
DazImac
User level: Level 1
0 points

Aug 8, 2014 6:18 PM in response to mvest20

Hello


I know this post is some time after your original post, but I am having this exact issue with my iPhone 5 and the latest release of iTunes on an iMac.


I did follow your instructions and re-started my mac and I could see my iPhone again. However it promptly makes itself disappear again. I have tried this a few times and each time i can see my iPhone then it disappears again. Once it disappears I can't see it again, until I follow your instructions.


Any tips on how to stop this from repeating itself?


Thank you

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User profile for user: DazImac
DazImac
User level: Level 1
0 points

Aug 10, 2014 3:13 AM in response to roosta

Hello


This has not worked. I have tried this few times, in different combinations.


I was previously able to install iTunes again after removing some preference files and get iTunes to see my iPhone for a short period, however I can't seem to even do this anymore.


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am running OSX 10.9.4


Thank you

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iTunes will not recognize ANY of my three devices

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