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iPhone keeps disconnecting from Mac

Since upgrading to Mavericks, I have been unable to sync devices (specifically ipad mini and iphone 4s) to my MId 2013 Macbook Air. They wil rapidly connect and disconnect, and I'm unable to do anything with the device. This happens with both USB ports. Any suggestions?

[Re-Titled by Host]

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 4, 2013 12:58 AM

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190 replies

Jul 22, 2017 7:35 PM in response to staceyaytch

After trying most of the solutions, multiple cables and ports with no luck. I think the problem might be a connection issue, I mean to say that if there isn't a good connection with all 30 pins this could be the cause of the issue. I resolved the issue by spraying the 30 pin port with electrical contact cleaner. Be careful when trying this solution as I have stuffed up a display by spraying it right next to the phone and the cleaning solution went into the device and ruined the screen. Just spray lightly from a 20 or 30 cm distance just so the solution contacts the 30 pin port. It worked for me and alleviated some major frustration. Good luck !

Aug 18, 2017 8:18 AM in response to staceyaytch

I'm using an iMAC 27" vintage 2014 and iTunes connects properly both to iPad Pro and iPhone 6: the problem is that the battery charging process in both iMAC USB sockets doesn't seem to be working. I am trying the iPAD pro now through the wall plug and Apple adaptor and new lightning connect and that is charging properly. So, data connection yes, but power connection... it would seem not. Do iMAC USB connections break down, or is there some software problem? Obviously, the lightning cable could be the problem, but I would like to know if there are precedents for the data-si charge-no phenomenon.

Oct 14, 2017 12:20 PM in response to staceyaytch

I don't know what's going on, naturally.

Some Apple certified cables or not certified cables work, some of them not, with my certain iPhone SE and my certain MacBook Air, more often on right USB port than the left.

Tried every solution posted here, no effect.

What's strange is that all cables works great with wall sockets, with other iOS devices and even with the same USB on Mac when Windows 10 is launched on my Mac through Boot Camp (so it's not a hardware problems), so I consider this a software problem, 100%. Very strange glitch of macOS

Oct 22, 2017 1:34 AM in response to staceyaytch

Given that there's little in the way of official support here I'd recommend anyone who's still having this issue to head over here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ipad-keeps-connecting-disconnecting-from-ma c.1851453/#post-25257291


Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy. This will reset your location and privacy settings and require you to set up a trust relationship with the PC/laptop again.

This fixed it for me (the issue was still there after an upgrade)

Nov 2, 2017 12:26 PM in response to Le Thuc Minh Tien

Thanks. Resetting Privacy and Location on iPhone seems to have fixed. Been dealing with this issue for months. About 75% of the time when I tried to charge my iPad or iPhone using my MacBook, it goes charging, not charging, charging not charging, every second back and forth. Seems like a bug to me. Tried different cables, USB ports.


Apple needs to address this, in my opinion, by at least displaying a popup to change whatever privacy/location setting is causing this.

Nov 3, 2017 8:57 PM in response to staceyaytch

Hi, I have this problem:

-My iPhone connects and disconnects when I connect it to a Macbook Pro 2015, via USB 3.0. But... only in my opened session. When I'm a guest user or before I start my session... it charges well. Connected to the wall it charges perfectly. Why is this happening? Anybody knows? I tried in my Windows Desktop PC and I have no issues, it works perfect. The problem is with the Macbook Pro.

Nov 4, 2017 3:43 AM in response to staceyaytch

I had this issue, reset privacy settings and voila! it worked again.


And then it stopped working and I've got to re-authorise everything again, which is a faff.


I'll lurk here until this gets answered because I effectively can't get videos off my phone without it, which is a real pain. I'm currently relying on Google Photos as a backup as the Photos.app just seems to now be redundant without being able to connect to the computer.

Nov 4, 2017 3:58 AM in response to JRA Ward

I did every step suggested in this threat without being successful. Yesterday I couldn't connect my iPhone to Macbook. But today morning, the phone could connect... I have no logic explanation, but the same happened before with a temporary solution. So it may happen again, since nobody (not even Apple's service) has an explanation.

I've got to notice that this problem is only when I'm logged in my administrator session in the Macbook Pro. In other systems my iPhone works perfectly: I tried it in Windows Pcs and had no issues. I can charge it in the wall. I also have no issues charging a Samsung Android Device with the Macbook pro!

It seems to be all about the iPhone and the configuration (automatic) of the Macbook.

Good luck everyone.

Device: Macbook Pro 15" Retina mid 2015.

Operative System: MacOS X High Sierra.

Phone: iPhone SE 64GB.

Nov 5, 2017 5:53 PM in response to martinlizo

I can't belive after all these years NO ONE has ever figured out the fix. I DID figure it out though just yesterday, the REAL fix. It's NOT the cable, and it's NOT a software issue!


It's the 3-prong plug! I can't believe I didn't figure this out sooner and to think I have been a mac user for 10+ years. Haha! I have been using the two-prong (US standard) plug and I don't know, for some reason, the issue occurs when I am using the two-prong plug. It could be because of the 'ground' prong provides a more stable charge? I could be too sure as I am not an electrician, but my solution to switching to the 3-prong plug seemed to have worked for me.


Let me know if this fixed your issue too.

Nov 6, 2017 1:14 AM in response to chinchin90210

I use the three-prong plug and the mac without the charger and it's the same. Sometimes the problem diss apearse for a while, but then it comes back. I have no issue connecting my phone to a Windows PC or charging it to the wall. I have no issue with the USB 3.0 ports of the Mac. The problem is the iPhone when I'm logged in in the Macbook.

Yesterday I reinstalled the IOS, I made a backup, etc. No solution. I called the Apple service and I follow every step they told me, but they don't know what to do.

If anybody has solved it, please let me know. Thank you.

Nov 7, 2017 3:34 PM in response to martinlizo

Try to plug in directly to the wall outlet. I also experience the discon/recon issue even with the three prong, but it has improved so much. It doesn’t happen as often. But it seems to happen even less (or not at all) when I’m plugged in directly to the wall outlet. I feel more and more sure it has something to do with the power plug. Or perhaps it’s a combination of the quality of the lightning cable, the stability of the power source and the usb port. Also try changing your mac’s power cable, or macbook charger.

Nov 7, 2017 5:51 PM in response to staceyaytch

I found a solution.

When my iPhone was fully charged... it worked. No cable issues.

When my iPhone was in 90% of the charge, it worked but not at all.

But with less charge it connects and disconnects, so it's unusuable. With the wall there's no problem.

So... the problem is with the battery of the iPhone? It doesn't send enough signal for the Macbook to respond?

And another new problem... my iPhone today stopped working. In the store they said it could be the battery.

So the answer is provably a battery issue. I live in Argentina, so the Apple Stores are not good... I didn't get a device replacement, they will try to repair it and the service is very expensive.

Anybody in a similar situation?

Thanks

iPhone keeps disconnecting from Mac

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