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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?

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MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Nov 4, 2013 12:58 AM

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Posted on May 3, 2015 4:52 PM

"Le Thuc Minh TienOct 25, 2014 11:57 PM Re: Devices rapidly disconnect/reconnect - Macbook Air Mid 2013
Re: Devices rapidly disconnect/reconnect - Macbook Air Mid 2013in response to staceyaytch


i have same issue but i find the way to fix it. Try this:

tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy. This will also reset your location and privacy settings. You can also untrust all computers by tapping Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings on the ipad/iphone

hope you fix it!!"

This helped me and fixed the issue immediately!! Thanks so much for the helpful tip.

190 replies

Nov 23, 2016 10:18 AM in response to staceyaytch

Was able to "fix" the problem by using other cable. I used Belkin. Still trying to see why a cable would do this, so in my experience it is the hardware issue, not software. The cables I had problem with were original Apple tried both original short one and longer one I bough at Apple Store, both ports on my 2015 MBP were glitching. The one on the right side was connecting/disconnecting. The left one was not syncing up, but a charge icon appears on iPhone. Using non Apple cable fixed both problems. *** Apple?

Dec 14, 2016 1:41 PM in response to staceyaytch

After several months of investigating the causes of this issue I decided to purchase a new cable, but not an Apple cable, instead I opted for a PureGear Charge-Sync cable, and instantly the issue was fixed!!!

Now I can conclude that this issue may be somehow caused by Apple cables.

It almost drove me crazy, because I tried several Apple cables with no success, I also thought it was a problem with my MacBook Air USB ports, or an iTunes bug, or and iOS bug, but none of them!!!

Please try it http://www.pure-gear.com/shop-by-category/connect/braided-charge-sync-cable-for- micro-usb-devices-48-1308.html

Dec 20, 2016 1:12 PM in response to ebdor

My conclusions so far after investigating this issue for half a year:

1. Many people still experience this issue after resetting location settings, so I discard this as the cause.

2. This issue affects both Mac and Windows systems.

3. I solved the issue using a MFI cable and using the same iTunes, macOS and iOS version, so it may not be an iTunes bug or an iOS bug.

4. I hardly believe Apple brand sync cables CHIP may have a defect (hardware or software) that cause this malfunction.

5. Not all Apple brand sync cables seems to be affected.

6. I really encourage people to try MFI sync cables before considering any other option, or if all other solutions have failed, at least it was the only option that worked for me after a year of headaches!!!

Dec 21, 2016 9:48 AM in response to staceyaytch

Tried all the solutions here except the usb hub solution.


I noticed that this happens only on both my ipad mini 2 and ipad mini 3. It doesn't happens to my iphone 6 plus.

What works for me was to connect both the iphone 6 plus and ipad mini together on my macbook pro mid 2015.

When i disconnect my iphone 6 plus, problem arises again. Problem disappears again once i plugged back my iPhone.

Tried with a mouse + iPad mini combination, Problems doesn't go away
Tried with a normal usb + iPad mini combination. Problem doesn't go away

Tried with android phone + iPad mini combination. Problem doesn't go away

Dec 21, 2016 10:48 AM in response to gindaray

My conclusions so far after investigating this issue for half a year:

1. Many people still experience this issue after resetting location settings, so I discard this as the cause or fix.

2. This issue affects both Mac and Windows systems.

3. I solved the issue using a MFI cable and using the same iTunes, macOS and iOS version, so it may not be an iTunes bug or an iOS bug.

4. I hardly believe Apple brand sync cables CHIP may have a defect (hardware or software) that cause this malfunction.

5. Not all Apple brand sync cables seems to be affected.

6. I really encourage people to try MFI sync cables before considering any other option, or if all other solutions have failed, at least it was the only option that worked for me after a year of headaches!!!

Dec 31, 2016 7:49 AM in response to staceyaytch

Has Apple even addressed this issue? The only way my iPhone 6 and iPad Air sync is using a USB hub in between. If I plug directly to the laptop the issue occurs. No problem whatsoever when charging from the wall or connecting to a PC. I have a mid-2015 Macbook Pro Retina 15". Things like this should not be happening.


I also got a new Lightning cable when I got a new Apple TV and it worked for a couple days...then back to the disconnecting issue. GRRR so frustrating.

Feb 17, 2017 1:53 AM in response to staceyaytch

Want to share my experience too. I got the same problem before for my iMac and my iPhone 6s Plus. I tried all the method like change some setting in my phone and iMac, change different cable but still not my case. At the end I used Isopropyl Alcohol clean all of the connect point of the usb cable and the usb port in my iMac as well. After that everything back to normal.

Apr 12, 2017 12:09 PM in response to macntash

Turning on airplane mode did it for me.


And after successfully connected my iPhone to the Mac (or iTunes) with airplane mode 'ON', I can turn 'OFF' the airplane mode without having the rapid connect-disconnect got triggered.


After that I can connect-disconnect my iPhone without having the need to turn 'ON' the airplane mode again.


Weird, but it happened to me.

Apr 14, 2017 7:26 PM in response to Jumoonji

Ipad Air 2 as well as iPhone SE on latest MacBook Air 13" disconnect/reconnect all the time. I turned off bluetooth and they are both charging now. (After have rebuilt permissions and done all the other suggestions here, of which none worked for me.) So this is more like the airplane mode solution. I suppose (pulsing) the (bluetooth and maybe more) network interfaces influences USB power too. I really needed the wired connection because Astropad can't connect wirelessly anymore after last Sierra update (Duet won't connect at all...)

Apr 15, 2017 9:40 PM in response to ClaireCK

Really?


After the airplane solution as above, I have never experienced the same again.


Oh and additionally, the next two days after getting my wired connection back to work, I updated my iPhone into the latest public beta available.


The reason for the update to beta (yeah buggy but working) is that my iPad Pro did not experience any of the wired connection, and it was on the latest public beta, while my iPhone was on the latest official release.


After the update to this day it has never occurred to me anymore.

iPhone keeps disconnecting from Mac

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