User profile for user: Lux Infinita
Lux Infinita Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

iPad-iTunes connection flickers on and off

I can't physically connect my iPad to iTunes and sync my music (or do anything else, really). When I plug the cable in, the connection sort of flickers on and off really quickly and just keeps doing that until I remove the cable:

  • The battery icon at the top-right corner of my iPad's screen changes to either the "charging" icon or the "not charging" icon and flickers between whichever of those it chose and the normal battery icon which appears when the iPad isn't connected to anything. I don't care whether it charges or not; I just want it to stay connected to my computer.
  • The iPad appears on the list of devices connected to iTunes, but this might be because it's on the same wi-fi network; I haven't checked whether turning wi-fi off on either the iPad or the computer makes the iPad disappear from the list.
  • A popup appears on iTunes. It says "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. This device is no longer connected.". There appear to be multiple identical popups on top of each other; I need to click on "OK" or press return many times before it will go away. Also, it appears again at most two seconds after I do this. I'm pretty sure this popup has to do with iTunes recognising the iPad for a fraction of a second and then ceasing to recognise it (hence the iPad "is no longer connected").
  • A popup sometimes appears on my iPad, although it disappears after a fraction of a second every time and it doesn't appear as frequently as the iTunes one. Because of its reduced frequency and the ridiculous amount of time it remains on the screen before disappearing (without me touching the iPad's screen), I haven't been able to read it completely, but I think it has something to do with the iPad asking me whether I want to trust the computer.


I'm using a late-2014 MacBook pro with Mac OS 10.9.5. My iPad is a 3rd-generation iPad with iOS 8.0.2 (or whatever version we are currently at). The cable is not physically damaged; I use the same cable to charge the iPad every night and have had no problems with that, and I tried another cable anyway just in case (and got the same result). The iPad is not physically damaged. The laptop is not physically damaged. The USB port I'm using works perfectly (I've connected an external drive there and used it for TimeMachine backups). I've successfully connected the iPad to three other Apple computers without this happening. About three hours ago I connected the same iPad to the same laptop without this happening (although the syncing got stuck, but that's a different story, I guess).


I can connect over wi-fi, but that's not the issue here. I want to be able to connect physically.


Seriously, considering this and the other problems I've had recently, it's like Apple has been turning more and more into an expensive version of MicroSoft ever since Steve Jobs died. Yes, I'm ******. This is like the fifth really stupid problem I've had with Apple devices (three different ones) in the past five days or so.

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 8, 64 GB

Posted on Oct 11, 2014 6:18 PM

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26 replies
User profile for user: mlecreurer
mlecreurer
User level: Level 1
13 points

Jan 22, 2018 6:30 AM in response to nevans54

I read a couple of months back that it might be the issue, and that I should make sure to connect the iPad first, and then only plug in potential other devices..


Today I had a new development: When connecting only my iPad Air 2, I had the flickering connection, on both USB ports of my MBP 2015 15" on power adapter. I then gave up, and decided to charge my Bluetooth headset instead.

After the headset had been charging for a couple of minutes, I tried the iPad again, I have a steady connection. Not charging really fast, but I am using it as it charges, so, no worries there!


Any explanation why connecting the headset all of a sudden seems to solve the issue?


Anyways, for people having the problem, try something like this?


My bluetooth headset is a Sony SBH20, plug on the right USB port, then the iPad on the left one.

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User profile for user: Giangnh261
Giangnh261
User level: Level 1
8 points

Feb 19, 2017 7:57 AM in response to Lux Infinita

I have the same exact problem, and here is my solution: User uploaded file

In this picture, I'm currently restoring my ipad 2, using non-original Apple cable, plugged through a usb hub. This hub is very cheap, cost me about $2 (yes, it's only $2 in my country). What happens here is that this usb hub does not allow my ipad (or any device that plugged in) be charged, only transfer data. I think something is wrong about the way my ipad draw power from my macbook.


Hope this may help


Ps: Sorry for my bad English.

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User profile for user: Da Gopha
Da Gopha
User level: Level 5
6,485 points

Jan 18, 2015 1:24 PM in response to Lux Infinita

Also exactly the same issue here - I've never had this problem before - seems to have occurred since upgrading to the latest version of iTunes (12.0.1.26) and iOS 8.1.2.


For me, this happens, but I can close iTunes, and connect/disconnect the USB cable a few times, and thereafter it's okay. I've now turned off the wireless syncing with the iPad to see if there's some conflict there. There are a number of other people reporting the same issue, and consensus is that it could be either a cable, or a USB software issue. It seems that this occurs most prevalently with the left hand USB on MacBooks.


I've done the same tests / used the same cable and USB port for other things without incident.


Am going to upgrade to Yosemite soon, so will be interested to know if this alleviates the issue. Can sync on wireless, but it's so much slower than using the cable.


As you can see from your "I have this question too" bubble, we're not alone...!


Cheers,

Gopha

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User profile for user: Lux Infinita
Lux Infinita Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

Jan 18, 2015 1:41 PM in response to Da Gopha

I started having the problem with Yosemite, but also with my new (current) laptop (my old iMac had Mavericks). It's either an iOS issue, an iTunes issue or a MacBook Pro issue; I thought it might be a Yosemite issue, but then you have something else (presumably Mavericks), so there's one less suspect.


Point is upgrading to Yosemite won't fix the problem. 😟


Edit: Sorry, I started having the problem with Mavericks (just reread my original post). Wow, I've got terrible memory. Anyway, I upgraded to Yosemite shortly after posting this (which explains my mistake) and the problem continued.

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User profile for user: Jeffrey Studebaker
Jeffrey Studebaker
User level: Level 1
6 points

Jan 26, 2015 10:57 AM in response to Lux Infinita

+1

I have the same issue as of this morning. Running latest versions of Yosemite and iOS on a new iMac and a 2-year-old iPad mini.


I thought it might be related to the issues I've been having where iTunes does not recognize iPhone/iPad either in WIFI or USB, however a restart fixes that issue whereas it did not fix the new problem.


My iPhone 5c connects just fine using the same cable.


I hope we can find a fix until Apple finally addresses these issues.


PS. Kudos to the OP for a really clear description of the problem.

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User profile for user: Jeffrey Studebaker
Jeffrey Studebaker
User level: Level 1
6 points

Feb 3, 2015 10:14 AM in response to Lux Infinita

Update: I am finding that my iPad has a steady connection....if I can wiggle the cable plug into the iPad socket juuuust right.


Since I don't have any issues with the same cable and my iPhone, this tells me that the problem is most likely with the socket on the iPad. A loose contact or something.


This makes even more sense when I consider the fact that my iPad is just a week past warranty. 😐

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

Dec 26, 2015 11:06 AM in response to Lux Infinita

Hi,


What worked for me was putting the ipad in airplane mode and then I could sync the ipad mini. It was set to sync with the cloud and maybe that is the problem. This fixed it for me, at least this one time. I know it is not my cable or the ipod connection itself because there is no problem charging with the wall charger, just when I USB connected to my Macbook Air. Hope this helps some people.


Martha

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iPad-iTunes connection flickers on and off

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