Image Capture: "Please unlock iPhone"

I'm trying to use Image Capture (iMac / OSX 10.9.5) to get some photos from my iPhone 5 (iOS 8.3). The phone is unlocked (in the sense of the screen being unlocked) and Image Capture displays a message "Please unlock <my phone>" and refuses to interact with the device any further. I tried the following things to no avail:

Rebooted both the phone and the computer
Entered the passcode in the phone again
Deleted all files in ~/Library/Preferences related to Image Capture

Any ideas how to work around this bug?

Posted on Jun 9, 2015 2:43 AM

31 replies

Dec 7, 2016 12:39 PM in response to Liz in Arlington

This is so amazingly infuriating.

This is the first time I have hooked my iPhone to my MacBook Pro since the latest iOS upgrade and it would seem Apple broke my functionality.

Tried all of the above - restarted everything. Reset network settings on the iPhone. Tried plugging in phone then starting iPhoto. Then tired "picture capture" and "Preview". Tried all that in reverse order. Pushed "Trust This Computer" button a zillion times now.

No luck. Everything on the Macbook tells me I must unlock the iPhone. I have even gone as far as to completely turn OFF the passcode protection on the iPhone. Doesn't matter. I still get the "turn off passcode" message.

Once or twice I have gotten a message that read "A passcode must be entered for this device". While it was nice to have some variation in the failure ... it doesn't tell you where this magical place is that you should enter a passcode.

Anyone have any new magical fixes for this Apple failure?

Dec 14, 2016 6:30 AM in response to Gary Griner

I Am getting the same problem.

iphone 6 on 10.2 and MacBook Pro on Sierra.

REset Network Settings helps but I can't use it all the time since it deletes all the various wifi passwords etc and is a pain, this has to be easier.

mysELYS

Level 1

12 points

Jul 28, 2016 9:26 AM in response to HighFiveMCM

great. worked. thank U

Sep 27, 2016 8:33 PM in response to Sunshine567

Thank you for that tip. It worked for me, too. Any way to get iTunes to recognize it again?

Oct 6, 2016 9:14 PM in response to Sunshine567

I have been struggling with this for weeks, and this finally solved my problem! Thank you for your help.

Oct 7, 2016 5:37 PM in response to Sunshine567

worked for me after this, helpful as I didnt have iphoto

Oct 18, 2016 6:56 PM in response to Jürgen-Lorenz Simon

thank you this actually works!!! I tried every other possible solution...

Alicio

Level 1

4 points

Nov 22, 2016 5:55 PM in response to Jürgen-Lorenz Simon

I've just had the same problem - turned out I was using a dummy lead (one that's just for charging, not data transfer). Swapped back to my old lead and it was fine again.

Nov 26, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Jürgen-Lorenz Simon

Resetting Network Settings worked for me! FINALLY! Thanks! I'm still getting an error when I try to connect with PhoneView, but at least I've got my photos downloaded.

BennyNYC

Level 1

8 points

Dec 8, 2016 12:22 AM in response to Sunshine567

Thanks for posting - it worked for me! OSX 10.9.4 and iOS 10.1.1

Feb 7, 2017 1:19 PM in response to Sunshine567

Hi, your solution worked. Thanks! I know this isn't the right thread to ask but have you figured out a fix for iphone to be recognized with itunes?

Apr 29, 2017 11:56 AM in response to Jürgen-Lorenz Simon

Worked fine for me...and saved my anger for something else 🙂 Thanks

Hamper

Level 1

39 points

May 5, 2017 6:51 AM in response to HighFiveMCM

This worked for me, many thanks!

OsumaJnr

Level 1

4 points

Jul 10, 2017 10:45 PM in response to Sunshine567

This is it. Big up😎

Aug 21, 2017 5:53 PM in response to Jürgen-Lorenz Simon

i forget my pascode for my phone

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Image Capture: "Please unlock iPhone"