Updated my iPhone to iOS v9, now can't use it with my iTunes

I have same issue with two ipads (one iPad Air I bought in Dec 2014, one iPad Mini 2 I bought less than a month ago) that I recently upgraded to iOS 9.0.2.

I cannot synchronize them anymore with iTunes 11.4, which is the most advanced version of iTunes I can install on my iMac Intel Core 2 Duo from 2006, with Snow Leopard on it (10.6.8), which I cannot upgrade to Yosemite anyway.

So far, my only solution would be to buy a new computer. I'm an old Apple fan/user as I bought my first Mac in 1990, but I'm fed up with their policy of forcing Customers to change their machine even when they are completely satisfied with it.

I found on the internet some strategies to downgrade my iPads to iOS 9.0.1, but each time I need to connect my iPads to itunes, which is not possible anymore.

I hope Apple will rapidly propose a way to solve tat issue, but I swear I will not buy any other mac if they don't stop that stupid game.

Signed by : a very frustrated old Apple fan

I went as far as installing El Cap on another drive just to get the latests itunes that would allow me to try and downgrade. I already knew Apple was not signing IOS 8.4 but I hoped I could back up to 9.0.1. Nothing I tried would get me off 9.0.2. I read that people who had upgraded Over The Air had better luck than those who had upgraded through itunes like me.

Either way still stuck and need either an 8.4 downgrade path or an itunes 11.4 upgrade path. I am sure we are getting neither.

phil

To downgrade use this guide: (IGNORE the fact that it is about 8.4.1, the mechanics are valid) http://osxdaily.com/2015/09/16/downgrade-ios-9-back-to-ios-8-4-1/

8.4.1, as well as 9.0, is no longer signed by Apple. Supported—read: non-jailbroken—devices are now limited to 9.0.1 and newer…so far. The window for signing will probably close in about a week (written 10-04-2015)

If you need a 9.0.1 .ipsw, try this link:

http://osxdaily.com/2015/09/23/ios-9-0-1-update-download-ipsw/

Make sure you get the right one. There are subtle naming differences between files and I've had to wait for a long download before I realized that I got the wrong one.

Remember, using Recovery Mode, you can recover a device using iTunes 11, but my experience with downgrading to 9.0.1 is that a device that was already flagged as unreadable by iTunes 11 stayed unreadable, even after a successful 9.0.1 restore. I had an iPad mini, which I could recover to 8.4.1 prior to the signing switch-off, but to no iTunes 11-compatible version of iOS 9; and my iPhone 6, which inexplicably didn't cause any problems until I loaded 9.0.2. A restore back to 9.0.1 also did not restore compatibility with iTunes 11. YMMV…good luck!

Thanks for the info. I have not even been able to downgrade to 9.0.1. Tried many things over all of yesterday.

phil

I did the same,but went straight to OS X 10.11. Thanks for your post.

I too have an older iMac that was running 10.6.8 with all of the problems that you're experiencing. I talked to Apple support yesterday and ultimately upgraded to Mountain Lion. It was available at apple.com, and I did have to pay $19.99, but personally thought it was worth it compared to other costly options. I don't have the Microsoft Suite, but so far I haven't experienced problems with any of the programs that I have. All of our devices synced right away after downloading the newest iTunes. And, when I set up the support, the options were to pay for support or there was a box with "feel I deserve a free consultation" (or something similar). I clicked the free option, listed my problem, and was called back right away. Good luck!

@AYeater130 I am just curious why you did not upgrade to Mavericks or later iOS X? It is free.

madrich - I think it was a matter of my old computer being able to handle the newer upgrades. I also worried about some of my older programs being able to function. Honestly, I took the advice of the tech, and if I remember correctly, Mavericks and Yosemite are no longer available in the Apple store.

Thanks for your sharing AYeater130! I got the same problems & my iMac is also running 10.6.8. In fact I am thinking to upgrade to Mountain Lion (reluctantly) but my hesitation is if it's compatible with Apple's Aperture, which I depend a lot for my daily works. So may I know do you have Aperture in your iMac? If so, is it running fine after the upgrade?

Thanks for your advice!

KettyGor - I don't use it, but I'd be happy to check later today and let you know …

Thanks AYeater130, I owe you one!

Sorry KettyGor - we're even because I couldn't help. I thought my family might have used Aperture in the past, but I don't have it on our computer.

10.8 should run Aperture just fine. In fact, Apple updated iPhoto and Aperture back in 2014 to be Yosemite compatible, so even Mav is supported for EOL, but still robust, Aperture.

http://9to5mac.com/2014/10/16/iphoto-for-mac-briefly-revived-to-receive-os-x-yos emite-compatibility-update/

http://www.apple.com/support/aperture/

If you don't already have the newest version, it is possible that the update will show once you have install the new OS. It is also possible, if you don't see the update, that you can contact Apple/iTunes support to get a redemption code to download the missing App Store version. Good luck!

Same here. I bought an iPhone 6S Plus two days ago. My Macbook 6,1 with Snow Leopard forced me to install the latest itunes version 12.3. Impossible with Snow Leopard. After installing the only available OSX El Capitan the itunes sync worked slow but fine. Unfortunately the Macbook was not usable any more (every start of a programm takes 2 minutes...). So dont even try it. It consumes only time. Luckily a made a time mashine backup my well running Snow Leopard system...

The Apple Hotline in Germany told me, there is no way, except to use iCloud backups only or to buy a new Macbook... Not accaptable...

So what shall I do? I needed a new phone now and not a new Macbook. So I returned my iPhone 6 S Plus yesterday and bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 instead. It`s a acceptable device for even 450 € less...So there is enough budget to buy all the Android versions of my Apps again... But isn`t it strange that Apple forces me to to buy a iPhone without iOS 9? I am afraid there are no technical, but economical reasons at the apple side...I am really disappointed.

@HumanBerlin: Thank you for your post. I too was forced to download El Capitan from Snow Leopard 10.8.6 because I could not backup or restore my iPod or my iPad anymore with the old iTunes. BTW: I was helping Apple test the public beta of IOS 9.1 on my iPad. I read that they were no longer signing IOS 8.4.1. I tried to restore back to 8.4.1 on my iPad and could not. Fortunately after installing, El Capitan on a partitioned drive and using the Migration Assistant, I got everything back except one (previously free) App which I had to buy now, but Apple Support graciously reimbursed me for the cost.

El Capitan is nice, but extremely slow to load on Mac Book Pro early 2008. I am now using iCloud to back up both my IPod and iPad.

I agree that there are no technical, but economical reasons for Apple to force us out of Snow Leopard via a force update of iTunes. I am also disappointed because my budget prevents me from buying a new Mac Book or Mac Book Pro, as well.