iOS 9.0.1 Message: This iPhone cannot be used because it requires a newer version of iTunes

Thank you for posting that link! Unfortunately, I can't follow the instructions completely because iTunes won't connect with my iPhone, so there doesn't appear to be a way to "Click on (my) device in the iTunes interface."

Additionally, when I try to start my iPhone in Recovery Mode, the prompt that I get when iTunes sees the device is to "Restore and Update," not just "Restore." I've got the old ipsw file from a previous backup, but it doesn't seem to want to let me use just that - iTunes wants the latest, and if I disconnect from the internet, iTunes won't let me proceed because I'm not connected.

I fear I'm screwed. Like you, I have a lot of audio software on my machine that I don't want to lose the use of.

From the linked article:

If you get an alert that says this version of iOS is not compatible with your device, that means Apple has closed the window. You're probably stuck with iOS 9...

😠

I too am having this issue with my iPhone 6+. I'm still on Snow Leopard as well. At one point I updated to either Mountain Lion or Lion and my machine (mid 2009 MBP) didn't handle it well so I reverted back a few years ago.

I'm simply not interested in updating my machine because I prefer the look and feel of 10.6.8. There isn't a need I can see to break iTunes syncing with iOS that I can see. I've been in the iOS 9.0 beta program and initially you could still sync via iTunes, which I did without issue. It was only after the public iOS 9 release that they broke the ability.

Holding out to see if they reverse course . . .

This morning I upgraded my iphone 5c to IOS 9.0.2 using my G5 10.6.8 and itunes 11.4. No warnings of incompatibilites from itunes of course. After upgrading the phone is no longer compatible with itunes 11.4 as we now know.

"The iphone cannot be used because it requires a newer version of iTunes..."

There is no itunes upgrade beyond 11.4 available for Mac OS 10.6.8

There is no system upgrade beyond 10.6.8 for old machines (or maybe you have lots of 10.6.8 dependent software hardware)

There is no way of reverting back to IOS 8.41 on the phone as Apple have stopped signing that version a few days back.

I talked to three levels of Apple support who all tried hard to find a solution but confirmed that there was no way to fix the problem. They did acknowledge that itunes 11.4 should not allow a fatal upgrade like this without some kind of warning.

I can see no way out of this problem with out new hardware, mac OS, itunes etc unless someone smarter than me hacks an IOS downgrade process.

Very very frustrated to have been stupid enough to accept an upgrade.

phil

I'm really angry...

Same thing happened to me.

I was really happy with my macbook 2,1, never had any issues with any third party programs, and now a have to take this kind of b@#$%^&t from apple...

This is unacceptable.

I heard that IOS 9.0.1 (currently on 9.0.2) might still work with itunes 11.4 and also it is still down gradable from 9.0.2. I have not been able to confirm as I have not found an ipsw that is accepted. I have assess to another machine with the latest itunes and every time I Option click Restore and select and older ispw it says it is not compatible eg Apple is blocking the downgrade. I tried various ispw for 9.0, 9.0.1, 9.0.2 could not get anything to install.

Super annoyed. Lost eight hours to this today and still no better off. Looks the only way back is to buy a used iphone that is still on 8.4.

unbelievable...phil

That is disheartening. I downgraded because my machine didn't do well on Lion/Mountain Lion. The hardware just isn't meant for those updated OS's, in my opinion and experience (yes, I know some people don't have those issues). I hope that they fix this breakage soon. It's so frustrating not being able to appropriate back up my iphone and sync playlists.

I just upgraded my iPhone to 9.0.2 yesterday. I was able to sync it with iTunes 11.4, in Mavericks. I can't test it with Snow Leopard because I am still using iTunes 10.7 there. The trick may be to upgrade your iDevice directly, rather than through Tunes. Some people have reported that this works, and it worked for me. At least so far.

Same problem.

iMac4,1 with OSX 10.6.8 (highest possible on this hardware)

iTunes 11.4 (18) (highest possible with this System)

iPhone 5 with iOS 8.x backing up perfectly for months.

Backed up, upgraded to iOS 9.0.2, now iTunes says I need a higher version of iTunes.

Restarted iPhone. Restarted iMac. No luck.

Catch-22.

Last week I did the same upgrade with my other iPhone. The difference: I updated the iOS directly to the iPhone, without using the Mac, first to 9.0, then 9.0.1, then 9.0.2 ... My MacBook3,1 with same versions of everything continues to recognize the iPhone with iOS 9.0.2

Interesting. I does seem to be the case that upgrading over the air continues to work but updating to IOS9 through itunes breaks things.

I unintalled iTunes from my laptop. Downloaded version 12.3.1.23 and installed it.

That solved my problem

On what OS did you do this?