iPhone 6S (iOS 9.2) doesn't sync with OSX 10.7.5

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iPhone 6S (iOS 9.2) doesn't sync with OSX 10.7.5

This past weekend, I synced my iPhone 6S via my mid-2008 Black MacBook (OSX 10.7.5). There were no problems at all, and I could add/delete music on my iPhone from iTunes directly.

Then, remembering that I am a beta software tester, I downloaded the beta software for my iPhone 6S. After downloading it, a few days later, I went to go put another album that I just purchased from the store, onto my iPhone. However, when I connected my iPhone to my computer, I was now receiving a pop-up on my computer screen saying "Latest version of iTunes needs to be installed."

Unfortunately, I am unable to download and install the newest version of iTunes, because my computer is unable to support any OSX higher than 10.7.5. When I called Apple Support I talked to two agents, and the final person I spoke started to get annoyed with me asking basic questions about if all later versions of iOS will have this same problem of needing the newest iTunes in order to sync music from computers.

I feel as though I am being discriminated against because unless I have the money to afford a brand new laptop. As I stated, my iPhone was syncing with my computer until the point that I downloaded the newest iOS version. When I talked with the customer service rep he, pretty rudely, informed me that "that's the way it is and technology advances and it wouldn't sync with your laptop forever." True: I understand that. But at the same time

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Dec 10, 2015 11:55 AM

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Answer 1

C-otter

Level 1

11 points

Aug 3, 2017 10:36 AM in response to Limnos

Agree. My Apple specialist just updated my OOOOOLD MacBookPro to 10.11.6 with the caveat that that's all she wrote. I recently purchased an iPhone 6S and they refuse to recognize each other via Bluetooth, even when both are discoverable. I.e. they discover each other but "refuse" / fail to link. IRRRRRitating.

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

427,229 points

Dec 10, 2015 1:09 PM in response to cadamek

You really shouldn't be running beta anything if you are using old hardware and software in any part of your computer system. I know you feel you have been singled out but it has long been Apple's official policy to not support hardware older than 5 years so what the Apple rep. was telling you is basically how things work with electronics where things are outdated after about 12 months.

Vintage and obsolete products - https://support.apple.com/HT201624

This means do not expect the latest software on the latest iPhone to work with a computer that is presumably older than 5 years.

I use a 14 year old computer, an OS dating from year 2005, and iTunes dating from 2007 so I am simply a realist who learned all this a decade ago. If you want to use your old computer you should not buy a new i-device. If your computer is older than 5 years then carefully read system requirements across the board before doing updates to anything. Realize iOS updates cannot be reversed. In fact if you are interested in beta testing you should be a regular reader of all the relevant Apple support forums.

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Answer 3

sberman

Level 10

272,436 points

Dec 10, 2015 1:24 PM in response to cadamek

I have one point to add to Limnos' response, with which I completely agree:

cadamek wrote:

This past weekend, I synced my iPhone 6S via my mid-2008 Black MacBook (OSX 10.7.5). There were no problems at all, and I could add/delete music on my iPhone from iTunes directly.

You should realize that this behavior is not to be expected. Your iPhone 6S requires at least iOS 9. iOS 9 requires at least iTunes 12.2, which cannot be supported by your OS X version.

So you should not base your thinking so much on "it used to work ...".

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Answer 4

Limnos

Level 10

427,229 points

Dec 10, 2015 1:42 PM in response to sberman

sberman wrote:

iOS 9 requires at least iTunes 12.2, which cannot be supported by your OS X version.

I think that's 12.3 12.3 represented a big cut off for some hardware as it requires at least OSX 10.8.5 to install whereas 12.2 still ran under OSX 10.7.5.

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Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

272,436 points

Dec 10, 2015 1:45 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks ... on thinking back, I believe you're exactly right.

I relied on my memory - big mistake.

Thanks for pointing this out.

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Answer 6

Limnos

Level 10

427,229 points

Dec 10, 2015 2:09 PM in response to sberman

It kind of stood out in that usually one associates dropping a set of hardware with the main version jumps such as 11 to 12. iTunes 12.2--> 12.3 dropped a whole bunch of hardware. Unfortunately Apple kind of dropped the ball and didn't insist you be running 12.3 in order to update. Many 12.2 or earlier users updated (irreversibly) iOS using an older computer and then suddenly and without warning found that very same computer was saying it could now no longer sync to their devices! I guess when they say they drop support they really mean completely drop it and not even provide you with a warning if you are doing something that renders your >5 year old computer unworkable with something. 😟

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