iPhone SE not displaying in iTunes

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Level 1

8 points

iPhone SE not displaying in iTunes

I've just bought a new iPhone SE (in the UK) and the up to date iTunes software on my Mac isn't displaying it as a device. I have an iPhone 5, iPad Mini 2 (about 5 months old) and an older iPad mini - iTunes displays them all as devices with no problems. When I connect the iPhone SE i get a message saying that the phone's iTunes software needs to be updated but how can I do that when i have to update it through iTunes? I've never had that sort of message before - the SE is brand new so how is its iTunes software out of date? I've even gone on the App store on the phone to look for an update but there's nothing there.

I've checked the Apple support pages and it's last ditch answer is to disable any third part security software but I don't have any.

This is really irritating as everything else was set up on the phone with no problems but I can't load music onto it. I'm going on holiday and wanted to transfer my playlists onto the new phone but will have to do this on the iPhone 5 and carry two phones around. Not good.

iPhone SE, iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Aug 21, 2016 12:45 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 21, 2016 12:57 PM in response to Orangesimo

You don't need iTunes to update the iPhone. It can be done via a Wi-Fi network if that works for you.

On your iPhone tap Settings > General > Software Update

Otherwise, see: "If You Use a Mac" in this support article > If iTunes doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Aug 21, 2016 12:55 PM in response to Orangesimo

Ask yourself some questions.

Is itunes updated to the latest software?

Did you contact Apple?

If you have done these things, you need to try and contact apple again, or search on google as I'm pretty sure other people have had this problem.

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Answer 3

elcpu

Level 7

31,586 points

Aug 21, 2016 3:48 PM in response to Orangesimo

What version of iTunes do you have on your Mac? The latest is 12.4.3 and you need it for iTunes on your Mac to recognize the SE. Older versions will recognize the iPhone 5 but not the SE on account of Live Photos. iTunes is on your computer, not your phone and if iTunes on your Mac is telling you it is up to date, it is because you have an older version of OS X. You would need OS X 10.8.6 or later to get iTunes 12.4.3. Try updating the OS on your Mac first and then your will be able to see the SE on iTunes so you can sync the playlists.

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Answer 4

Orangesimo Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 21, 2016 4:18 PM in response to elcpu

Many thanks for all of the replies. I updated iTunes earlier today and it's now 12.2.2.25 not 12.4.3 - strange as I thought it would have updated to the most current version. The message I'm getting from the iMac and iTunes is that the iTunes on the phone is out of date which makes no sense as the phone doesn't have iTunes on it. You could be right that it's the version of iOS that I'm running which is causing the problem - maybe it can't update to the latest 12.4.3 version which the SE needs. A bit of a let down as all I wanted to do was load some music. I've tried updating my mid 2011 Mac to the latest version of iOS El Capitan and others before but it just sits there saying whirring but doing nothing so I'm stuck with Lion 10.7.5.

I've got Google Chrome which comes up with a Protocol Request warning so went back to trying to load El Capitan via Safari which redirects from the UK Apple website to the App Store and I get the downloading bar which usually sits there for ever and then I get failed to download message. I'm trying it again now.

I'm wondering if I've made a mistake getting the SE - just compared photo quality, exposure and focus sharpness with my iPhone 5 and the SE's photos are terrible. It doesn't want to try to focus whereas the 5 bangs out sharp, quality photos with no problems. Maybe teething problems but I can't see any settings to change.

M thanks again for your help.

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