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iPhone connects and disconnects from Mac

Hello,


When I plug in my iPhone to my Macbook pro, it repetitively connects and disconnects. Therefore I cannot charge my phone through my computer anymore.


I own this iPhone since decembre 2018, and this issue only appeared this week. However when I plug in my iPhone to a wall outlet, it charges perfectly. I also noticed that there is a lag time before my phone starts charging when connected to my Macbook (before disconnecting right away, and then reconnecting etc).

I tried to connect my iPhone to both USB ports of my Macbook, with many different Apple lightning cables and also my Anker cable (MFI certified), but the issue substains. I plugged in my mother's iPhone 6 to my Macbook and it charged perfectly. I plugged in my iPhone to my brother's former Macbook pro (15" from 2008) and my iPhone could charge normally.


Here everything I tried to resolve this issue (which failed by the way) :

- I shut down and turned on my computer and my phone.

- I reseted location and privacy of my phone (Devices rapidly disconnect/reconnect - Macbook Air Mid 2013).

- I also restored my phone.


Could anyone tell me a solution?


I specify that I have a 256Go iPhone X under IOS 11.2.5 and a 13" retina Macbook pro (mid 2014) under High Sierra 10.13.3.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone X, iOS 11.2.5

Posted on Feb 10, 2018 1:34 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Aug 28, 2019 4:20 PM


Sep 11, 2018 8:27 AM in response to MélodyH

Connect your iphone to your Mac.

Go to Activity Monitor --> Search for usbd --> Force quit it.



The above worked for me. To add a bit: You click on the upper right of your screen where there is a magnifying glass and search "activity monitor." Keep "CPU" highlighted. Type "usbd" into the search box. Now plug in your phone. It'll connect, reconnect, connect, reconnect and so you have to be quick and double click on "usbd" even though photos and itunes keeps popping up. then once you've successfully double clicked "usbd," click on "quit" which takes you to a screen that says "force quit" and click "force quit."


I also took the recommendation of going to my iphone and settings-->general-->reset-->click on reset location and privacy.


I did both and it worked.

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276 replies

Oct 22, 2018 11:10 PM in response to jimyyz2

Have you tried the activity monitor method? It’s quite tricky, but once you get the timing right it’s easy. Look for, and force end, the process called usbd one the phone is connected. It’s quite finniky as photos, iTunes and all sorts of other stuff pop up appear in the way of the activity monitor terminal but once it’s done it works.


Also on another note, your problem sounds a big deeper than the typical problem here.


Also try a higher charge. In the 90% range before plugging in.


Let me know.

Nov 1, 2018 2:59 PM in response to MélodyH

@Apple Please do something about it, I've tried everything other users have mentioned and it still doesn't work as it should (only thing that helped temporarily was going in the Activity monitor and quitting usbd process, but when I unplugged the iPhone and plugged it back in, the same error). I believe that I'm not the only one who is having this issue. Yes I'm using genuine Apple cable and yes I do know that you rather sell more phones than solving this issue which occurs to some users. Do something about it, for your customer's sake!

Nov 21, 2018 2:04 AM in response to Richieno1

Essentially I reset network settings on my phone then "re trusted" the phone to my laptop, it works temporarily. I have since got a new phone which works so not sure if its a glitch with new software on older phones as my old phone was a 7 with an X its working fine.


Also check your registered apple devices as you can some times have too many and that can stop the "Trusted" function from working.


Good luck.

Nov 28, 2018 3:59 AM in response to MélodyH

Hi Mélody,


I had the same problem and contacted Apple support by phone. Try this:


1. Turn off your MacBook Air

2. Press and hold "Shift+CTRL+ALT(option)+Power" (11 seconds) and release

3. Turn on your MacBook Air as normal

4. Log in

5. Connect your iPhone


This resets your USB ports. In my case, it was a software issue, not a problem with the ports, the cable or the phone itself.


I hope that helps.


Jack

Dec 12, 2018 4:29 AM in response to MélodyH

This issue appears to often be related to the power on the phone. When it's on a very low charge, it doesn't connect properly. (However, it seems to continually cycle through trying to connect, flashing on and off. Which is not really very helpful to the device or toubleshooting.)


I'm not sure what the minimum charge it accepts is, but as long as your device is charged to 'out of the red', you should be okay.

Dec 14, 2018 5:52 AM in response to MélodyH

I have a similar problem. iPhone 7 Plus, MacBook Pro (2015).

With same cable (or older cable from Anker) and Laptop, no problems with iPhone 6s and 6 Plus, only with 7 Plus (if it is not fully charged). Problem goes gradually away if iPhone 7 Plus is charged more than 70-90%.

However, with newer cables (both genuine apple and from Anker) I have no problems.


Have you maybe used an older cable from your previous iPhone?


Of course, YMMV.

Jan 24, 2019 9:19 PM in response to MélodyH

I have the same issue. I have an iPhoneX and a Macbook Air. Whenever I plug in my device just to charge it while I'm using my Mac, a prompt appears telling me to install an update on my iPhone X, when I click "Install" a pop up appears telling me the software is not available. Then it disconnects my iPhone and hence, no longer charging it. But with my old iPhone 5 I don't have an issue such as this one. I already messaged their tech support and provided screenshots but still no solution until now.

Jan 27, 2019 7:39 PM in response to MélodyH

I finally figured out the solution to why my iphone kept charging off and on:


I had offloaded / deleted the Music (iTunes) app on my phone. After reinstalling this it allowed me to Trust the computer.


I did what welibelkov suggested:


1. Disconnect your iphone from cable.

2. On your iphone: ->Settings -> General -> Reset -> Reset Location & Privacy (accept all things).

3. Connect your iphone back to cable. (iphone will reconnecting again, don't worry, it will be soon over).

4. iTunes will ask about trust, accept all this.


But was unable to trust the computer cause my Music (itunes app wasnt installed)

Feb 12, 2019 4:11 PM in response to MélodyH

I have been suffering with this issue since I got the MacBook, I chose to avoid the problem by using my windows 10 laptop but I want to use the photos app as my iPhone X 256GB is full! has anyone got an actual solution for this as the ones I've tried on here will not work. We don't have an apple shop here in New Zealand so it's difficult to get it looked at.


Thanks,


John.

iPhone connects and disconnects from Mac

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