iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. Could not send a message to the device.

I'm trying to get music from my itunes on a Mac desktop to my iphone se.....I get the message above. Any ideas for a fix or workaround? Thanx

iPhone SE, Imac10.7.5

Posted on Jul 16, 2018 10:48 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 17, 2018 2:32 PM

Hello MitNomder,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities! I understand that you are encountering an error when attempting to sync your iPhone to your Mac using iTunes. I would be happy to help point you towards a resolution.

The following support article provides some troubleshooting steps to try for this issue:

If iTunes doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support

Be sure to start with the steps in this section:

  1. Make sure that your iOS device is unlocked and on the Home screen.
  2. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes that works with your computer.
  3. Check that you have the latest software on your Mac or Windows PC.
  4. Make sure that your device is turned on.
  5. If you see a Trust this Computer alert, unlock your device and tap Trust.
  6. Unplug all USB accessories from your computer except for your device. Try each USB port to see if one works. Then try a different Apple USB cable.
  7. Restart your computer and iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
  8. Try connecting your device to another computer. If you have the same issue on another computer, contact Apple Support.

Some additional system requirements to keep in mind depending on the devices you are using: If your iPhone is currently running iOS 11, syncing with iTunes on a Mac requires OS X 10.9.5 or later and iTunes 12.5 or later. Keep us posted with what happens from here.

Take care!

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4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 17, 2018 2:32 PM in response to MitNomder

Hello MitNomder,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities! I understand that you are encountering an error when attempting to sync your iPhone to your Mac using iTunes. I would be happy to help point you towards a resolution.

The following support article provides some troubleshooting steps to try for this issue:

If iTunes doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support

Be sure to start with the steps in this section:

  1. Make sure that your iOS device is unlocked and on the Home screen.
  2. Make sure that you have the latest version of iTunes that works with your computer.
  3. Check that you have the latest software on your Mac or Windows PC.
  4. Make sure that your device is turned on.
  5. If you see a Trust this Computer alert, unlock your device and tap Trust.
  6. Unplug all USB accessories from your computer except for your device. Try each USB port to see if one works. Then try a different Apple USB cable.
  7. Restart your computer and iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
  8. Try connecting your device to another computer. If you have the same issue on another computer, contact Apple Support.

Some additional system requirements to keep in mind depending on the devices you are using: If your iPhone is currently running iOS 11, syncing with iTunes on a Mac requires OS X 10.9.5 or later and iTunes 12.5 or later. Keep us posted with what happens from here.

Take care!

Jul 18, 2018 8:38 AM in response to MitNomder

Hi MitNomder,

Thanks for getting back to us. Which iOS version are you currently running on your iPhone? You'll find that from Settings > General About. This will help us determine the OS X and iTunes version needed in order to sync the iPhone with iTunes.

Based on the additional information you provided, it's possible that the OS X can still be upgraded on your Mac. If your Mac model is listed in the resource below, you can download and upgrade to El Capitan using the App Store:

How to download OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

Specifically, follow the steps in this section:

If your Mac doesn't support High Sierra, or you're using Snow Leopard or Lion and would like to upgrade to High Sierra, follow these steps:

  1. Use this link to open the El Capitan page on the App Store: Get OS X El Capitan.
  2. Click the Download button on the El Capitan page. If your Mac is compatible with El Capitan, a file named Install OS X El Capitan downloads to your Applications folder.
  3. After download is complete, the installer opens automatically. Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

User uploaded file



If you decide to upgrade the software on your Mac, it's a good idea to make a backup of your data first. Here's some different ways you can make a backup:

How to back up your Mac - Official Apple Support

Cheers!

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iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. Could not send a message to the device.

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