Itunes and IOS 12 problem

You're not going to remove iTunes, simply reinstall it over the current installation. This is what happens every time iTunes gets updated. These steps seem to be working for most Mac users:

Download the current 12.8 installer for iTunes from https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

Unlock your iOS device and connect it to USB.

Install iTunes from the .dmg that you've downloaded.

Near the end of the installation it should announce that a further software update is required.

Install that and iTunes should see your devices.

Or wait for Apple to release iTunes 12.9 for Mac. 😕

tt2

This method of reinstalling iTunes worked to solve iPhone no longer appearing in iTunes.

I was having the exact same issue, with all up-to-date versions below, after the iOS 12 update, the iPhone no longer showed up in iTunes. Even when through a chat with Apple on the matter – they of course had no good ideas on a remedy.

To note, the "An update is required to connect to iPhone..." message appeared rather early in the iTunes install process. Clicked on "OK", so the iTunes install, and software update were sort of going at the same time. The iTunes install finished first but the software update was still going. It's shown as a tiny window with progress bar which tends to fall behind other windows. So I when I tried to open iTunes, it said is was being updated. I closed everything else, then saw the tiny software update window. After everything was done, the iPhone was back in iTunes.

Also, all my play lists and music were as before. So, an easy fix.

iTunes version: 10.8.0.150

iOS version: 12

macOS version: 10.13.6

Surprised Apple would release and iOS update and then we have to figure out how to get things working again. Sigh.

Try reinstalling iTunes while your iPhone is unlocked and connected to USB. You may then get prompted to install a software update that allows iTunes to connect to your device.

tt2