iTunes 12.8.0.150 Doesn't See iPhone

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.

At 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

I assume you've tried these steps exactly as given:

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.

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

Install that and iTunes should see your devices.

If so, and iTunes still isn't seeing the device, reboot the Mac into safe mode and see if that helps the discovery process complete.

If that hasn't worked you could try installing iTunes 12.6.5.3 from links in iTunes for Mac installers, connect to a new empty library on a temporary basis just to get communication established, then reinstall iTunes 12.8.0.150 and reconnect to your library, and hope the device is still recognized.

tt2

OK, interesting development.

Just for the heck of it, I connected my new iPhone 7--I generally use iCloud for syncing my phone. Amazingly, I got the "install update" message, even though it is running the same iOS12 as the two iPods I've been unsuccessfully trying to connect. Once the update ran, and I re-started iTunes, it recognized the iPhone. Holding my breath, I then tried connecting the iPods, and it works! There must have been some kind of "memory" of the two iPods that didn't trigger the required update, but thankfully, connecting the iPhone did it.

Thanks so much for the advice! I spent HOURS wrestling with this today!

I had the same experience with an iPod touch with IOS 12.1, not detected on iTunes 12.8 on macOS Sierra. Decided to un-install iTunes and install the older version 12.6.3 (with App store). The iPod was then detected. Support told me upgrade to macOS Mojave, which is not an option for me now. iTunes 12.9 was released for Windows, which I believe addressed this incompatibility.

Hi, I had the same issue with iPod Touch running IOS 12.1. I decided to uninstall iTunes 12.8 and replace it with 12.6.3.

Then the iPod was detected. Apple should release iTunes 12.9 for macOS Sierra which apparently is compatible with IOS 12 devices.

Reinstalling 12.8 over 12.8 on El Capitan through High Sierra will usually work. I assume you've actually installed 12.6.5.3 since that was the additional build released to allow app management with iOS 12 devices.

tt2

A quick note:

1. Download iTunes 12.8

2. Make sure your iPhone is connected (USB) and unlocked before you run the installation.

3, During the installation process, you will get a prompt to install the update in order for your iPhone to connect.

4. After installation is complete, your iPhone will be visible in iTunes again.

Thanks again for the solution. Worked perfectly for me.

Did the fix of going back to iTunes 12 and it worked for me. And to be clear, I'm on a MacBook Pro with High Sierra (10.13.6) and iPhone 8 with (12.0.1). So this ain't a windows thing. It's not a cable thing either, 'cause photos recognized my iPhone as usual, no problem. Apple needs to fix their software.

I found that the recent updates to iTunes under High Sierra and to the Mojave version of OSX fixed the problem with connecting to iPones and iPods, as of 12/17/18.

No notification of the fix though, and no acknowledgement of the mistake. Oh well....

With luck iTunes 12.9 for Mac will be out later today, and that should sort you out.

tt2

Same issue. I noticed if I power cycle phone when attached iTunes asks me to unlock with passcode. When I do that, same problem. I am also updated to ios12 on phone too. Others gotta be having this same issue.

That worked. It does take an unusually long time to do the update. The timer on the downloading and installing section doesn't reflect actual time it's taking to install the update. Just have to be patient until it is done.... Thanks

MacBookPro (10.12.6) has iTunes 12.8.0.150

iPhone 5s is iOS 12.0.1.

Every combination of powercycling yields the same fail: iTunes has no idea that my iPhone is connected. And yes, Preview can see iPhone attached and download photos. I don't need that, I need.

iTunes 12.9 seems to be not recommended for anything but the most current OS.

Funny, as I just updated by MBP OS to 10.12 (going more current would break too many critical apps if you must know) for the main reason that my iPhone stopped being able to sync with iTunes, saying that its iOS 12 needed an OS of at least 10.11. At least before I upgraded, iTunes could SEE it. Now the iPhone icon doesn't even show up.