iPod Touch is not recognized by my iMAC computer after IOS12 update. Check system information and the iPod is listed under USB 3.0

You need to update iTunes to the latest version ( vers. 12.8.x ) OR if you wish to still save both the actual apps and app data, use iTunes 12.6.5 found here.

iTunes 12.6.5 found here.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208079

iTunes 12.6.5 for the Mac requires OS X El Capitàn 10.11.4 or later.

That Apple employee is wrong.

I have a 9-year old iMac ( late 2009, 27 inch iMac ) and can run OS X 10.11 El Capitàn just fine.

I could even run macOS Sierra/High Sierra, but choose NOT to because my iMac has lots of older, legacy software.

If my 9 year old iMac can run OS X 10.11.6, your Mac can, too!

I installed iTunes 12.6.5 which requires OS X 10.11.4 or greater.

iTunes 12.6.5 works with iOS 12 and will still save both your apps and app data from the 6th gen iPod Touch.

You just need to upgrade your Mac to the latest version of El Capitàn or if this is not possible, to the last compatible Mac OS version, which is macOS High Sierra.

iTunes 12.6.5 found here.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208079

So, what’s the problem?

What is the actual Mac model you are using? Desktop or Laptop model?

2007/2008 iMacs can run OS X 10.11.6 El Capitàn as their maximum Mac OS.

I have just been informed by the post here below, that it may be a couple of minutes, or so, for your 6th gen iPod Touch to be recognised by iTunes.

Re: iPod touch (6th Gen, iOS 12) can not connect to and iTunes 12.8.0

The device will NOT show up immediately after iTunes is launched.

None of us know why this is happening, but you just need to be patient and your 6th gen iPod Touch will, eventually appear in iTunes.

Good Luck!

Hello Mike and Franimal,

Franimal, I’m glad you’re up and going again! What EXACTLY did Apple finally do to get your iPod to be recognized again by iTunes? I’m having a similar problem that I posted here... https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8586566.

Seems there is a lot of folks having this issue…

Can you HEAR US APPLE? 😠

Try iTunes 12.6.5 found here.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208079

iTunes 12.6.5 for the Mac requires OS X El Capitàn 10.11.4 or later.

BEFORE DOING the IMMEDIATELY ABOVE, if you use iTunes on a computer and already have an iTunes Library, you will need to find the iTunes Library folder on your computer ( usually located in folder labelled Music ) and, temporarily, move/copy this folder to another location so you do not accidentally write over your existing current iTunes library.

You will need to use an older iTunes version and once it is downloaded and installed on your computer, at launch, hold down the Opt/Alt key on your keyboard while launching this older iTunes version, so you can create a new Tunes library.

Good Luck to You!

After the iOS 12 "upgrade", this message came up:

To use your iPod with iTunes, you need to install OS X 10.11.4 (or later).

Just got off the phone with a Sr. advisor at Apple. Told me my 1-yr old iPod touch is no longer compatible with my 9-year old iMac after the iOS 12 "upgrade". Nothing they can do, said I need a newer iMac. Another upgrade FAIL.

Basically $300 wasted on something I can no longer use with my computer - which houses my 30,000 songs that I can no longer put onto my 60gb iPod Touch. Thanks Apple, for taking my money and making me and many others suffer. Thankfully my old 160gb is still working, for now.

Steve Jobs is rolling over in his grave at what this greedy company has done since he passed away.

Thanks for the reply.

Sadly, my iMac is actually 10 years old, not 9, my mistake. I'm actually on hold with Apple again here in town, not the Corporate folks. Hoping they can do something.

AND they just did! Like you said, El Capitàn will in deed work! It never ever did when it originally came out and I tried the update at that time (a few times!), but now since they changed something in there as of Sept 2017 it does.

Updating right now. SIGH OF RELIEF!

THANKS AGAIN SO MUCH for your reply and assistance, much appreciated!

Check to make sure your iTunes is up to date with a current version. iTunes 12.8 is not current.

I believe Apple is up to iTunes version 12.9, now.

You still have the option of using iTunes 12.6.5, per my above link, which IS iOS 12 compatible.

Good Luck to You!

Yes, same with me. This all to me about a month ago, but here's the interesting part. Photos sees the iPod touch connected to the Mac, both an iMac with High Sierra that's 5+ years old, and a MacBook Pro with High Sierra that's 7+ years old. On the iMac, I'm running iTunes 12.8.x.x (the latest from Mac App Store) but on the MacBook Pro, I'm running iTunes 12.6.2.20...yes with High Sierra.

So, is it iTunes or not? I don't think it is. Something in the macOS updated in the past 4-6 weeks, changed the ability of iTunes to see this old iOS (4.2.1 for my 2nd gen iPod touch). Xcode? Security Update?

Strange that the USB connected iPod touch is picked up by Photos with NO PROBLEM, yet using either version of iTunes, or iMazing, it cannot be seen by those apps.

What helper files in macOS is controlling the connectability/visibility of the iPod touch to macOS, or more specifically, any music syncing app?

I'm having a similar issue, but with PC. Is your iPod stuck in Recovery Mode?

And model is iMac (iMac (20-inch, Early 2008). I presently have iTunes 12.8 and hope that works with the El Capitan update going on now.

El Capitan downloaded. iTunes 10.8 was already there a while back, but now iPod doesn't show up in iTunes. Works fine in Photos, but nowhere to be seen in iTunes? Suggestions?

Thanks to one more call Apple got my iPod working like it once was. LOTS of patience, a stop by and then phone call to the local Apple Store and a couple calls to Apple got it done. 🙂