10 Proven Ways to Fix iPhone Not Showing Up in iTunes for Windows & Mac (2025)

Is your iPhone not connecting to iTunes? Then read on. iPhone users face this issue, which can be very annoying. When you plug in your USB cable and open iTunes nothing happens. If your iPhone doesn’t show up in iTunes, you can’t back it up, restore your iPhone, or update your iOS.   If you have any issue related to to iphone guide then visit this page.

Don’t worry. This problem is common and fixable. This guide will help you fix iTunes not recognizing iPhone problems whether your computer is Windows or Mac. We’ll discuss 10 solutions that work with all iPhone models. This includes iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16.

Let’s solve this iTunes connection issue step-by-step.

Understanding Why Your iPhone Not Appearing in iTunes

Before we fix the problem, let’s understand why it happens.

Several things can cause iTunes not detecting iPhone. Your USB cable might be damaged. Your computer’s operating system might be outdated. The Apple Mobile Device USB Driver could have problems. Sometimes iOS update bugs cause detection issues.  If you have any issue related to Receiving Emails then dont worry we also provide solution of this issue here on this website.

Error identifying your device on iTunes is sometimes caused by your security software, corrupted drivers, and permission settings. The good news is most of these problems are easy to fix.

Part 1: Quick Diagnostics – Basic Checks When iPhone Not Connecting to iTunes

Check Your USB Cable and Connection

The first thing to check is your USB cable. A faulty cable is one of the most common solutions that work for a variety of iPhone connection issues.

Try these steps.

Use a different Apple-certified USB cable. Cheap cables often fail. Look at your iPhone’s Lightning or USB-C port. Is there dust or dirt inside? Clean it gently with a soft brush.

Plug your cable into a different USB port on your computer. Don’t use USB hubs or extensions. They can cause connection problems. Try connecting your iPhone to another computer. This helps you determine if the issue lies with your iPhone or computer. How to Fix Blurry Videos on Android and iPhone? (10 Methods)

Update Your Windows or Mac Operating System

Compatibility problems in iTunes can be due to your computer version being outdated.

If you’re using Windows, click on Start and navigate to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Install all available updates and restart your computer.

If you’re on a Mac, click the Apple icon in the corner. Select System Preferences or System Settings. Click Software Update. Download and install any macOS update available.

After updating, try connecting your iPhone again.

Update iTunes to Latest Version

Old iTunes versions can’t detect newer iPhone models. Keep your iTunes software update current.

Open iTunes on your computer. Click Help in the menu bar. Select Check for Updates. If an update is available, download and install it. Restart your computer after installation.

The latest version of iTunes can also be downloaded from Apple.

Restart Both Your iPhone and Computer

Sometimes a simple restart fixes everything.

Turn off your iPhone completely. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. Restart your computer too. Every mobile device should connect to itunes after owned device is rebooted.

This simple step solves many iPhone detection issues.

Part 2: Advanced Solutions to Fix iTunes Won’t Detect iPhone

Trust This Computer on Your iPhone

If it’s your first time connecting the iPhone, you need to authorize the connection.

Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable. Unlock your iPhone screen. A Trust This Computer prompt will appear. Tap “Trust” on the alert. Enter your iPhone passcode if asked.

Unplug your iPhone and plug it back in if you do not see this message. This is a security feature. iTunes cannot get to your iPhone’s data without trusting the computer.

Your iPhone trust settings remember trusted computers. But if you reset your iPhone, you need to trust again.

Disable Third-Party Security Software

Your iPhone might not be recognized by iTunes because of any firewall programs or antivirus software blocking it from being detected.

Security software interference is a common problem. Software like Norton, McAfee, Avast, or Windows Defender may think that iTunes is a threat.

Temporarily disable your antivirus software. Check if your iPhone appears in iTunes now. If it is functional, add iTunes to the exception list of your security software. With this, iTunes can work without stopping your protection completely.

Always remember to turn on your security software testing.

Reset Location & Privacy Settings

Your iPhone doesn’t always show Trust computer notification. This happens when trust settings get corrupted.

Here’s how to fix it.

Open Settings on your iPhone. Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Reset at the bottom. Click on reset location and privacy which ask you your lock code before proceeding.

This removes all trusted computers from your iPhone. It also resets app location permissions. The Trust message will show up again when you connect your iPhone to iTunes. Tap Trust and your iPhone should show up in iTunes.

Fix iPhone Not Showing in iTunes with iOS System Repair Tool

If the straightforward solutions do not assist you, iOS system repair issues might exist. The bugs in your iOS firmware might keep iTunes from detecting your device.

An expert iOS system repair application can help solve this issue without losing your data. These tools work when other methods fail.

Key features of good repair tools:

• Fix iTunes detection problems without data loss
• Compatible with iOS 9 to iOS 18
• Work with all iPhone model compatibility (iPhone 12/13/14/15/16)
• No jailbreak needed
• High success rate for troubleshoot iTunes connection issues

How system repair works:

Connect your iPhone to your computer. Launch the repair tool. Choose Standard Mode repair option. This keeps all your data safe. The application retrieves the appropriate iOS firmware for your device. Click Start Repair. Wait a few minutes for the repair to complete.

After repair, your iPhone restarts automatically. Reconnect it to iTunes. Your iPhone should now be detected.

Update Apple Mobile Device USB Driver (Windows Only)

Apple Mobile Device USB Driver is required for iTunes to detect iPhone on Windows computers. An outdated or corrupt driver could cause iPhone driver issues on Windows.

Update the driver.

Right-click “This PC” or “My Computer” on your desktop. Select Properties, then click Device Manager. To update the drivers, look for “Portable devices” or “Universal serial bus controllers.” Then check for “Apple I-phone” or “Apple mobile device USB driver.” Right-click on it. Then select the option of “Update driver.” After that choose the option of “Search automatically for drivers.”

Windows will find and install the latest driver. Restart your computer and try connecting your iPhone again.

Reinstall Apple Mobile Device USB Driver (Windows Only)

If update fails, reinstall the Apple driver completely.

Close iTunes completely. Connect your iPhone via USB cable. To open Device Manager, press Win + X and choose Device Manager. Find Apple Mobile Device USB Driver under Portable Devices. To “Uninstall device” just right-click it. Tick the checkbox that states “Delete the driver software for this device.” Uninstall it.

Restart your computer. When Windows boots up, reconnect your iPhone. Windows will automatically figure out and install new drivers.

If automatic installation fails, you can install manually. Go to Apple Mobile Device Support Drivers folder Look for the file called “usbaapl64.inf. Right-click and select Install.

Check Apple Services on Mac

The ITunes app has been replaced by separate apps in newer Macs that run Mac OS.

These include Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Devices.

At times, they may conflict with iTunes, if you’ve still got it on your device.

Check what’s installed on your Mac. If you have the newer Apple apps, use Finder instead of iTunes to access your iPhone. Open Finder and look for your iPhone in the sidebar. If using iTunes on an older version of Mac, make sure no other Apple apps are running. Quit Apple Music and Apple TV apps. Then try iTunes again.

Reinstall iTunes Completely

If nothing else works, reinstall iTunes from scratch.

For Windows users.

Go to Settings > Apps. Find and uninstall iTunes. Be sure to uninstall the Apple Application Support, Bonjour, Apple Mobile Device Support and Apple Software Update. Restart your computer. Download fresh iTunes from Apple’s official website. Install it and restart again. Connect your iPhone and check if it shows up.

Reinstalling the program will fix corrupted files that are causing problems in device management.

Alternative Solutions When iTunes Still Not Detecting iPhone

Use iCloud for Backup

If you just need to backup iPhone, you don’t need iTunes. iCloud works wirelessly.

Go to Settings on your iPhone. Tap your name at the top. Select iCloud > iCloud Backup. Turn on iCloud Backup. Tap “Back Up Now.”.

Free 5GB storage by iCloud. For more space, you can buy additional storage.

Use Finder on Newer Macs

If you just need to backup iPhone, you don’t need iTunes. iCloud works wirelessly.

Go to Settings on your iPhone. Tap your name at the top. Select iCloud > iCloud Backup. Turn on iCloud Backup. Tap “Back Up Now.”.

Free 5GB storage by iCloud. For more space, you can buy additional storage.

Prevention Tips

Keep iTunes and iOS updated regularly. Use only Apple-certified USB cables. Clean your iPhone’s charging port monthly. Trust computers only when you recognize them. Back up your iPhone regularly through iCloud or computer.

Always update your Windows or macOS whenever a new version applies to all users in the beta phase. This prevents iTunes compatibility problems.

When to Contact Apple Support

If you have exhausted all available options and your iPhone is still not connecting to itunes, it may be showing hardware damage.

Contact Apple Support if your iPhone’s Lightning port is physically damaged. Your computer’s USB ports don’t work with any device. You see error messages you can’t fix. Your iPhone is under warranty.

Apple can run diagnostics and repair hardware problems.

Conclusion

Try these solutions in order. One of them will get your iPhone detected by iTunes again. At this point, backing up, restoring, or updating your iPhone shouldn’t be an issue.

Don’t let iTunes connectivity issues stop you. You will be able to get your iPhone to work with iTunes upon trying these 10 –tested methods.