MacBook Air Does Not Recognize iPhone USB Internet

Folks,
I have spent hours reading trying to figure this out with no luck; I have a late 2010 MacBook Air and an iPhone 5S. I have always tethered the iPhone to the Mac via USB for internet and it has worked well. Today the Mac will not connect to the iPhone via USB, but it will via wifi/bluetooth. In network preferences on the Mac the wifi only works on the iPhone setting; the USB setting is not there. If I switch to Automatic, the USB option shows, but will not connect, and the wifi will not connect.

Lakeside said:

Folks,
I have spent hours reading trying to figure this out with no luck; I have a late 2010 MacBook Air and an iPhone 5S. I have always tethered the iPhone to the Mac via USB for internet and it has worked well. Today the Mac will not connect to the iPhone via USB, but it will via wifi/bluetooth. In network preferences on the Mac the wifi only works on the iPhone setting; the USB setting is not there. If I switch to Automatic, the USB option shows, but will not connect, and the wifi will not connect.

Click to expand...

What version iOS? What version OS X? Is/was the iPhone jailbroken? Have you tried a different cable for laughs? Have you installed any software on the Mac in particular right before this problem started?

stock iPhone 5S V8.4.1 and OS X Yosemite 10.10.5

Run Repair Disk permissions in Disk Utility on the MbA
if not
Reset the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201295
if not
Try another USB device in the port

given the somewhat patchy reliability of lightning cables my first thought would be to try a different / new cable

Thanks Folks,
Various cables have been tried with no luck. I have not installed any programs prior to the USB issue. repair disk permissions did not resolve the issue. I will try a SMC reset as suggested.
Does anybody know how to delete and reinstall iTunes on a Mac? This is a likely suspect as it contains the permissions for tethering as I understand. It's easy on a PC with add/remove programs, but I can't figure it out on a Mac.
Many Thanks!

Have you recently upgraded your iPhone to iOS 9? If you have, there's nothing you can do as USB tethering is broken in iOS 9 and remains to be fixed by Apple. Some folks have resorted to loading an older kext to get tethering working again, however, I do not recommend doing this. Just wait until Apple fixes it. In the meantime WiFi tethering should continue to work normally. Use that instead.

Thanks chscag, I upgraded all the iPhones and iPads last night but have not tried to tether as I am at home using the house system.

Hmmm, SMC reset didn't do anything, iTunes reload didn't do anything. With iOS9 the USB tether works just fine on a PC, still no luck on this Mac.

I found a thread on Apple's forums that discusses this problem. Here's the link, with the solution that worked for at least one person:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7220718

1) Make sure you dont have an iTunes 12.3 .dmg file sitting around. If you do, delete it.2) Go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ and download the latest iTunes
3) Install it like the CHAMPION you are!
4) Enjoy USB tethering like the good ol' days

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That particular iTunes download includes an older kext which is why USB tethering will work once more. However, in my reply above I stated that I did not recommend installing the older kext - the reason being is that it caused problems for some users. I never use USB tethering and rarely even use WiFi tethering unless my FIOS line is down for some reason.

chscag said:

That particular iTunes download includes an older kext which is why USB tethering will work once more. However, in my reply above I stated that I did not recommend installing the older kext - the reason being is that it caused problems for some users. I never use USB tethering and rarely even use WiFi tethering unless my FIOS line is down for some reason.

Click to expand...

That's interesting. iTunes 12.3 was released after OS 10.10.5. You'd think that iTunes would have the newer kext.

The original download of iTunes 12.3 did have the newer kext and that's what killed USB tethering. Many complaints to Apple caused them to re-issue iTunes 12.3 but with the older kext included which restores USB tethering. The problem, however, is that it caused problems for some users. Also with El Capitan, Apple has instituted SIP (System Integrity Protection) and that has added to the headaches.

And BTW, I turned off SIP so I could get cDock and my custom icons working again.

chscag- I have to tether; I spend a lot of time in places where there is no internet except cellular tether.

Lifeisabeach-Thanks. Downloaded iTunes a second time and the usb tether will work now IF I go to Network Preferences and select Automatic. This will cause the usb to register, and if you click 'apply" after a few steamboats it will engage. The wifi (my home system or the iPhone wifi tether) will not work unless you go back to the iPhone setting in Network preferences, select wifi on, and "apply". Workable but not perfect. Previously wifi or usb tether was automatic in that you only had to select wifi on or off on the top task bar icon... Further to that, it should all work off the "Automatic" selection in Network Preferences". Thanks again for the link though