Iphone 6S+ not recognized in iTunes

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Suddenly my iPhone 6s + is no longer recognized by iTunes.

I think the problem came after an update from the iOS to 12.1
I work with an older iMac with OSX 10.11.6 and iTunes version 12.8.0.150
I have never had problems with the recognition of the phone by iTunes until now.

Sometimes I get the message that I have to do a software update but it does not work.
If i click the "install" button i get the message that the software is not available on the server.

Now I get the following message:

"iTunes can not read the content of the iPhone. "Go to the" Overview "tab in the iPhone preferences and click on" Restore "to restore the factory settings of the iPhone."

This does not work because after closing the message, the button of the iPhone next to the button "music" disappears.

I have also reinstalled iTunes but this does not help.

What else can I try?
 
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Have you checked for Software Updates in the OS X App Store?
 

IWT


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A warm welcome to Mac-Forums.

I'm sorry for your misfortune.

It seems you are not alone. There may be compatibility issues between iTunes and the iOS 12.1.

However, as you have 10.11.6 ( El Capitan), this shouldn't happen.

From the very many Google searches I undertook, there was one in particular which seems to offer a solution. I shall share the Link below. Do please read all of it. Do not be put off by the header mentioning Yosemite. The solution involved upgrading to El Capitan which you have, but that did not work immediately.

What did work, eventually, was booting into Safe mode. The details are in the Link:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8540034

Please post back.

Ian
 
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What else can I try?


I can't help but wonder if installing iMazing.app could not solve the problem???:
https://imazing.com

Free trial available, Everything is accessible, but we restrict the amount of items which you can transfer.






- Patrick
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@Ian : So far i've done the following :
*Connect the iPhone to the iMac (in "off" position)
*Started the iMac in safe mode

Until now the iPhone does not show in iTunes (it appears in "system info")

The link mentions "After a very long time, the iPhone icon came up on iTunes". So how long should i wait ?

The iMac acts "funny" in safe mode, like it is lagging...
 

Raz0rEdge

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iOS 12 requires iTunes 12.8 to work. Looks like you have that version, but try reinstalling iTunes 12.8 following these instructions anyway and see what happens.
 
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Until now the iPhone does not show in iTunes (it appears in "system info")


Have you try using the iMazing.app as suggested above??

But I believe it relies on iTunes to make connections with the iDevice. But it may still just work to back up or access your iPhone.




- Patrick
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IWT


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Patrick, As far as I know iMazing is a completely independent and stand-alone app that is not in any way related to iTunes.

In fact, it is directed to those who cannot, or wish not, to use iTunes.

Ian
 
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iOS 12 requires iTunes 12.8 to work. Looks like you have that version, but try reinstalling iTunes 12.8 following these instructions anyway and see what happens.

I already tried that twice. Sometimes I get the message that I have to do a software update but it does not work.
If i click the "install" button i get the message that the software is not available on the server.
 
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Patrick, As far as I know iMazing is a completely independent and stand-alone app that is not in any way related to iTunes.

In fact, it is directed to those who cannot, or wish not, to use iTunes.

Ian



Interesting thanks Ian, and I was always led to believe it was one of the requirements:
Requirements for iMazing:
Intel, 64-bit processor
OS X 10.9 or later
iTunes 12.2.0 or later
iOS 4.0 or later

https://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/27830/imazing

Or even,:
Q. I'm a Windows user. Do I need to install iTunes in order to use iMazing?
A. No need to, no. If you do not have iTunes installed, iMazing will offer to download the Apple drivers needed to communicate with iOS devices.
https://imazing.com/tech-specs

Either way, I'd sure give it a whirl and try it and see if it can't see the iPhone and do whatever needs to be done, hopefully it just might work.

It sure won't break anything to try.






- Patrick
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I already tried that twice. Sometimes I get the message that I have to do a software update but it does not work.
If i click the "install" button i get the message that the software is not available on the server.
Go into the App Store for software updates, as sometimes, security updates, may need to be installed, prior to other software updates. Which was the reason I mentioned it in my other reply (#2).
 
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You're not going to believe this...

After everything i tried and people suggested on different fora, i decided to do the last thing i would think that caused the problem : changing the cable.
Why should i do that ? The cable connected to the iMac always worked. I get a "ping" noise from the iPhone if i connect it. iTunes opens when i connect the phone, and the phone appears in "system info ->USB"
So you should think that the cable works perfectly not ? I used the same usb port on my keyboard.

I've two cables, one always connected to the iMac, another from the power charger.
I changed these cables and unbelievable, the iPhone gets recognized in iTunes instantly !
These two cables look identical + the one i used on the mac always worked since i bought the iPhone .
If i put the so called "defect" cable to the charger and connect the phone, the iPhone charges normally.

What can cause one cable to work and the other not ? None of the cables is damaged either on the cable or connectors...
 

Slydude

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Gload you sorted that out. Thanks for posting back and letting us know the source of the problem. I'm sure that will help someone.

That would never have occurred to me as a possible solution. I've had cables go bad before but usually for me when that happens nothing works.
 
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You're not going to believe this...
... ... ...
What can cause one cable to work and the other not ? None of the cables is damaged either on the cable or connectors...


Good sleuthing for discovering the problem. Especially with the connecting ding etc. That would normally confirm that everything was okay. But it seems not all wires are checked, which is sure good and helpful to know.

BTW: I'd suggest putting some tape as a marker on the bad one so it doesn't get mixed up again, or maybe just recycle it.

There may not be any visible damage showing, but a electrical test meter would show at least one wire is kaput. The connectors are obviously OK as the other cable works just fine.

Some members will probably recall some of the Apple cables that drove them crazy when connected in certain situations and they could never get audio to work correctly as the cable didn't support it internally. But they looked good. Many hours wasted figuring out the problem — Use the proper cable. :Not-Amused:





- Patrick
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