Is Monterey required for iPhone to communicate with Mac?

[Northroad52]

I just updated my iPhone 12 to 15.3. Now Apple wants me to update my iMac in order to communicate with my phone. The only update that shows available is Monterey 12.2. I'm running Big Sur 11.6.1. Is Monterey really required for this? those OS upgrades usually take several hours with our primitive internet.

 

[IWT]

That should not be the case. I have an iPhone running 15.3 and my mac has Big Sur and I have no connection problems. In fact my iPhone even connects to my older iMac running High Sierra.

Sometimes when you update the iPhone, it requires a small update to marry with the Mac. Could that be what was being asked of you? That’s a common feature. It usually requires the iPhone to be attached via USB. Then it says a small update. Fine. But NOT an Upgrade to the OS.

Try again by connecting the iPhone via USB and read carefully what it says in the way of an update. I bet it’s that small update I mentioned.

Please post back.

Ian

 

[Northroad52]

If you look at the screenshot I posted it just says "a software update is required to connect to your iPhone. Would you like to download and install this update now?" It doesn't say what the update is, but when I look at "about this Mac" the only available update is to Monterey.

 

[Northroad52]

If you look at the screenshot I posted it just says "a software update is required to connect to your iPhone. Would you like to download and install this update now?" It doesn't say what the update is, but when I look at "about this Mac" the only available update is to Monterey.

Downloading now, only 13 minutes remaining.

 

[MacInWin]

Moving to Monterey is not an "update" but an "upgrade" and is not what the message says you have to do. Have you checked at the Mac App Store for any updates there?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Historically, iOS syncing happened through iTunes and the latest version of iOS required the latest version of iTunes which in turn required a newer version of macOS.

For some time now it's possible to use your iPhone without ever connecting it to Mac and this let to people letting the versions of OS' drift apart. The other issue people ran into is for those who upgraded an iPhone many generations removed and wanted to sync with iTunes finding they couldn't without upgrading the Mac. Thus the breaking the need to sync with iTunes/Mac.

Now Music has replaced iTunes and the sync'ing happens more directly from Finder itself. So if you are running the more recent versions of iOS, you'll have no choice to run the latest (or as close to it as possible) version of macOS aswell.

 

[MacInWin]

Ashwin, the OP is running Big Sur, which already replaced iTunes and already put Finder in as the sync tool. So, there should be no need to upgrade to Monterey, even with the phone updated. Eventually, yes, there will be a need to move up on the Mac, but BS should sync.

Sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using your computer - Apple Support

You can sync your content using your Mac or PC.

support.apple.com

Use the Finder to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with your Mac - Apple Support

The Finder is one of the ways that you can sync your device with your Mac.

support.apple.com

 

[Northroad52]

Thanks everybody, update went okay only took 20 minutes. Now updating Big Sur, 2 hours remaining.

 

[IWT]

If you look at the screenshot I posted it just says "a software update is required to connect to your iPhone. Would you like to download and install this update now?" It doesn't say what the update is, but when I look at "about this Mac" the only available update is to Montere

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Ashwin, the OP is running Big Sur, which already replaced iTunes and already put Finder in as the sync tool. So, there should be no need to upgrade to Monterey, even with the phone updated. Eventually, yes, there will be a need to move up on the Mac, but BS should sync.

Sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using your computer - Apple Support

You can sync your content using your Mac or PC.

support.apple.com

Use the Finder to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with your Mac - Apple Support

The Finder is one of the ways that you can sync your device with your Mac.

support.apple.com

Correct, that's why I said latest or close to latest.

 

[MacInWin]

Ah, OK, I missed that. Thanks!