Level 1

27 points

iOS14 upgrade and iTunes 12.8.2.3 can no longer see iPhone to backup or sync

Posting this to help anyone who has an issue after upgrading an iPhone and subsequently cannot get iTunes on a Mac to see the phone for syncing and backing up. Found the solution was to reinstall iTunes atop the existing copy, allow the installer to also install the 'update needed' for the iPhone, then wait minutes for the install to complete.

This answer for someone who had the issue with iOS 13 solves this for me:

[quote]

I had the same problem, with iTunes 12.8.2.3 (running on macOS 10.13.6) and iOS 14.0.

First, I went through the steps listed at If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support . That didn't fix the problem, but I felt it was important to try those things first before calling in for assitance.

Then, I called Apple Support. After some research, the person I spoke with said to go to Download iTunes 12.8.2 for Mac and install this slightly older version.

I did. While the installer was running, it downloaded additional updates, as did iTunes 12.8.2 itself when I launched it. I then ended up with a re-updated version of 12.8.2.3 that was able to see my iPhone.

This completely fixed the problem for me.

[/quote]

Hope this helps someone else still running older and fully functional macs with OS 10.13. My iPhone is the original SE, btw. Still kicking, both.

iPhone SE, iOS 14

Posted on Sep 23, 2020 5:19 PM

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turingtest2

Level 10

278,091 points

Posted on Feb 17, 2021 1:50 PM

For iOS 14 you need iTunes 12.8.2.3 or better running on OS X 10.11.6 or better. See How to upgrade to OS X El Capitan - Apple Support if required.

Assuming a suitable version of iTunes is in place then in Finder use the menu item Go > Go to Folder..., copy the following text, paste it into the dialog box and press enter:

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/Current/Resources

Unlock your device and connect it to USB. Double click on MobileDeviceUpdater in the folder that has opened. It should notify you of a software update. Install it and iTunes should hopefully recognize your device.

If these steps haven't worked you can also try reinstalling iTunes 12.8.2.3 while your device is connected and unlocked.

tt2

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137 replies

After Hours Author

Level 1

27 points

Dec 11, 2020 4:27 PM in response to asfromtoronto

This is what I love about our community -- we may each have a slightly different issue going on under the hood for why this occurs, but between what I stumbled-across/copied/pasted, TT2's contribution, and basic variations on a theme such as our Canadian connection and everyone else discovered -- there are solutions. I'll continue to leave this discussion 'unsolved' for as long as the forum software allows. We won't be the only ones our experience benefits.

Dec 27, 2020 1:35 PM in response to After Hours

I am very frustrated. Two identical iphone XRs with same iOS 14.2 and one will connect to itunes and one will not. Updated the Mac from El Capitan to High Sierra. Reinstalled itunes to 12.8.2 twice. Tried to run the updater program found here: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/Current/Resources and it does not seem to do anything.

NONE of it works. Come on Apple. You messed something up. Please fix it. Customers should not have to work this hard to use your products.

Jan 31, 2021 9:44 AM in response to After Hours

Okay, now I'm afraid to install ios 14 on my iPad. I'm keeping Mojave because of "legacy" software (i.e. five years old maybe) that I use every day--for example Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. Guess I'll have to wait until I buy a second computer to get a new phone and update my iPad. Thanks, Apple.

Jan 31, 2021 10:42 AM in response to Korukat

Thanks: this is reassuring - after I get used to the idea I might take the plunge. This will delay the iPad iOS upgrade for a few more weeks. Still have an iPhone 6 but am glad of the heads up here because who knows when I'll need a new phone. (And what happens when iTunes 12.8.2 can no longer be downloaded?)

snufbox

Level 1

9 points

Mar 7, 2021 4:04 AM in response to snufbox

Managed to finally download iTunes 12.8.2. When I plug my iPhone 7 into MBP iTunes asks me to upgrade iOS but an error message comes up Can’t download the software because of a network problem.

Why is setting up a new device such a punish?

Any suggestions?

snufbox

Level 1

9 points

Mar 7, 2021 5:46 AM in response to turingtest2

Disabled VPN. Used a wired connection. Time and region are correct. Same result.

Not sure if this is anything related but when I went into the App Store to check for updates I received this error message...

May 5, 2021 6:08 PM in response to After Hours

I updated my iPhone 8Plus to iOS14 and iTunes no loner recognizes it.

I'm on macOS 10.12.6 Sierra, with iTunes 12.8.2.3

When I try and install iTunes 12.8.3, I get this error

This update requires macOS version 10.13.6 or later.

Am I hosed?

May 5, 2021 6:37 PM in response to After Hours

Thanks for the response!

I have a MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)

Is 10.13 still out there? I'll have to look.

Not even sure why I updated my iOS, I'm not digging the new version, but can't seem to go back to 12.x because the versions are no longer signed, unless there's another way?

After Hours Author

Level 1

27 points

May 5, 2021 6:42 PM in response to MovieGal210

And just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... iOS 14.5.1 arrives :) Glad we could help. There's a WHOLE lot of us here on this thread -- I refuse to close it or hit the 'solved my question' bit. I fear eventually Apple will archive or otherwise age it out of action. Good luck to you!

seekr

Level 1

9 points

May 5, 2021 6:47 PM in response to After Hours

In response to theinability to see your iPhone, look to Apple Support Community, where a user had the same issue - as did I. There is a fix posted 9/23/20 by "After Hours." It worked for me, and seems to have worked for others as well

After Hours Author

Level 1

27 points

May 5, 2021 7:04 PM in response to soundboy44

Your mac will be happy on 10.13. According to MacTracker, you can run 10.15. But don't -- I'll come back to why below. (If you don't know of Ian Page's software, he's been awesome for two decades, tracking all of the Apple universe of products in a free database. OK, so I'm a geek, but I've loved the guy's efforts - download MacTracker if you are curious about some Apple history details). Back to our story: Surely there are archives of the OS installers available somewhere. :)

OK, wait -- that's not the advice I would give friends or customers: IF you find a source* of an older OS installer, you must be sure you have a full cloned backup of your hard drive first (I recommend throwing a little coin at Mike Bombich and use his Carbon Copy Cloner tool. It is outstanding. Buy a nice little USB drive -- in my area (Raleigh, NC), Bestbuy as a 4Tb WD external pocket drive on sale for like $90. Partition this, and you can use half as a TimeMachine drive and the other half as your backup clone.

Now, back to once you have obtained an OS update for 10.13. There are some tricks to getting it to work on your system -- and I'm not sure this excellent forum is the place to discuss such techniques. Once 10.13 is successfully installed (either on your external clone or the internal machine, your choice), you'll boot from that OS version and try our suggestions from this thread. Perhaps print out this thread in case it goes away.

Why not just jump to 10.15 when you locate a legit version of the installer? As I resolved my issue in the 10.13 environment, I know what actually worked properly. So to fix your phone frustration (say that out loud), go with a known workaround first? Maybe I'm overly cautious when it comes to other people's gear. I've been fixing Macs since my labs had Mac 512Ks -- so I'm loath to break too much at once.

As for rolling back an iOS version -- can't help you there. Sorry.

*source your software carefully -- you may be able to find a local independent Mac consultant or repair shop, or a real Apple Store, with a legit library or older installers, and the dates they were released. Do NOT just randomly grab an installer from the Internet -- unless it is from Apple.com. The 10.13 installer is a bit under 5.2Gb in size. Apple may have policies that preclude such access.

After Hours Author

Level 1

27 points

May 5, 2021 7:13 PM in response to soundboy44

I see in the thread above, yougghhh was able to get it to work in 10.12? Not sure you are hosed. Reply to his post and see if he had some secret sauce that helped?

Also note that I used iTunes 12.8.2 -- there appears to be a link to it from the 12.8.3 page: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1977?locale=en_US

May 5, 2021 7:30 PM in response to yougghhh

Hi,

I'm also on macOS Sierra 10.12.6 with iTunes 12.8.2.3, but can't seem to update to iTunes 12.8.3 without what I believe is an OS update, but I'm not sure? Did you do anything special to get this to work?

When I try and install iTunes 12.8.3, I get a message saying I need to be running 10.13.6 or later...

Thanks!

turingtest2

Level 10

278,091 points

May 5, 2021 11:44 PM in response to soundboy44

As noted iTunes 12.8.3 is only available for macOS 10.13.6 High Sierra. El Capitan and Sierra are limited to 12.8.3. It should still be possible to get iOS 14 devices to work on El Capitan upwards.

tt2

Korukat

Level 1

4 points

May 6, 2021 7:49 AM in response to soundboy44

I have the same Macbook Pro as you and was using Sierra OS on the mac when this issue with the iPhone occurred. I can’t remember if I got the same error message when attempting to download the older iTunes version as a fix, but I probably did. I do remember upgrading to the Mojave OS on my mac sometime last year. My guess is that I upgraded so I could download the Itunes version since it requires OS 10.13 or above. I originally didn’t want to update my OS Sierra because I still had some 32 bit apps. But I rarely use them, so I decided to upgrade to Mojave and have been very happy.

I had problems with the Apple download link and had to call them for support. They helped me find a work around solution. I won’t ever upgrade to Catalina, so this is the end of the road for this Macbook Pro. Is there a reason why you are still using Sierra?

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iOS14 upgrade and iTunes 12.8.2.3 can no longer see iPhone to backup or sync