Older iMac not recognizing new iPhones

Question

Level 1

11 points

Older iMac not recognizing new iPhones

Our new iPhone 12 Pros are not recognized by iTunes in our 9- and 10-year-old iMacs: we use iTunes for syncing. (The new phones ARE recognized by the Photos and Image Capture applications). Two Apple phone support agents assured me that updating the iMac OS to High Sierra 10.13 would fix this, but they were unable to find a way for me to install it myself. A third Apple agent suggested that a third-party repair shop might be able to do the installation. An excellent local shop was able to update us from El Capitan to High Sierra. I am told that High Sierra 10.13 is the most recent OS that will work with our 2010 and 2011 iMacs.

This update did not help: iTunes does not detect the phones when they are connected to a USB port (again, Photos and Image Capture DO detect the phones).

Here is a description of what we’re working with:

21.5-inch iMacs: Mid-2010 and mid-2011

Both now running OS High Sierra 10.13.6

iTunes 12.8.2.3

Phones: new iPhone 12 Pros, 256Gb

Advice, please (other than using iCloud for syncing, which I am resisting)! Any software or settings tweeks?

Many thanks.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Dec 9, 2020 7:46 AM

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Answer 1

hsu176

Level 1

4 points

Dec 9, 2020 11:22 AM in response to emsny

There's no hope for me until Apple sends out an update to iTunes.

I have been trying all the tricks I could find on this communities for the past few days.

None of them worked out.

This is kind of ridiculous that Apple use this kind of method to let you buy a new Mac.

I am using a 2010 Macbook Pro with a new iPhone 12 pro, it won't recognize the phone.

Before switching the new phone, the iOS14.2 iPhone 6s+ was connecting fine.

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

274,119 points

Dec 10, 2020 12:41 PM in response to emsny

If your device isn't being shown automatically with iTunes 12.8.2.4 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.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

274,119 points

Dec 12, 2020 6:18 AM in response to emsny

I don't think the issue is with iOS, I think it is iTunes which should be detecting that it needs to install a patch to communicate with the newer device/iOS, but doesn't always do so automatically. Manually running the updater, or reinstalling iTunes should help. Make sure to trust the computer if that prompt comes up when you connect your unlocked device to USB.

tt2

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Answer 4

emsny Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 9, 2020 11:51 AM in response to emsny

PS - further note on this: the iTunes version on my Macbook (12-in retina; early 2016; OS10.12.6) is the same as that of the

iMacs (12.8.2.3), and on the Macbook the iPhone 12 Pro works fine in iTunes.

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Answer 5

emsny Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 10, 2020 1:24 PM in response to turingtest2

Thank you, turingtest2. I'd seen that in another thread (perhaps posted by you?), and had already tried it. Sadly, when I double-click the MobileDeviceUpdater application, nothing happens, I imagine because no updates are available for my week-old iPhone 12 Pro. There is some chatter about an iTunes version newer than 12.8.2.3 which addresses this apparently pretty common problem. Do you know anything about this? (I have my doubts.)

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Answer 6

emsny Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 12, 2020 6:57 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks again. But reinstalling iTunes (12.8.2.3) didn't do the trick, either with or without the phone connected. And the updater doesn't open a window. (I've just re-tried both of those actions.) Some time next week I'll spend a while on the phone with Apple tech support - when I feel able to face the ordeal.

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

274,119 points

Dec 12, 2020 8:36 AM in response to emsny

Next time rebooting your router and computer before trying to run MobileDeviceUpdater. A few others have noted that it can take quite some time for anything to happen. I'm pretty sure the device must be connected to the computer and unlocked before you run it. Don't use a hub.

tt2

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Answer 8

emsny Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 12, 2020 10:42 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for taking so much time on this. Sadly, none of that worked either. I'm lucky that my Macbook (running the same iTunes version) recognizes it and enables me to sync - I'd be much more nervous if I couldn't.

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Answer 9

emsny Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 9, 2020 11:45 AM in response to hsu176

Thanks for writing about your experience. Yes, I see that many people have the same problem. I also was using a 6S without problems.

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Answer 10

turingtest2

Level 10

274,119 points

Dec 10, 2020 3:14 PM in response to emsny

It is iTunes that is supposed to get patched, not the iPhone. You could try reinstalling iTunes while your device is connected to see if that will trigger the patch.

tt2

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