iTunes could not connect to this iPhone

Question

Baldricky Author

Level 1

11 points

iTunes could not connect to this iPhone

Hi

My iTunes (version 12.13.4.4) does not connect to my iPhone 15 nor my iPad - both have the latest iOS.

However, iTunes does connect to my iPod nano (6th generation) and I can see all the music and play it.

As suggested by various forums and YouTube videos...

I have deleted c:\ProgramData\Apple\Lockdown.
I have confirmed I am on the latest version of iTunes and have reinstalled it.
I have run the iTunes Diagnostics option to see if it helps, but the results only confirm the two devices are not connected.

When I connect the iPhone (or iPad), iTunes comes up with 'iTunes could not connect to this iPhone. An unknown error occurred (0xE8000003)'. Before I reinstalled iTunes the error code was 0xE800000A.

Both the iPad & iPhone displays 'Trust / Don't Trust' and I enter the passcode after tapping on 'Trust' but iTunes does not make the connection.

Windows sees both of the devices and allows me to access the photographs.

For the record, my iPhone 15 is brand new and contains all the music, photos, etc from my old iPhone 5SE and seems to work well. The iPad is 5 years old and has had music transferred to it by iTunes successfully during that time.

It seems something has changed within iTunes or Windows 10 over the past few months since my last music transfer to the old iPhone.

I've spent a couple of days reading up on this and some of the suggestions have left me baffled.

Is there a simple solution, please?

Regards

Rick

Posted on Jan 29, 2025 03:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

277,729 points

Feb 1, 2025 10:08 AM in response to Baldricky

This is a direct link to the current version of the standalone installer from Apple's servers:

https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win64

tt2

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Answer 2

Baldricky Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 1, 2025 02:48 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for responding, turingtest2

I carried out the driver update as per link, but it didn't resolve the problem. What it do, however, was stopped Windows from seeing the iPhone. Although, Windows could still see my iPad.

I rolled back the driver update and at least I can see my photos on the phone again.

Many thanks, though.

Rick

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Answer 3

Baldricky Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 1, 2025 09:30 AM in response to turingtest2

turingtest2

I believe that's the version I'm using. When I searched for the latest version, Apple directed me to the Microsoft Store for iTunes Installer.exe. I haven't seen an alternative version from a site I'm familiar with and can trust.

I was hoping I already had the latest version I could reinstall, but the only version I have is from July 2022. Which was from Apple - v12.12.4.1. If all else fails, I shall try uninstalling what I have and install the old version. If the problem's resolved I could then upgrade to the latest. But as long as I can copy music to my phone it shouldn't matter what version I'm running.

Many thanks

Rick

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Answer 4

Baldricky Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 6, 2025 06:18 AM in response to turingtest2

Hi tt2

At last, I now have 'lift-off'.

After a number of failed reinstalls with a previous then a later version, I completely deleted ALL associated Apples' folders, including a few files I discovered in C:\Users\____\Music\iTunes\, and I eventually resolved it.

I've opted to stay on an earlier version (12.12.4.1) for now, as everything is working fine and I could do with a rest from it. For the record, after trial and error I found I needed to make sure the following folders didn't exists before installing iTunes. (On some occasions some of still existed after uninstalling everything.)

From Settings --> Apps, I uninstalled...

iTtunes

Apple Software Update

Apple Mobile Device Support

Bonjour

then ensured these folders weren't there...

C:\Program Files\iTunes

C:\Program Files (x86)\Apple Software Update

C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour

C:\ProgramData\Apple

C:\ProgramData\Apple Inc

plus the files, but not folders, in...