Mac Mini Late 2012
iPad Pro 10.5
iPhone 13
All devices have all software updates installed.
When connected via an Apple lightning-usb cable the following error appears after the Mac tries to download some software as a prerequisite for recognizing the iPad/iPhone:
"Installation failed. Can't install the software."
iPad Pro, iPadOS 15
Greetings ironybubble,
Ensure your Mac has available storage for the software to download: See used and available storage space on your Mac - Apple Support
"Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then click Storage."
To help troubleshoot your devices not being seen by your Mac as expected, test with each USB port and a different cable. Check out that suggestion and further troubleshooting in the article below:
If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support
"Unplug all USB accessories from your computer except for your device. Try each USB port to see if one works. Then try a different Apple USB cable."
Kind regards.
Greetings ironybubble,
Ensure your Mac has available storage for the software to download: See used and available storage space on your Mac - Apple Support
"Choose Apple menu > About This Mac, then click Storage."
To help troubleshoot your devices not being seen by your Mac as expected, test with each USB port and a different cable. Check out that suggestion and further troubleshooting in the article below:
If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone, iPad, or iPod - Apple Support
"Unplug all USB accessories from your computer except for your device. Try each USB port to see if one works. Then try a different Apple USB cable."
Kind regards.
Hi I'm having the same issue with my Mac Mini Late 2012. It is fully up to date running Catalina 10.15.7. I'm trying to use Apple Configurator to wipe a bunch of iPads and keep getting the error that I need to download and install an update but then it fails to do so. I have attached the screenshots of what is happening. Is the Mac Mini too old now or some other reason why it fails to install the update?
"Installation failed. Can't install the software."
Whatever the problem is appears to be limited to the iOS device because I get the same message regardless of the Mac or the particular macOS version installed.
We may just have to wait for Apple to fix it with an iOS update. It could be a long wait.
See if it will install while in Safe Mode.
Thank you for your reply.
Regrettably, none of the troubleshooting steps you've outlined have worked.
The issue remains the same:
Safe mode does not work. It doesn't recognize that an iPad is connected. Apple Configurator also doesn't open properly and gives an error about Global Data or something.
"Installation failed. Can't install the software" when connecting iPhone iPad to Mac
