Solved: Mac Doesn’t Recognize my iPhone

Summary: Is your Mac not recognizing the iPhone? Learn the 9 ways to fix iPhone not showing up on Mac. You can apply these methods for all iPhone models not recognized by macOS Ventura, Monterey, Catalina, Big Sur, High Sierra and below versions.

You may want to backup iPhone data or transfer favorite photos, music, or videos to Mac. But sometimes your Mac computer doesn’t detect the iPhone when you try to connect it. There are so many complaints such as iPhone not showing up in Finder in Ventura, Monterey, Catalina or Macbook not recognizing iPhone 14. Some also reported an unknown error or a 0xE error when trying to connect iPhone to Mac computer. The situation is frustrating as it prevents you to sync iPhone to macOS and access iPhone data on Mac.

No worries. There are methods, which can fix the issue and let you again access your iPhone on Mac. But, first you should be aware why Mac fails to recognize your iPhone as this helps in troubleshooting the problem.

Why your iPhone not detected by Mac computer?

Mac does not detect your iPhone due to many reasons, such as

• iPhone is not ‘on’ when connected to Mac.
• iPhone is damaged.
• The USB cable or USB port is not working.
• Software updates are pending including iOS, iTunes, and macOS.
• Third-party software conflict wherein 2 programs arecompeting for the same memory, peripheral device etc., on your Mac.
• Firewall or Antivirus software is preventing Mac to recognize iPhone.
• Mac settings don’t allow to view iPhone in Finder.

1. Check your iPhone

Before you connect your iPhone to Mac, make sure the iOS device is unlocked and on the Home screen.

2. Fix USB connection

When Mac computer doesn’t recognize iPhone, first check your USB connection. The USB cable or the port can be faulty. Try to connect iPhone to Mac using another Apple USB 2.0 cable. If that doesn’t work try with the different port. Plus, disconnect other USB devices from Mac except your iPhone.

3. Restart your iPhone

Restarting the iOS device would resolve any issue between your iPhone programs and iTunes. To restart hold volume/side/ top button depending on your iPhone model. Slide the red power off slider on your iPhone. Wait for your iPhone to turn off. After a few seconds, again restart iPhone. Now Mac should recognize your iPhone.

4. Restart your Mac

Restarting Mac clears the cache and memory of your system giving it a fresh start. It also installs pending updates.

5. Update your macOS

When iPhone is not showing up on Mac Finder but you can see it under USB Device Tree, update the macOS to the latest version. Make sure there are no pending software installs.

To check the USB Device Tree on Mac follow the below steps:

• Click on Apple icon followed by About This Mac.
• Click the System Report button.
• Under Hardware, select USB.

_{Figure: USB Device Tree}

• On the right pane, you will see USB Device Tree. If you see your iPhone in the list, then update to the latest macOS.

6. Update iTunes

Older versions of iTunes can create conflict with normal Mac functions. Hence, Apple recommends installing the latest iTunes updates.

To install the latest iTunes, open iTunes. From the menu bar choose Help > Check for Updates and follow the prompts to install the latest version.

Now, check if your Mac recognizes the iPhone or not.

7. Disable antivirus on Mac

One of the reason cited for iPhone not detected by Mac is anti-virus or firewall protection on your system. So disable the antivirus or firewall and then try to connect your iPhone to Mac.

8. Enable iOS device in Mac Preferences

When iPhone is not showing on Mac Finder, check if your Mac Preferences allows to view iOS devices in Finder. To enable iOS device in Finder follow the below steps:

• Go to Finder > Preferences.
• Click on the Sidebar button in Finder Preferences box.
• Check in CDs, DVDs and iOS Devices.

_{Figure: Finder Preferences}

This should fix iPhone not showing up in Finder on Mac.

9. Connect iPhone to a different Mac machine

Try by connecting your iPhone to another Mac. If you receive a message asking to ‘Trust this computer’, click on ‘Trust’ to access your iPhone data on the new computer. Make sure to backup iPhone to avoid data loss situation.

Tip: Have you lost or accidentally deleted Camera Roll, Contacts, Photos Stream, Voice Memos, or more while transferring iPhone data to Mac? No need to worry. Restore the deleted photos, videos, messages, contacts, etc., with the help of an efficient Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone for Mac.

FAQ

1. Can I connect iPhone with Mac wirelessly?

You can sync your Mac and iPhone over the same Wi-Fi network.

1. Connect your iPhone to Mac using a USB cable.
2. Open Finder on Mac and select your iPhone in the sidebar.
3. Click on the General tab.
4. Check in Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi.
5. Click Apply.

2. How to fix my iPhone cannot connect to iTunes?

If iPhone is not showing up in iTunes, restart your devices and ensure macOS, iTunes, and iOS are updated. To know more methods, read How fix iPhone unable to connect to iTunes problem.

3. How to connect iPhone to the latest MacBook Pro 2021 that doesn’t have USB A port?

The new MacBook has USB Type-C port. You can use USB-C to Lightning cable to connect iPhone XR, SE, 11, and above to the new MacBook. If you have iPhone X or below use USB-A to Lightning cable.

4. Can I use the methods to fix iPhone 14 not recognized by macOS Ventura?

Yes, you can apply the above methods to fix any iPhone not detected by macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, or below.

5. Will I lose any data when syncing iPhone and Mac?

No, you won’t lose data by syncing iPhone to Mac. Syncing helps to access your iPhone data on Mac anytime from anywhere. However, if you accidentally delete iPhone data, use an iPhone Data Recovery software to restore it.

Wrapping Up

Syncing iOS device to macOS has so many advantages but if Mac is not recognizing your iPhone, you cannot transfer, back up, or access iPhone data on Mac. This post has shared 9 methods to fix the syncing issue of Mac and iPhone. One of them should resolve Mac not detecting your iPhone.

What to do if iPhone is not listed when I run the software?

Your iPhone will only appear in the software if it is visible in iTunes on your computer. If your iOS device is not listed in the software, it means iTunes is not installed on your PC or Mac.

Download the latest version of iTunes and then launch the Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone software.

To launch iTunes on your computer:

When iTunes is not installed on your computer, Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone  automatically generates the below message. It asks to download and install iTunes. You can click on ‘Click here’ to download iTunes.

If iTunes is already install on your computer and you don’t see your iPhone in the software, update your iTunes to the latest version.

Apple will delete your photos in July. Here’s what you should do

Apple has recently announced that it will permanently delete photos from its users’ ‘My Photo Stream’ this month. This news has come as a surprise to the Apple community, as users struggle to understand the implications of this announcement and what necessary precautions can be taken. In this blog post, we will get into the details of this new move by Apple, explore the reasons behind it, and provide tips on how iPhone/iPad/Mac users can safeguard their precious photos.

The Announcement

_”_My Photo Stream is scheduled to be shut down on July 26, 2023. As part of this transition, new photo uploads to My Photo Stream from your devices will stop one month before, on June 26, 2023.

The photos in My Photo Stream are already stored on at least one of your devices, so as long as you have the device with your originals, you won’t lose any photos as part of this process. If a photo you want isn’t already in your Library on a particular iPhone, iPad, or Mac, make sure that you save it to your Library on that device…” Read more

What is Apple’s My Photo Stream?

My Photo Stream, launched in 2011, was designed to sync photos across multiple Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

This feature automatically stores your most recent pictures (up to 1000) for approx. 30 days so you can view and download them easily from other Apple devices. After this period, photos are removed from My Photo Stream but remain in your device’s Photos app. However, this only shows photos and not your live images or videos.

How to Protect Your ‘My Photo Stream’ Pictures?

Apple, known for its commitment to user privacy and data security, has recommended several preventive measures to mitigate the risk of losing any important photo due to this update.

Click here

1. Move My Photo Stream images to your Library

Even if the pictures in My Photo Stream are already there on at least one of your Apple devices, you must save these pictures to your Photo Library to avoid losing them**.** Here’s how to copy My Photo Stream pictures to your Photo Library:

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch:

• Open the Photos app and tap Albums.
• Tap on My Photo Stream > Select.
• Select all the photos you want to save, then tap the Share button > Save Image.

On your Mac:

• Open the Photos app and then open the My Photo Stream
• Select the photos you want to save which aren’t currently in your photo library.
• Drag and drop them from the My Photo Stream album into your Library.

2. Move to iCloud Photos

To preserve your My Photo Stream images in their original and high-resolution version, you can transfer them to iCloud Photos.

If you already have an iCloud account, just enable iCloud Photos to automatically upload & sync every photo and video you capture on the device, making them accessible from anywhere.

To use the iCloud Photos service, you will require the following:

• iPhone running iOS 8.3 or later version.
• iPad with iPadOS 8.3 or later version.
• Mac running OS X Yosemite or later version.

How to set up iCloud Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?

• On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings.
• Next, click on [Your Name] > iCloud.
• Tap on Photos and do the following:

For iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or later versions: Toggle on the ‘Sync this [device]‘ option.

For iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or earlier versions: Turn on the iCloud Photos

How to set up iCloud Photos on your Mac?

• On your Mac, go to Apple Menu and click on System Preferences.
• Click Apple ID and then select iCloud in the sidebar.
• Now, select Photos and turn on the switch next to Sync this Mac.

**

**

Don’t want to use iCloud Photos?

While iCloud Photos is a convenient option for many Apple users, it’s important to acknowledge that it is not the best fit for everyone. Limited free storage of 5GB or lack of cross-platform compatibility can compel Apple users to look for other alternatives.

Storage options, such as Google Photos, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, external hard drives, etc., are available to ensure your iPhone Photos are safe and easily accessible.

The Bottom Line

Apple’s announcement of the potential discontinuation of My Photo Stream has understandably caused worry among its users. While a specific reason for this action remains undisclosed, they are actively addressing the issue to prevent data loss. In the meantime, iPhone users must take precautionary measures to safeguard their photos. They can simply move the My Photo Stream images to the Photo Library, iCloud Photos, or other backup folders.

Recover Deleted iPhone WhatsApp Attachments on Mac and Windows

Your iPhone has simplified your life to a great extent by making your daily task feasible. You can check your emails, send and receive text messages, WhatsApp messages, and attachments, browse the Internet, capture precious moments, etc. But, there could be situations, where the critical data stored on your iPhone might accidentally get deleted, especially the messages and attachments stored on your WhatsApp.

This situation often occurs when cleaning up the unwanted messages from the message boxes. Nevertheless, landing up in such a situation is disastrous.

With Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone, you can now recover lost or deleted iPhone WhatsApp attachments both on your Mac and Windows based systems. It is a highly reliable data recovery software that is capable of recovering your lost or deleted data from your iPhone, iTunes, and iCloud.

Steps to recover iPhone WhatsApp Attachments

Follow the below-mentioned steps, to recover deleted iPhone WhatsApp attachments on your Mac and Windows-based systems with Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone.

Step 1) Install Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone on your Mac or Windows based system

Step 2) Connect your iPhone to your system

Note: You can connect multiple devices and the software will list up the connected devices

Step 3) Double click on the icon of the software and the main screen will open as shown below

Step 4) To recover from your iPhone, click on the Recover from iPhone option displayed on the main screen and select “Message & Chats” option from the list.

Step 5) The software will scan the selected device and list all the items on your phone

Step 6) You can select WhatsApp option from the list

Step 7) Now click on the save button to save the files

Step 8) Provide the location where you would want the recovered data to be saved.

Note: You can import the recovered data to your iPhone but this option is available only when you recover the data in a Windows based system.

To sum up, whenever you are in a situation where you have lost or accidentally deleted WhatsApp attachment from your iPhone, you can rely on Stellar Data Recovery for iPhone. This is a highly-efficient software that is capable of recovering all your lost or deleted data from iPhone, iCloud, and iTunes backup. With this software, you can save all your recovered messages and attachments at your preferred location on your computer.