[2025] How to Fix iPhone Not Recognized by iTunes?

As an Apple enthusiast, you may use iTunes to back up your device and manage media content such as music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and audiobooks. As a powerful media library, iTunes also allows you to directly download media works, transfer photos and videos, and set up and organize your favorite playlists. However, there are times when you connect your device to your computer while iTunes cannot detect your iPhone. Frustration sets in and you may wonder what could be wrong - whether it’s an old-fashioned cable or a software issue.

In this article, we’ll explore why your iTunes isn't recognizing your iPhone. According to these reasons, we’ll provide proven solutions. With a few minutes, you can fix the “iTunes not recognizing iPhone” issue and regain access to your iTunes.

Why Is iTunes Not Recognizing My iPhone?

There are several reasons why your iTunes fails to detect and recognize your iPhone or iPad. The main factors involve outdated software, faulty USB cables or ports, computer connection issues, or incorrect settings on your device or computer.

• The USB cable or the connection port is loosened or damaged.
• You haven’t clicked on “Trust” your computer.
• You are running an outdated version of iTunes.
• Your iOS version isn’t compatible with the version of iTunes.
• The computer may not recognize the iPhone due to driver issues.
• Some third-party data transfer or backup software may interact with iTunes, causing conflicts.
• You’re blocked by a firewall or antivirus software when connecting your iPhone to iTunes.
• There is some problem with your Apple ID.
• Incorrect settings on your computer or in iTunes may prevent your iPhone’s recognition.

How to Fix Your iPhone Not Recognized by iTunes?

If you’re facing this frustrating issue, you are not alone. Fortunately, several methods can fix the problem and make your iPhone recognized again. In this part, we’ll walk through 6 effective solutions to help you enjoy a seamless experience with iTunes.

1. Check USB Connection

First, try connecting your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable. Make sure the cable isn’t loose and the port isn’t damaged. Once connected, check your iPhone for a prompt asking if you want to trust the computer. If you see it, tap “Trust” to proceed. If the cable doesn’t seem to work, try using a different one.

2. Restart Your iPhone

Restarting can fix many issues with your iPhone. If you're experiencing iTunes connection issues, slow iPhone performance, unresponsive apps, or other problems, take a few minutes to restart your device. This process can clear temporary glitches, refresh system processes, free up memory, and restore overall functionality accordingly. It's a fairly simple solution when it comes to fixing minor technical issues.

3. Update iTunes

Another frequent situation you may encounter is that your iTunes is out of date. As iTunes updates frequently, you should always keep it updated. On Windows, you’ll receive a notice saying that your iTunes is up to date. If not, you’ll be required to download the latest version of iTunes.

If you don’t see any reminders, you can also manually check if you’re running the latest version of iTunes:

1. Launch iTunes and look for the “Help” menu at the top of your computer window.
2. Choose “Check for Updates” to see if there is an available iTunes update.
3. If you’re working on a Mac computer, go to the Mac App Store to see if any iTunes update is available.

4. Fix iPhone Errors

This problem may also result from iTunes, iPhone cable connection, or iOS system errors. For instance, security software interference may prevent iTunes from connecting to Apple's servers. To fix these types of issues, try iOS System Recovery - BuhoRepair. This professional repair tool can resolve various unknown iPhone errors, including the iPhone not being recognized by iTunes and the iPhone not connecting to iTunes.

Free download BuhoRepair now and take the following steps to fix iPhone errors.

Step 1. Launch BuhoRepair and connect your iPhone to the computer.

Step 2. Choose the Standard Repair mode and click Repair Now to initiate the process.

Step 3. Wait for a few minutes and then you’ll see a complete interface.

5. Update iPhone Drivers

When connecting your iPhone to iTunes on a Windows computer, you should make sure your driver is up to date. Normally, the operating system relies on specific drivers to establish a connection and transfer data. The outdated or corrupted drivers may hinder the proper communication between your mobile phone and the computer. In this situation, your iTunes may fail to detect your device.

To update iPhone drivers on a Windows computer, take the following steps:

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer via a cable.
2. Click the “Start” button and find the “Device Manager” option.
3. Click on the “Device Manager” option, and then locate your iPhone under “Portable Devices” or “Universal Serial Bus controllers”.
4. Tap your device to update the driver.
5. After the update, restart both your computer and iPhone.

6. Disable Security Software

Sometimes, firewalls and antivirus programs can prevent iPhones from connecting to iTunes. These security applications might often restrict your iPhone from transferring or backing up data to your computer via iTunes. In this case, you’re suggested to disable security software for a while. By temporarily disabling the software, this software won’t interfere with the connection. Instead, your computer will allow iTunes to recognize your iPhone and establish a secure connection for sharing and syncing data.

Here are the basic steps to disable security software on your computer:

1. Close or exit iTunes on your computer.
2. Find your antivirus or firewall software in the Microsoft Store or App Store.
3. Disable the software temporarily and reconnect your iPhone to the computer.
4. Launch iTunes again and check if it can recognize your device.

7. Reset Location & Privacy Settings

If the mentioned methods fail to fix the problem, try to clear out any corrupted settings or permissions. When you reset these settings, it resets the location services and privacy permissions related to iTunes and other apps. This will repair problems that prevent your iPhone from communicating with your computer. And then, your iTunes will recognize your iPhone again. Additionally, after the reset, you will need to reauthorize your computer and re-enable location permissions.

Here is how to reset Location and Privacy settings:

1. Go to Settings, General, and Reset.
2. Click the “Reset Location & Privacy”.
3. Reconnect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes to establish the connection again.

If the mentioned solutions fail to fix the recognition problem, connect your iPhone to another computer with iTunes. Furthermore, if none of the above solutions work, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several effective solutions to resolve “iTunes is not detecting your iPhone”. From restarting your iPhone to fixing iOS system issues, you can try these solutions step by step. If you find these methods helpful, share them with users who have encountered the same situation.