Whether it's to back up data, restore the system, or simply transfer some files, sometimes we need to connect our iPhone to the Mac. Usually, it shows up in Finder or iTunes within just a few seconds, but if it doesn’t, there’s a solution. Let’s go through everything.
Small adjustments that can make a difference
If the iPhone doesn’t show up on the Mac, it could be due to several reasons. Most are quite simple, so let’s start with the easiest fixes.
The first thing we’ll try is unlocking our iPhone. When we connect our iPhone to the Mac for the first time, it needs to trust the computer. This only happens if the screen is active and unlocked. So, to make sure everything works and we get the prompt to trust the computer, the best thing is to connect the device while we’re on the Home Screen.
Another possible reason why the iPhone doesn’t show up is as simple as Finder not being properly set up to display it. The Finder sidebar organizes all the connected devices and folders, but sometimes those devices might not be visible. To make sure we can see our iPhone, we go to Finder > Preferences, open the Sidebar tab, and check the box for CDs, DVDs, and Devices.
If none of this works, we might need to force quit Finder. To do so, we press Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + esc, select Finder from the list, and click Relaunch.
A few extra steps to ensure a solid connection
If after these steps the iPhone still doesn’t appear, it’s worth considering other factors that could be interfering. Some apps like Xcode or Music might be taking over our iPhone’s connection. If we suspect this is the case, we just right-click their Dock icons and choose Quit.
Restarting both the iPhone and the Mac is another quick fix that often helps. Many times, a reboot resets things and allows Finder to detect the device instantly.
Still nothing? As we mentioned earlier, every time we connect our iPhone to a new Mac, we’re asked to confirm if we trust that computer. If we accidentally declined that request, we can reset the trust settings on the iPhone. We go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, select Reset Location & Privacy, and reconnect the device.
Lastly, we should rule out any issue with the cable or the USB port. If we have another cable on hand, we can try using it to rule out damage. We can also plug the iPhone into a different port or another device to make sure everything’s working.
Still nothing? Let’s try the last resources
If we’ve made it this far and the iPhone still doesn’t show up, it’s time to dig a little deeper. A good step is to check whether the Mac is detecting the iPhone at a hardware level. To do that, we go to the Apple menu (), select About This Mac, and then click on System Report. In the sidebar, we go to the USB section and check if the iPhone appears in the list. If it does, the best option is to update the operating systems on both devices to fix any compatibility issues.
If that doesn’t help, we can reset Finder’s preferences. To do this, we open a Finder window, press Command (⌘) + Shift (⇧) + G, type “~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist” and hit Return. Once there, we delete the selected file, empty the Trash, and restart the Mac.
If all else fails, our last resort is to visit an Apple Store for a full hardware diagnostic.
Hopefully, we won’t need to go that far—these steps should help us connect our iPhone to the Mac and sort out any issues that might come up along the way. While we’re thinking about if we need to shut down the Mac every night, these are steps and tools we won’t use often, but if we ever need them, they’ll make sure we can sync phone and computer in just seconds.
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