If you are trying to connect your iPhone to your computer and getting an error message saying it cannot connect, there are a few potential causes and solutions to try.
Quick Overview of Main Reasons
Here are some of the most common reasons why your computer may not be able to connect to your iPhone:
- Outdated software – Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes or the Finder on your computer, and the latest iOS version on your iPhone.
- Disabled WiFi or Bluetooth – Make sure WiFi and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices if you are trying to connect wirelessly.
- Damaged charging cable – Try a different Lightning cable, as a frayed or broken cable can prevent connectivity.
- Incorrect USB port – Try plugging into a different USB port on your computer if using a wired connection.
- Trust issue – You may need to unlock your iPhone and tap “Trust This Computer” on the pop-up dialog.
- Incorrect settings – Double check that your iPhone is not set to Airplane Mode and that USB accessories are enabled.
Read on for more detailed troubleshooting steps on these potential issues to get your iPhone connecting correctly to your computer again.
Ensure Software is Up to Date on Both Devices
One of the first things to check is that you have the latest software installed on both your iPhone and your computer. Having outdated software versions can prevent proper communication and connectivity between the two devices.
On your iPhone, make sure you have installed the latest iOS version that is available for your phone model. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for and install any pending iOS updates.
On your Windows PC, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes from the Microsoft Store. On a Mac, check the App Store for any updates to the Finder application.
Updating to the latest software ensures maximum compatibility between your iPhone and computer when trying to connect the two devices.
Check WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity
If you are trying to connect your iPhone to your computer wirelessly, via WiFi or Bluetooth, make sure both wireless connections are enabled on each device:
- iPhone – Go to Settings > WiFi and make sure WiFi is toggled on. Also go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure Bluetooth is on.
- Computer – Make sure WiFi is turned on, which is usually indicated by a WiFi icon in the taskbar or menu bar. Also ensure Bluetooth is enabled, either in your computer’s settings app or control panel.
Wireless connectivity issues are among the most common reasons for connection problems between an iPhone and computer. Simply enabling both WiFi and Bluetooth on each device may resolve the connectivity problems.
Inspect Charging Cable for Damage
If you are trying to connect your iPhone to your computer using a wired USB/Lightning cable connection, inspect the cable for any damage or wear and tear.
Frayed, bent or broken charging cables are a common source of connectivity issues when trying to sync an iPhone to a computer. Damaged cables can interrupt or distort the data signals passing between the two devices.
Try swapping the suspect cable for a different Lightning cable that is in good condition. Use an Apple certified MFi Lightning cable for best results. Visually inspect the replacement cable to make sure there are no cuts, tears or bends along its length or at either end.
A high quality, undamaged charging cable will ensure a consistent wired connection between your iPhone and computer for reliable syncing.
Try Different USB Ports on Computer
If attempting to connect your iPhone’s charging cable to your computer results in connectivity issues, try plugging the cable into different USB data ports on your computer.
Some computers have USB ports on the front, back or sides of the machine. Test connectivity using ports in different physical locations to rule out any issues with a specific USB port.
Also try different port types – some computers have USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and USB-C ports. Attempt connecting to each variation to determine if your iPhone has compatibility issues with a certain port generation.
Swapping which physical USB port you use is an easy troubleshooting step that can resolve stubborn connectivity problems between an iPhone and computer.
Unlock iPhone and Tap “Trust This Computer”
When connecting your iPhone to a computer for the first time, or to a new computer, you may be prompted with a “Trust This Computer?” message on your iPhone. You need to tap trust and enter your passcode to authorize that computer to access your iPhone’s data and sync information.
If you do not complete this trust process, it can prevent proper iPhone-to-computer connectivity from being established. Make sure to unlock your iPhone and tap “Trust” on the pop-up dialog if it appears when first connecting your phone to a new or different computer.
This trust verification is an iOS security feature to prevent unauthorized access to your iPhone’s contents. Always be sure to trust a computer if the prompt appears when initially setting up connectivity between your iPhone and a new computer system.
Check Airplane Mode and USB Accessory Settings
Along with software updates, wireless settings, cable inspection and USB ports, double check the following iPhone settings to ensure they will not block connectivity with your computer:
- Airplane Mode – Having Airplane Mode enabled on your iPhone will disable all wireless radios, preventing WiFi/Bluetooth connections. Make sure Airplane Mode is turned off in Settings.
- USB Accessories – Go to Settings > General and make sure “USB Accessories” is enabled, allowing connection to computers/devices for data transfer and syncing.
Correct settings for Airplane Mode being disabled and USB Accessories being enabled are required for proper iPhone-to-computer connectivity.
Additional Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some other troubleshooting steps to try if the above suggestions do not successfully resolve the connection issues between your iPhone and computer:
- Restart both devices – Power cycle the iPhone and computer, then retry the connection.
- Try a different computer – Test connecting your iPhone to another computer to determine if the issues are specific to one machine.
- Update computer drivers – Ensure device drivers, especially USB drivers, are up to date on your computer.
- Reset network settings – On your iPhone, reset all network settings under General > Reset. This will wipe any problematic settings and reconfigure the connections.
Fully resetting your iPhone is an extreme troubleshooting step that may resolve persistent connectivity problems between the phone and computers. Backup your iPhone before resetting then choose Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
When to Seek Professional Assistance
If you have worked through all of the above troubleshooting suggestions and your iPhone still refuses to connect properly to your computer, it is probably time to seek assistance from a technical professional.
An experienced technician can perform diagnostic tests between your iPhone and computer to isolate any hardware or software faults. They have access to advanced tools and techniques for resolving complex connectivity issues.
Bring both your iPhone and computer to a qualified repair shop. Be sure to tell them exactly when the connection problems began, what troubleshooting you have already done, and any error messages you are seeing. This information helps the technicians pinpoint the fault and come up with the needed fix.
Professional help is best when you have hit a wall troubleshooting on your own. The cost of taking your devices into a repair shop is usually warranted, considering the technicians have the skills to quickly get your iPhone communicating with your computer again.
When to Consider a Restore or New Equipment
If the underlying cause of the iPhone-to-computer connectivity issue cannot be resolved by troubleshooting or repair, you may need to restore your iPhone software or acquire new equipment.
A clean restore will wipe your iPhone back to factory default settings, which can eliminate any problematic software or files causing the connection failure. Before restoring, it is essential to backup your iPhone data.
For hardware problems, such as defective charging ports, frayed cables or damaged USB ports, replacement parts or entirely new devices may be required. This is when buying a new cable, computer, or iPhone is the most viable solution.
Restore or replacement is typically the last resort when connectivity issues between an iPhone and computer persist after all other troubleshooting. While inconvenient and perhaps costly, sometimes starting fresh with new gear is the best way to get a clean connection established.
Conclusion
Having trouble getting your iPhone to connect to your computer can be frustrating. However, methodically working through the potential causes and troubleshooting steps outlined above should help identify and resolve the underlying problem.
Be sure both devices are updated to the latest software versions. Toggle various wireless and USB connections off and on to reset them. Inspect cables for damage and test different ports. Also double check for incorrect settings like Airplane Mode being left enabled.
In most cases, one of these common causes of connection failure is the culprit, and carefully examining each possibility will lead to discovery and resolution. Getting professional assistance or ultimately new equipment may be necessary, but try more affordable troubleshooting first.
Patience and persistence in working through the issue, while irritating in the moment, will typically result in successfully reestablishing the vital connectivity between your iPhone and computer once again.