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iPhone 12 Can't connect iPhone 12 to iTunes

S

sananda

macrumors 68030
Original poster
May 24, 2007
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I'm trying to set up a new iPhone 12 from an iTunes backup. Having selected that option, the phone said "Connect to Mac or to PC with iTunes". I've plugged it to the relevant MacBook Air with iTunes open but the phone continues to say "Connect to Mac or to PC with iTunes" and iTunes isn't doing anything. The phone is drawing power from the MacBook though.

Not sure what to do now, any ideas would be welcomed.

Thanks
 
It’s 12.8.3 which I think is the most recent version for High Sierra.
 
Syncing to a Mac or PC requires:
  • macOS Catalina 10.15 or later using the Finder
  • macOS El Capitan 10.11.6 through macOS Mojave 10.14.6 using iTunes 12.8 or later
  • Windows 7 or later using iTunes 12.10.10 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
Should work. Did a trust this computer show up on the phone?
 
hovscorpion12 said:
Your running outdated software and OS. Please update your OS for iPhone to connect.
Click to expand...
High Sierra is as far as our MacBook Air can go and, as mentioned above, should work.

I downloaded iTunes from the Apple website and installed it on top of the previous installation. I was then promoted to download something else. Now the iPhone is being set up from the encrypted backup of the previous iPhone 5.
 
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sananda said:
High Sierra is as far as our MacBook Air can go and, as mentioned above, should work.

I downloaded iTunes from the Apple website and installed it on top of the previous installation. I was then promoted to download something else. Now the iPhone is being set up from the encrypted backup of the previous iPhone 5.
Click to expand...
So you confirm iTunes supports the iPhone 12?
 
sananda said:
Yes.

The iPhone 12 is all set up now from the backup. And I’ve synced the music library from iTunes.
Click to expand...
Ok, I’m having a similar issue. I just upgraded to an IPhone 12 from iPhone X.

I had created a backup on iTunes on my 2009 MacBook Pro - it uses the latest version of El Capitan. Never had an issue, even after updating my iPhone to the newest version of iOS 14.

Ok so after receiving my new phone I restore from my iCloud backup believing it would also restore my music (it didn’t). So I try linking it to my MacBook and it connects sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes for minutes at a time, before crashing. Sometimes it doesn’t connect at all so I have to disconnect the cable from the phone so iTunes can attempt to connect to it. I’ve managed to download some songs back onto my new phone but it’s tedious with all the crashes.

Something important I should note: the iPhone’s cable uses a usb c which my laptop lacks so I had to purchase an adapter to connect the phone to it. Could that be the issue? Again my iPhone X connects to iTunes with no issues while the iPhone 12 and my IPad Pro either lose connection with iTunes or don’t connect at all. The difference between the 3 is that only the ‘X’ still connects utilizing the old USB A design.
 
If this is the first time you have connected your new iPhone to your computer you have to get your computer to TRUST your device. I know with a Mac you’ll have to open launcher, then click on your iPhone name. It then will ask if you want to trust that device and will send a code to your phone to enter. I hope that helped.
 
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Lakersfan74 said:
The iPhone 12 can still use a lightning to USB-A cable you don’t have to use the Type C cable that came with it.
Click to expand...
Thanks, the eventually figured that out. Although I did have better results using an old lighting to USB A cable (as opposed to the one included in the box), I still encountered connection issues- failed syncs, slow or no connection etc...

i still have yet to discover a work around for connecting my iPad Pro
 
mommybetts79 said:
If this is the first time you have connected your new iPhone to your computer you have to get your computer to TRUST your device. I know with a Mac you’ll have to open launcher, then click on your iPhone name. It then will ask if you want to trust that device and will send a code to your phone to enter. I hope that helped.
Click to expand...
It took me a while initially to get my laptop and new phone to “trust” each other (probably due to connection issues) but once past that I began to encounter the issues that have been plaguing me since (no connection, failed syncs, slow connections).
 
I had a similar problem. With a Mac Mini 2009 El Capitan and iPhone 12 mini and a mint condition Apple USB-Lightning cable. I changed port and cable (to old and very short Apple USB-Lightning cable). Then it worked.

As the longer newer cable worked fine connecting iPhone 12 mini on Mac Pro Mojave I guess it was the port.
 
sananda said:
High Sierra is as far as our MacBook Air can go and, as mentioned above, should work.

I downloaded iTunes from the Apple website and installed it on top of the previous installation. I was then promoted to download something else. Now the iPhone is being set up from the encrypted backup of the previous iPhone 5.
Click to expand...
I made an account just to thank you. This worked 100%. I spent hours and hours on the phone with Apple Support trying everything they said to do only to have them leave off telling me that because my Late 2011 MacBook Pro is "vintage" (actual word they used) and will not update past High Sierra, there is no way my iPhone 12 will be compatible with it. I thought that sounded like crap because if the answer was that simple, then why did they waste so much time with me trying all of that other stuff? That information would have been #1 on their little checklist and our call would have been over in two minutes. So I did some digging and came across your post. Was able to sync and back up my iPhone 12 with no problem after this.

Again, Thank You
 
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