iMac does not see iPhone

[jimzushi]

Hello,
I transfer MP3 music from my iMac to my iPhone using a USB-C cable to play in Music. All of a sudden my iMac won't see my iPhone when I plug it in and the iPhone does not show up in the Music side bar. I've tried checking the appropriate boxes in Finder preferences and force quit USBD in Activity monitor. Anything else I can do?

iPhone 14 iOS 18.4.1
Mac (Retina 4K, 21.5-inch, Late 2015)
3.3 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
macOS 12.7.6

 

[digimc]

Have you tried to turning your iPhone off and then back on again. Maybe try restarting your iMac if you haven't already.

 

[jimzushi]

Have you tried to turning your iPhone off and then back on again. Maybe try restarting your iMac if you haven't already.

Yep did that already

 

[ab22]

About the 'Trust This Computer' alert message on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Learn about trusted computers and find out how to change your settings.

support.apple.com

 

[jimzushi]

About the 'Trust This Computer' alert message on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Learn about trusted computers and find out how to change your settings.

support.apple.com

Thanks for the link. I followed the instructions to reset Location & Privacy on my iPhone. Still doesn't work. So weird that it worked one day but stopped working the next even though I didn't change anything.

 

[ab22]

Does the iPhone still show in the Music app ?.

 

[Adora]

Have you tried another cable?

 

[jimzushi]

Have you tried another cable?

iPhone does not show up in the music app and I only have one cable that was working fine before.

 

[ab22]

Look closely inside the lightning connector of the iPhone. Fluff / fibers sometimes collects in them & becomes compressed enough to block the contacts or prevent the cable from going in all the way. It can be hard to see, & might need careful effort to loosen it.

If you're close - an Apple Store will likely clean / check it while you wait.

edit - apologies for skimming & asking about the Music app - I'm used to people connecting in Finder.

 

[jimzushi]

Look closely inside the lightning connector of the iPhone. Fluff / fibers sometimes collects in them & becomes compressed enough to block the contacts or prevent the cable from going in all the way. It can be hard to see, & might need careful effort to loosen it.

If you're close - an Apple Store will likely clean / check it while you wait.

edit - apologies for skimming & asking about the Music app - I'm used to people connecting in Finder.

My phone case has a flap to cover the lighting port. Also, the phone shows charging when I plug it into the computer. But yes it could be dirty or the cable bad but why would it show charging? I will inspect the port. Thanks

 

[jimzushi]

Look closely inside the lightning connector of the iPhone. Fluff / fibers sometimes collects in them & becomes compressed enough to block the contacts or prevent the cable from going in all the way. It can be hard to see, & might need careful effort to loosen it.

If you're close - an Apple Store will likely clean / check it while you wait.

edit - apologies for skimming & asking about the Music app - I'm used to people connecting in Finder.

I'm still having issues connecting with a cable. Is there any other way to get music on to my iPhone like using airdrop? I tried that a few months and it didn't seem to work, I think the music files went to the cloud instead of on my phone. I'm still new to iPhones so still learning.

 

[ab22]

Is there any other way to get music on to my iPhone like using airdrop?

Sync content between your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch over Wi-Fi

On your Mac, sync content with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch over Wi-Fi.

support.apple.com

I'm not familiar with it, using only cable connection at home; but it seems very similar.


If you get the opportunity - try connecting your phone to a different bMac using the regular cable. Presumably every USB port on the iMac gives the same trouble ?.