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iPhone 16/Plus iPhone 16 won't connect to 2017 Mac via USB C cable

I have the same problem, iPhone 16 Pro with 2017 iMac, and it works when plugged into USB-A port on iMac. And with USB-A 3.0 cable I get quite a decent transfer speed. But iPhone 15 Pro works plugged to USB-C port.
 
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Thanks for sharing this info. I’ve ordered a USB-C to USB-A from Amazon and I’m hoping that this will work so I can continue backing up my iPhone to my 2017 MacBook Pro.
 
Since I already had a usb a female to usb c male adapter, I purchased a usb a male to usb c female adapter and then using a usb c cable was able to get my 2017 MacBook Pro to recognize and back up my iPhone 16 Pro Max.
 
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I have a 2015 Macbook Pro running Monterey 12.7.6--the latest version available to me--and cannot connect to a 16 Pro Max even with a USB C / USB A cable. I don't have any hubs. When people talk about planned obsolescence this is what we mean.
 
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I had this problem too! Luckily I tried my DJI drone USB-A to USB-C charger cable to connect my iphone16pro to my MacBook and it worked!!! It"s a thicker cable so I'm thinking that has something to do with it and not just the update itself. I'm currently running MacOS Ventura on a 2017 IMac. Hope this Helps everyone bc it saved me a headache.
 
I'm also having this problem and none of this "hub via USB-A" suggestion has proven helpful for me. REALLY hope Apple releases an update to fix this because my 2017 MBP is still in fantastic working condition and I'd hate to never be able to connect my brand new phone to it over an oversight as seemingly simple as this.

Fingers crossed.
 
drjlb said:
Me too. There is at least 1 report over in the Apple Forums of the same issue. That person claims they were told by Apple that the behavior is as intended.
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Someone on this Forum had what looked complicated to me. It prompted me to use my USB to Lightening cable that I used for my iPhone 13 max pro AND I simply added a lightening to USB C adapter to the end. Duh … 2 hours of confusion and such a simple solution. I needed those tiny adapters anyway as one of my cars lacks a USB C port.
 
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Having the same issue. 2017 imac 27". Will connect via usb-a to usb-c, not c-c. Spent half a day with mac and iphone support only to be told to bring everything to the genius bar where i'm sure i also won't get an answer. On the phone the 'senior advisor' had apparently not yet heard of this issue.
 
Oceanick said:
Having the same issue. 2017 imac 27". Will connect via usb-a to usb-c, not c-c. Spent half a day with mac and iphone support only to be told to bring everything to the genius bar where i'm sure i also won't get an answer. On the phone the 'senior advisor' had apparently not yet heard of this issue.
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Try my solution. Original lightening cable you used to sync the old iPhone to your iMac 2017. Add a lightening to USB C adapter and attach new iPhone 16. When I then looked at my iMac everything synced easily as with my iPhone 13.
 
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I’m having the exact same problem. I was going crazy and have gone through the hassle to reinstall macOS only to discover my iPhone 16 Pro still wouldn’t work. I tried using the USB-A to USB-C and it worked! Hopefully Apple will fix this soon.
 
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drjlb said:
I cannot get my new iPhone to connect to my 2017 Intel iMac running Ventura via the Apple supplied USB C cable. I backed up my old iPhone 13 to my iMac via USB C to lightning, hoping to set up from that backup. The new phone isn't recognized as an accessory, doesn't show up in Photos, or in the Finder. The same cable does connect the iPhone 16 to a M1 MacBook Pro. Rebooted both iMac and iPhone. Has Apple really broken support for older MacOS?
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Had the same problem last night trying to connect an iPhone 16 Pro running iOS 18.1 to a 2024 M3 powered MacBook Air running Sequoia 15.1. Solution was to connect with a USB-A to USB-C cable via a hub (in this case, the hub was a USB-C connected monitor with USB-A inputs). Worked just fine with that cable - definitely a glitch Apple needs to address.
 
Texasheat716 said:
GOOD NEWS! The update to iOS 18.1 appears to have corrected this issue. I am now able to connect iPhone 16pro with usbc-usbc cable to my 2017 iMac running Ventura 13.7. iPhone is present in the Finder as expected and syncing with Photos app as well.
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It’s fixed for me too!
 
I had the same problem with the new iPhone 16 not recognized by my MacBook Pro 2015. I needed to restore the backup from my 12 pro to my 16. I spent 2 hours on the phone with Apple technician and they finally said there was an incompatibility and would need to restore backup to the 12 pro that I traded in to Apple. I went into the Apple Store and the technician brought out a cable that he said was made for transferring data where most of the cables are for charging. He plugged in my iPhone 16 to my MacBook Pro and hallelujah it showed up in Finder and backup is almost complete.
You just need the right cable which apparently not to many people at Apple know.
 
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