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What to do if the computer does not see the iPhone via USB

Probably everyone who has ever dealt with Apple technology knows that it is possible to fully use the functionality of an i-smartphone only after mastering the iTunes program. It allows you to exchange between Apple devices and a PC, as well as a number of other useful manipulations, and therefore if the computer suddenly does not see the iPhone, this turns into a real problem.

Unfortunately, the statistics of user requests are not reassuring - the computer does not see the iPhone 5, does not recognize the iPhone 5S via USB, the laptop does not display my iPhone 6 - thousands of owners google similar requests every day in the hope of solving the problem themselves.

However, in most cases, it is true that you can solve it yourself without the help of professionals. In this article, we will analyze the reasons why the computer does not see the iPhone, and we will also tell you what to do if this situation arises. The recommendations below will help users of all models of i-smartphones - iPhone 6, 4S, and any others.

In fact, to the question - why doesn’t the iPhone connect to a personal computer - there are only 4 answers. Here they are:

  • There is a problem with the USB ports
  • The functionality of the connecting cable is impaired
  • A software conflict has occurred
  • Broken iPhone

However, each of these situations can arise for different reasons and the options for solving the problem in one case or another will be different. So next we will look in detail at each of the above reasons and tell you how to fix this or that problem with synchronizing your i-device and PC.

Problems with USB ports

A problem with USB ports is one of the most common reasons why your computer cannot see your iPhone. Especially if your PC is, as they say, not the first freshness. USB ports are not the most reliable part of a computer, and therefore, often after 3-4 years of operation, when trying to connect this or that device to them, various problems appear - from a banal freeze to a complete refusal to recognize the device.

How to understand that you are dealing with problem ports? First, try connecting your iPhone to another USB port - it often happens that one has already failed, but the second is still working properly. No visible progress when connecting to a different port? Okay, let's explore the problem further - connect the i-gadget to another PC. Is he not around? Then we go the other way - connect any other device to the PC via USB. Is it not displayed like the iPhone? Then, well, the answer has been found - you have a problem with the ports. Sometimes, by the way, you can revive them by simply cleaning them - take alcohol and a cotton swab and responsibly remove all dirt and dust. Perhaps this step will make the ports work and synchronization will be successful. If this does not help, restart your PC. Also unsuccessful? Then, most likely, you will have to change ports.

The functionality of the connecting cable is impaired

If USB ports are not the most reliable part of a PC, then the connecting cable for charging and connecting to a computer is not the most reliable part of an iPhone. Users have been scolding the Apple giant for this problem for several years now, and not without reason. The “native” cable is not cheap, but it quickly becomes unusable, and the Chinese one does not always “know how” to interact with iTunes. That is, it will charge the smartphone, but it will not establish a connection between the PC and the iPhone.

So if the iPhone does not connect to the computer via USB, and you have already checked the ports and they are working, it’s time to start diagnosing the cable. Many people check the cable this way: they connect the iPhone to the charger and if the battery starts charging, they consider it to be working, but such diagnostics are not entirely correct. You see, the peculiarity of the structure of the iPhone cable is such that to connect the PC and the i-device, all contacts must be in good working order, but for charging, this is not the case.

The only way to check if the problem is in the cable is to connect the iPhone to the computer using another ORIGINAL cable through which another “Apple” is perfectly recognized on your PC. And only after the success of this operation can we say unequivocally that the cable is to blame.

By the way, sometimes, in order for the connecting cable to work, as in the case of USB ports, cleaning the contacts helps. But in most cases it needs to be replaced.

Software conflict

Both the cable and ports are working properly, but your iPhone won’t connect to your computer? Let's consider the following problem - software conflict. Underneath this scary headline are very banal reasons why you can’t connect your iPhone to your PC.

Firstly, it may be that iTunes has not been updated for a long time, in which case you just need to go to the official Apple website and download the current version.

Secondly, there is a possibility that the computer does not see the device due to an incorrectly configured antivirus or firewall. Perhaps the security program classified the iPhone as an unsafe device, or considered iTunes' attempt to contact Apple servers to identify the i-gadget suspicious. To check the relevance of this communication problem, you need to temporarily disable your antivirus and/or firewall and see if the situation changes. iPhone started to show up? This means that the problem is in the security programs and they need to be reconfigured so that they do not consider the activities of iTunes and iPhone suspicious.

Another software-related reason why a connected iPhone cannot be seen is a malfunctioning Apple Mobile Device Service. To resolve the problem with it, restart it. Click the “Start” menu, go to “Control Panel”, then “Services”. In this section, find the Apple Mobile Device Service and double-click on it. A new window will open, in it click “Stop” and then “Run”. And also check the “Startup type” parameter, it should be automatic. After making the adjustments, we restart the PC and check if our problem has been solved.

The iPhone itself is broken

And finally, about the saddest thing - all the ports are working and the cable too, iTunes is the latest, security programs are disabled, the AMDS service is working properly, but synchronization between the iPhone and PC still fails? Then the problem is in the i-smartphone itself. There may be a software failure and a simple reboot of the iPhone will help - do it and try again to synchronize with the computer. Did not help? Then it’s a matter of problems with the hardware, and in such a situation we recommend not to engage in self-diagnosis; the best solution is to take the iPhone to a service center, where they are guaranteed to find the problem and help fix it, and the device itself will not be damaged.

Why doesn't the computer see my iPhone as a flash drive?

Newcomers to the Apple world often search the Internet for an answer to the question: “Why doesn’t the computer see the iPhone 5 (any smartphone model can be there) as a removable drive?” And if you have the same question, we hasten to please you - everything is fine with your device. The fact is that iOS, the platform on which all i-gadgets operate, is closed, which significantly increases the security of Apples, but often negatively affects their ease of use.

In particular, the computer really does not see the iPhone as a flash drive - in Windows Explorer it is displayed as a portable device or even identified in the “Other devices” category. If you double-click on the iPhone icon, a folder with photos taken on the device will open and all the user can do is transfer them to the PC, and even the reverse operation will not be available. If you want to record a photo on your i-smartphone, welcome to iTunes.

We emphasize! This state of affairs is relevant for all PC operating systems and for all iPhone models - neither Windows 7 nor Windows 10 sees the iPhone as a removable drive - this is a feature of iOS. If on some portal you are given recommendations that supposedly will help you see your iPhone as a flash drive, you shouldn’t trust them!

Let's summarize

There are a lot of reasons why the PC does not see the iPhone 4 or any other, but in most cases the user can independently diagnose the problem and solve it. We hope this article will be of great help to you in this matter! However, do not overestimate your strength - if the problem is in the hardware of the iPhone itself, you are unlikely to be able to independently identify the cause of the problem and fix it. Of course, you can say - why can’t I disassemble my device itself? You can do it, but what will it give you? Even if you see a damaged microcircuit, will you dare to remove it yourself and install a new one? Not sure? Then there is no need to go inside such a complex device as an iPhone, it’s better to trust the pros! However, we hope it doesn’t come to that!