We have received a lot of complaints from users who said their iPhone was not showing up on PC when it was connected. This can prevent you from syncing and backing up the iPhone with iTunes or restoring the backup back on to the device, not to mention you may not be able to fix some stubborn iOS issues that require connecting iTunes.
In this article, we are going to discuss some of the reasons why your iPhone is not appearing when connected to the PC as well as effective ways you can try to fix this problem.
Before we find the solutions to fix iPhone is not showing up on PC problem, we should first understand some of the causes for this problem:
After understanding the reasons of iPhone not showing up on computer, the next thing is to fix this issue so that the iPhone data can be smoothly transferred to PC. Below are the introduction of different solutions to this issue. We have tested each solution one by one and listed the solutions to be effective.
The following are just some of the initial steps you can take when your computer fails to detect your iPhone:
The essential thing for PC to detect your iPhone is Apple Mobile Device USB driver. If your iPhone does not appear on PC, it may indicate that Apple Mobile Device USB Driver is not properly installed. In this case, you can follow the procedures below to resolve the issue.
If none of the simple solutions above work, you may want to update the Apple Mobile Device USB drivers on your PC. Outdated drivers can cause a malfunction of hardware components , and then make it difficult for the computer to recognize the device. You can update the drivers manually or automatically.
To update the drivers manually, go to the Apple support page and search for the most recent Apple Mobile Device USB driver. Ensure that you select drivers compatible with the versions of Windows running on your computer.
You can also use Driver Easy to get your iPhone connected with computer. Driver Easy can detect your device system automatically and find the corresponding driver. Here’s how you can do that:
Now connect the iPhone to the computer to see if it shows up in Windows Explorer.
This problem can also occur when Windows is not running the latest version. To install Windows updates, follow these simple steps:
Once the Windows Update process is complete, connect the iPhone to the computer again to see if it appears in Windows Explorer.
You might also be able to fix iPhone not showing up on PC by reinstalling Apple Mobile Device USB Driver. Here's how you can do it:
If you have downloaded iTunes from Microsoft Store
If iTunes is downloaded from Apple
To fix the iPhone not appearing in computer problem using the Control Panel, follow these simple steps:
Windows should now be able to detect the connected iPhone without any problems.
If you still can’t see your iPhone when you plug it into computer, you should check whether the driver is installed properly.
Step 1. Right click on "Start" button and select "Device Manager" option.
Step 2. Click on "Universal Serial Bus controllers" and select "Apple Mobile Device USB Driver".
If the iPhone is still not showing up on pc, you would probably have to contact Apple support for assistance.
If all the above solutions don't work, you can choose to use a third-party tool like FoneGeek iOS Data Backup & Restore to transfer iPhone data to your PC to free up space or create safe backup. It is very easy to use and could be the best alternative to iTunes, allowing you not just to transfer data from your iPhone to your computer, but also easily restore the backup back on to the device.
The following simple steps will guide you transfer and backup data from iPhone to computer even if iPhone not showing up on PC:
Step 1: Download and install the program on to your computer. Launch it and then in the main window, select "Backup & Restore".
Step 2: Connect the iPhone to the computer using the lighting cable and the software will automatically detect the device, then click on ;Backup”.
Step 3: In the next window, select the file types you would like to transfer from the device to the PC. Click on the "Backup" button to begin the process.
Once the transfer & backup process is complete, you will be able to check the contents in the backup file and export them to your computer.
Q1. Can I manage my iPhone data using a 3rd-party software instead of iTunes?
YES. Some 3rd-party tools may be available to manage your device data without iTunes. But you need to select the most reliable one to avoid data loss.
Q2. What if my iPhone is not showing up in Finder on my Mac?
The troubleshooting methods above could apply to Mac systems as well. Make sure that the Mac system is updated and try to use different USB ports.
Q3. What if multiple iPhones cannot show up on PC?
If the problem occurs across multiple iPhones, it might be the issue of the configuration of computer. Consider finding the technical support to diagnose and resolve potential hardware problems.
You shall successfully connect your iPhone to computer after reading this article. If your computer still fails to recognize your iPhone, you can use a different computer and try again.
Fay J. Melton has explored the area of technology and software for more than 5 years and he is enthusiastic about helping users solve various technology issues.
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