You may want to connect your iPhone 18 Pro to your Mac for various reasons. For example, you may want to do so when you want to sync, backup, restore or update your device using your Mac.
When you connect your device to your computer using a USB cable, your device will appear under Locations in the Finder sidebar on your Mac.
If you do not see your device in the sidebar of the Finder, this may mean that your Mac isn’t recognizing your iPhone. This article explains how you can fix if your iPhone doesn’t show up in the Finder. If you experience this problem, you will not be able to use the Finder to sync, update or restore your device using your Mac.
In some cases, the Finder may show your iPhone initially and then your device may disappear again from the Finder.
Please try the steps below.
Before you do anything, please try the following:
- Simply disconnect and reconnect your device from your computer to see if this resolves your problem.
- Ensure that your device is unlocked and on the Home screen.
- Ensure that your iPhone trusts your computer. If you see a “Trust this computer” alert, tap Trust. You will see this alert when you connect your device for the first time. You can reset your Trust settings too by going to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy on your iPhone.
1. Restart
Restart your iPhone 18 Pro and your Mac and then try again. Here is how:
- iPhone: Simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button until the sliders appear, then drag the Power Off slider. Then press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
- Mac: You can click the Apple menu and select Restart.
2. Update your Mac
Simply update your Mac. Updating your Mac will also update the installed version of macOS and all of its apps, including the Finder. Simply go to System Settings from the Apple menu, click General in the sidebar, then click Software Update to check for updates. And if there are updates available, follow the onscreen instructions to update your Mac.
3. Check your USB cable and port
It’s possible that there’s a problem with your USB cable. Ensure that your cable is not damaged. If you have another cable, try that one too. Furthermore, on your iPhone 18 Pro, inspect the USB-C port. Make sure that it is free of debris. Also try a different USB port on your Mac.
4. Ensure your Mac is recognizing your iPhone 18 Pro
Make sure that your Mac is seeing the iPhone as connected. Here is how you can check this:
- Connect your iPhone with your USB cable.
- On your Mac, click the Apple menu > About this Mac > System Report. This will open the System Information window.
- From the left list under Hardware, Click USB.
- If you see your iPhone under the USB Device Tree section, this means that your Mac is seeing your device. If not, you may want to contact Apple Support.
5. Finder Settings
If you are still having this problem, check the Finder settings. Please try the following:
- Connect your device.
- In the Finder, choose Finder > Settings, then click Sidebar.
- Under the Locations section, check to see if the “CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices” box is checked.
- If it is checked, uncheck it. Wait a few seconds and then check it.
- If it is unchecked, check it.
And now test again to see if you can see your device in the Finder Locations sidebar.
