Many people have stopped using the desktop version of iTunes entirely, instead relying on wireless syncing, which is often much more convenient. If you want to connect your iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max to your computer with a USB-C cable, though, you might sometimes run into a problem in which iTunes doesn’t recognize your iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max. Whether it’s iTunes not recognizing iPhone 17 Pro connections at all or you’re getting a cryptic “0xE” error, you just can’t get iTunes to work. The same applies while using Finder on newer versions of macOS. There are a number of probable causes, so here’s a look at eight ways you can fix your computer-to-phone connection when iTunes or Finder is not recognizing your iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17 Pro Max.
1. iPhone 17 Pro Won’t Connect to iTunes? Start Here
There are a few extremely simple factors to check before you move on to any other solutions. First, make sure that your iPhone 17 Pro is unlocked and on the Home Screen. If it wasn’t in the first place, unplug it, then plug it back in. Also, make sure the cable is fully inserted into both your iPhone and computer.
2. Review Trust Issues
When you connect your iPhone 17 Pro to your computer, you might see a message on your iPhone 17 Pro asking if you can trust this computer. If you do, don’t ignore or dismiss this window — tap Trust. If you don’t select Trust, you’ll have trouble with your iPhone 17 Pro not showing up in iTunes of Finder.
If you accidentally selected Don’t Trust in the past, don’t worry—there’s a way to fix that. On your iPhone 17 Pro, open Settings and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy.
Now you’ll see the prompt when you plug your iPhone 17 Pro back into your computer. This time, make sure to tap Trust.
3. Restart your iPhone 17 Pro and computer
It’s likely that the reason iTunes or Finder won’t recognize your iPhone 17 Pro is that there’s some sort of temporary software glitch. That’s especially true if you can usually connect, but it’s not working right now. To eliminate most software issues, restart both your iPhone and computer.
Remove the cable connecting your iPhone and computer. Then restart your computer by shutting it down then back on. After that, restart your iPhone by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. Drag the power off slider to shut down your iPhone. Then, hold down the Side button to reboot it. Start iTunes or Finder and reconnect your iPhone.
4. Check Your USB-C Cable
Another common problem that can lead to your iPhone 17 Pro not connecting to iTunes or Finder is a bad cable. First, have a look at both ends of your cable. If it seems wrinkled or frayed on either end, this is a bad sign.
However, a cable can also have connection issues even without any visual signs of damage. Perhaps one of the inside prongs is bent, or it came in contact with water and was ruined.
Even if your cable is in perfect shape, it can also cause trouble if it isn’t MFi certified. This basically means that Apple has approved the cable for use with its hardware. If you have spare USB-C cables, try using a different cable to see if it solves your problem. Try buying a replacement USB-C cable if you need a new one.
5. Inspect Your Ports
Cables aren’t the only part of the physical connection that can lead to iTunes not detecting your iPhone 17 Pro. Your USB-C port can get dust and debris in it, causing incomplete connections. Carefully clean the iPhone’s port and try again. You can clean it out with compressed air or a toothpick, but be very careful. Never insert anything metallic in the iPhone’s charging port, and do not get it wet.
The USB port on your computer can lead to trouble as well. If your iPhone 17 Pro won’t connect to iTunes and you’re using a USB hub, try plugging directly into your computer instead. If you’re already plugging in directly, try using a different port if one is available.
6. Update iTunes
At this point, you’ve ruled out most of the basic issues, but there’s one left. If you’re getting errors saying “iTunes could not connect to the iPhone,” try updating iTunes.
On a Mac, click the Apple icon in the upper-left portion of the screen, then select System Preferences. On this screen, select Software Update. This will check for macOS system updates, which include updates to core system apps like iTunes and Safari. The same goes when using Finder—updating the operating system also updates Finder.
On Windows, there are two different ways to update iTunes. The one you should use depends on how you installed the app: from Apple’s website, or via the Microsoft Store.
For the version of iTunes downloaded via the Apple website, select Help in the menu bar at the top of the app, then click Check for Updates. Follow the prompts to update iTunes through the Apple Software Update app.
If you’re using the Microsoft Store version, it should check for updates automatically. You can run a manual check by opening the Microsoft Store app. Click the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner and choose Downloads and updates. Then choose Get updates.
7. Mac Users: Check Your System Report
If you’ve already gone through all the relevant steps above on your Mac and your iPhone 17 Pro still won’t connect to iTunes of Finder, it’s time to pull out the big guns.
Hold down the Option key and click the Apple logo in the top-left portion of the screen. Then, select System Information or System Report. On the window that appears, select USB from the list on the left.
If you see your phone displayed, but Finder or iTunes won’t connect to the iPhone, you likely have a software issue. Try updating macOS or uninstalling third-party security software like antivirus and anti-malware apps.
On the other hand, if your iPhone isn’t displayed in the USB section of the menu, there may be a hardware issue. Try connecting your phone to another computer or retry the above tips about checking cables and ports.
8. Windows Users: Reinstall the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver
If you’re running Windows and none of the above steps have worked for you, there’s a likely culprit. The Apple Mobile Device USB driver can cause problems, so reinstalling it may fix your problem. This is often the case when your iPhone 17 Pro won’t connect to your computer at all, not just iTunes.
No matter which way you downloaded iTunes, start by disconnecting your iPhone 17 Pro from your computer if you haven’t already. Then, unlock your phone and make sure it’s on the Home Screen.
Now reconnect your iPhone. If either version of iTunes opens, close it.
If You Downloaded iTunes From Apple
Open a File Explorer window. At the top of window, enter the following into the address bar and press Enter:
%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers
In the panel that opens, right-click on either usbaapl64.inf or usbaapl.inf (only one will be present) and select Install.
While you may see other similarly named files here, you should only install the file ending with the .inf extension. If you can’t see file extensions, expand the View tab at the top and check the box labeled File name extensions.
Once installation is complete, disconnect your iPhone and restart your computer. Now reconnect your iPhone and launch iTunes.
If You Downloaded iTunes From the Microsoft Store
Reinstalling the Apple Mobile Device USB driver is easier if you installed iTunes via the Microsoft Store. To do so, right-click the Start button, then select Device Manager.
Scroll down until you spot the Portable Devices section. Expand this section and look for your iPhone. Then, right-click on the icon and select Update driver. In the window that pops up, select Search automatically for updated driver software.
After the installer runs, try opening iTunes and, hopefully, it will recognize your iPhone 17 Pro. If you still have issues with iTunes not recognizing iPhone 17 Pro connections, you might try completely uninstalling and reinstalling the app.
iTunes Still Doesn’t Recognize Your iPhone 17 Pro?
In the vast majority of cases, one of the above tips should sort out your problem. That said, your iPhone 17 Pro not showing up in iTunes or Finder can have many causes. When you’ve run out of fixes to try, it’s probably time to contact Apple support.
