Windows computer does not recognize iPhone

Windows 11/10 users have been reporting issues on connecting to iTunes, where their iPhone either failed to get detected, or their device wasn’t recognized by the computer running on Microsoft’s latest operating system (OS). While there is no single and assured solution to fix this issue, here are some simple workarounds and fixes that would help in resolving this problem.

Windows 11/10 PC does not recognize iPhone

Before getting into the solution, it is important first to understand why a Windows computer may not recognize your iPhone. Explaining this issue in the simplest form, Apple products which basically include iPhone, iPad and MacBook don’t go very well with Microsoft’s Windows, hence whenever these two are brought together, they do not communicate easily. This is exactly why new errors and bugs keep popping up every now and then. One such bug occurs when Windows 11/10 fails to detect the iPhone.

iPhone won’t connect to Windows PC

If your iPhone won’t connect to a Windows PC, ensure the USB cable is working, and your iPhone’s charging port is clear of debris. Try a different USB port or another computer if available. Additionally, verify that Apple’s iTunes is installed and updated, as it’s essential for iPhone-PC connections. Thorough research on this issue states that there is no single fix available to resolve this issue. Those who are seriously looking to resolve it will have to go through several checks, basically a trial and error method, to see if their problem gets resolved.

1] Simply Reboot

Try to reboot the iPhone and the computer and then reconnect it to check if the issue is resolved. Yes, this is the first and the meekest fix that may work out. In case it doesn’t move down on this list.

2] Try Another USB Port

This issue can also arise due to a defective or damaged USB port on the computer. To verify it, connect the iPhone to a different USB Port.

3] Enable Autoplay

Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC, open Control Panel, and click on the Autoplay applet. Make sure that the option Use Autoplay for all media and devices is checked. Now, search for the iPhone device and select the option Ask me every time from the drop-down menu next to the device. Does this help?

4] Install All Important Windows Updates

Make sure that the system has updated and installed all the latest Windows updates. To install the latest updates, users can simply go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and download the updates from here.

5] Install/re-install the latest version of iTunes

iPhone may not be compatible when the user uses an older version of iTunes with Windows 11/10. Hence, one needs to make sure that he/she has the latest version of iTunes installed.

Read: How to install iPhone Drivers on Windows PC.

6] Always “Trust”

Whenever an iOS device is connected to the computer, a prompt message appears which says, ‘Trust This Computer?’. Users should always click “Trust” as this is the most suitable option to resolve the issue in most cases.

7] Check if Apple Mobile Device Support service is installed

Another option is to check if Apple Mobile Device Support service is installed. Users can check this by going to Control Panel > Uninstall a program. If it is not installed, iTunes needs to be reinstalled. You may also want to check if your device drivers are updated.

Read: iPhone not charging when connected to computer.

8] Disable VPN

Some users also complain that they are unable to connect their iPhone devices with a Windows 10 PC when VPN is turned on. If this is the case, try disabling the VPN on the iPhone device. To disable VPN on your iPhone, follow the following procedure:

Open Settings on iPhone device
Tap General
Tap VPN
Tap on Delete Profile
Confirm the action by tapping Delete again.

9] Windows N or KN users

If you are using Windows 11/10 N or KN versions, ensure that you have Media Feature Pack installed. You can download it from Microsoft.

For a majority of the users facing problems in connecting their iPhone and Windows 11/10 devices, at least one of the above solutions solved the problem. If still, your Windows 11/10 fails to detect iPhone, then you might have a third-party software or driver that could be conflicting with iTunes and Apple’s services. Try troubleshooting by performing a Clean Boot.

How to fix computer not recognizing iPhone?

To fix this issue, you need to restart your computer first. If it doesn’t help, use a different USB port and cable, enable Autoplay, reinstall the latest version of iTunes, use the Always Trust option on your iPhone, etc. No matter whether you get this problem with your iPhone or iPad, you can go through the same solutions.

If your Windows PC is not reading your iPhone, ensure the device is unlocked, and on the Home Screen. Use a USB cable to connect it directly to your PC, bypassing USB hubs or other devices. If the issue persists, disconnect all USB devices, then reconnect only your iPhone to troubleshoot connectivity problems.

How to fix iPhone not connecting to Windows?

If your iPhone is not getting connected to Windows 11/10, you can follow the solutions mentioned above. You can simply change the USB port, USB cable and restart your computer. The most important thing is that you need to enable the Always Trust option on your iOS device to allow it to connect to Windows PC.