One of the biggest perks of owning an iPhone is having iTunes to manage your content, backups, and software updates — whether you’re on a Mac or Windows PC. But sometimes when you plug in your iPhone 8 Plus, iTunes doesn’t recognize it — or your computer won’t even detect the phone at all. If that’s what’s happening to you, don’t worry. Here’s why it happens and how to fix it.
Why Your iPhone 8 Plus Isn’t Recognized
There are really two possible causes:
- A software glitch (either on your iPhone or computer)
- A hardware issue (bad cable, broken port, or other physical damage)
Most of the time, it’s something simple you can fix without needing a repair.
How to Fix iPhone 8 Plus Not Being Recognized by iTunes
1. Restart Both Devices
A quick reboot clears temporary glitches on both your computer and iPhone.
- Restart your computer the usual way.
- Restart your iPhone 8 Plus: Press and hold the Side button until the slide to power off prompt appears. Turn it off, wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on.
Pro Tip:
Try plugging your iPhone into a different USB port after rebooting.
2. Use an Official Apple or Certified Lightning Cable
Damaged or third-party cables are a common reason for connection problems.
- Always use the cable that came with your iPhone.
- If possible, try another genuine Apple Lightning cable to see if that solves it.
3. Tap “Trust This Computer” on Your iPhone
When you plug your iPhone in, you should see a pop-up asking if you want to trust this computer.
- Unlock your iPhone.
- Tap Trust when prompted.
Without tapping Trust, your iPhone won’t connect properly.
4. Update iTunes and Your Computer’s Software
Outdated software often causes communication issues.
- On Windows:
Open iTunes > Click Help > Check for Updates. - On Mac:
Open the App Store > Go to Updates tab. - Also, update your computer’s operating system and your iPhone (Settings > General > Software Update).
Then reboot everything again for good measure.
5. Update iPhone Drivers (Windows Only)
If you’re on Windows, outdated drivers could be the problem.
- Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Device Manager.
- Find Apple iPhone under “Unspecified” or “Portable Devices.”
- Right-click and select Update Driver.
- Choose Browse my computer > Navigate to:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers
Install the latest driver if available.
Extra Fixes If Nothing Else Worked
Uninstall and Reinstall the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver (Windows Only)
- Open Device Manager.
- Under USB Controllers, find the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver.
- Right-click > Uninstall.
- Disconnect your iPhone.
- Reconnect — Windows should reinstall the driver automatically.
Forget Your iPhone in Network Settings (If Using Hotspot Features)
- Go to Manage Networks on your computer.
- Find your iPhone > Forget it.
- Reconnect by turning on your mobile hotspot and re-pairing.
This doesn’t usually fix iTunes issues, but if you’re using a Hotspot or tethering, it might help.
Uninstall Third-Party Security Software (Mac)
Security apps on Mac can sometimes block connections to iPhones.
- Hold Option > Click Apple menu > System Information.
- Go to USB section.
- If your iPhone appears under USB, your Mac sees it but something (likely a firewall or antivirus) is blocking it.
Temporarily uninstall third-party security apps and see if your iPhone shows up properly.