How To Fix When Windows Doesn’t Recognize iPhone

Whether you’re trying to access your computer’s hotspot or are transferring files, you’ll encounter problems if your computer doesn’t recognize your device. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions, all of which are relatively easy to follow.

In this article, we’ll go through some quick fixes to help you connect your iPhone to your PC. Let’s get started.

Windows Doesn’t Recognize iPhone

Once in a while, your Windows PC might fail to recognize your device. Here are some top fixes that have helped many users overcome the problem.

Keep Your iPhone’s Screen Unlocked

If you’re trying to connect to your computer using a USB cable and your Windows PC doesn’t seem to recognize your iPhone, it’s likely because your device is locked. If that’s the case, unlock your iPhone and navigate to the home screen. Also, check that the file sharing option is enabled in the USB tethering settings.

Try Using a Different USB Port

If you’re connecting your iPhone to your Windows PC using a USB cable, placing it in a different port might do the trick. To do so, unplug the USB cable from the port you’re currently using, and insert it into another port. If changing USB ports doesn’t work, remove all the devices attached to your computer except the one you’re trying to connect with.

Check That the Cable You’re Using Has File Transfer Capabilities

Not all charging cables allow you to transfer files between your mobile device and your computer. Some are solely built for charging purposes. Fortunately, identifying if a cable has USB options is pretty straightforward. USB cables are marked with a sharing icon while charging cables don’t contain any marks. Therefore, verify that the cable you’re using to connect to your computer has USB capabilities.

Restart Your Computer

If you’ve tried all of the above fixes, but the problem persists, restart your computer. A quick restart should resolve a lot of temporary glitches in the system, including common connectivity issues. Once your computer has finished booting, try connecting your device and see if the problem is resolved.

Restart Your iPhone

If restarting your computer didn’t work, then restarting your iPhone might be the solution. Once you’ve rebooted your iPhone, try connecting it to your computer.

Update Your iTunes

If you’re trying to transfer files between your iPhone and your computer, you likely have iTunes in the mix. If so, double-check that you’re using the latest version of the software. If not, update the app, try connecting your iPhone to the PC, and see if that does the trick.

If you downloaded iTunes from Microsoft Store, follow these steps to update the app:

1. On your computer, open iTunes.
   
2. Open “Help” and navigate to “Check for Updates.”
   
3. If there’s a new program version, click the “Download iTunes” button to install the update.
   
4. Restart your computer and see if Windows can now recognize your device.
   

If you downloaded your iTunes from the Apple store, follow these steps.

1. Press the “Windows” + “R” command on your computer.
   
2. In the text field, type in “%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers” and click the “OK” button.
   
3. Right-click on the second file and choose “Install.”
   

Reset All the Settings on Your iPhone

If none of the above fixes worked, then resetting all the settings on your device might be the answer. Plus, the process doesn’t erase any data from your computer, making it a worthwhile solution to try.

Here’s how to go about the process:

1. Open the “Settings” app.
   
2. Open the “General” menu.
   
3. Navigate to “Reset” then “Reset All Settings.”
   
4. Enter your phone’s passcode.
   
5. From the options that pop up, click on “Reset All Settings.”
   
6. Once your phone has restarted, proceed and connect it to your computer.
   

Update Mobile Device Driver on a PC

If your Windows PC hasn’t recognized your device yet, the next trick is updating your mobile device driver.

1. On your PC, find “This PC” and right-click it.
   
2. From the options, select “Manage” to open your computer’s management.
   
3. Under “System tools,” open “Device Manager.”
   
4. Locate and expand the “Portable Devices” option.
   
5. Right-click on your device and choose the “Update driver” option.
   
6. Select “Search automatically for the drivers.”
   

Windows Doesn’t Recognize iPhone Hotspot

If you’re using your mobile phone as a hotspot and the PC doesn’t seem to recognize your device, try the solutions below.

Change Hotspots Name and Password

To change your hotspot’s name and your password, follow these steps:

1. On your iPhone, open “Settings.”
   
2. Select “Personal Hotspot.”
   
3. Tap on the “Wi-Fi Password field” and type in the new password.
   
4. Change the name of your mobile hotspot and click on “Done.”
   

There are other quick fixes that you can try to get your iPhone’s hotspot working again:

• Turn off your mobile hotspot for a few minutes, then turn it on again.
• Switch off your mobile data, switch it on again, and see if that resolves the issue.
• On your computer, disable the Wi-Fi and enable it again.

Get Your Computer and Your iPhone to Work in Harmony Again

It can be hugely inconvenient when your Windows computer doesn’t recognize your iPhone. However, the issue shouldn’t cause a headache because you can quickly remedy the problem. Some of the quick fixes you can try include:

• Changing USB ports.
• Keeping your phone unlocked.
• Restarting both of your devices.
• Tweaking the network settings.

Has Windows ever failed to recognize your iPhone? If so, how did you resolve the issue? Let us know in the comments section below.