← All Posts October 6, 2026

iPhone Not Recognized by Your Computer? Fix "Trust This Computer" on Windows and Mac

Your PC or Mac does not see the iPhone, or the "Trust This Computer" message never appears? Here is how to fix the cable, the drivers, Finder and the Apple Devices app, step by step.

To restore an IPSW file, back up your iPhone or copy photos, the computer must first see the iPhone. When nothing happens after you plug it in, or the "Trust This Computer?" message never appears, follow this guide in order. Most cases are fixed in the first three steps.

1. Check the cable and the port

Use an original Apple cable or a certified (MFi) cable. Many cheap cables only charge and do not carry data: the iPhone charges but the computer sees nothing.
Try another USB port, directly on the computer, not through a hub or a keyboard.
On a desktop PC, use the ports at the back (connected directly to the motherboard).
Clean the iPhone's port gently with a wooden toothpick: lint often prevents the connector from going all the way in.

2. Unlock the iPhone and tap "Trust"

The iPhone only shares data with a computer it trusts. Plug it in, unlock it and stay on the Home Screen. The message "Trust This Computer?" appears: tap Trust and enter your passcode.

If you tapped "Don't Trust" by mistake, or the message never appears, reset the trust settings:

Open Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset Location & Privacy.
Unplug and plug the iPhone back in: the message appears again.

This only resets location and privacy permissions. Your data stays intact.

3. Use the right software

On a Mac with macOS Catalina or later, use Finder: your iPhone appears in the sidebar. On Windows 10 or 11, install the free Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store. iTunes still works on older Windows versions and on macOS Mojave or earlier.

Windows 10/11: install Apple Devices from the Microsoft Store. It installs the drivers that Windows needs to recognize an iPhone.
Mac: no software to install. The iPhone appears in the Finder sidebar, under Locations.

4. Windows: check the driver

Right-click the Start button and open Device Manager.
Expand Portable Devices or Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Look for Apple iPhone or Apple Mobile Device USB Driver.
If you see a yellow warning sign, right-click it, choose Uninstall device, unplug the iPhone, then plug it back in: Windows reinstalls the driver.
If nothing appears at all, uninstall and reinstall the Apple Devices app, then restart the PC.

If you installed iTunes from Apple's website (not from the Microsoft Store), you can also restart the Apple Mobile Device Service: press Windows + R, type services.msc, find the service, then click Restart.

5. Mac: show the iPhone in Finder

In Finder, open Finder > Settings > Sidebar and tick CDs, DVDs and iOS Devices.
On recent Macs with Apple silicon, macOS can ask "Allow accessory to connect?". Click Allow, or check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Allow accessories to connect.
Update macOS: an old macOS may not recognize an iPhone running the latest iOS.

6. Restart both devices

Restart the computer and the iPhone. If the iPhone is frozen, force restart it:

iPhone 8 and later: press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears (about 10 to 15 seconds).
iPhone 7 / 7 Plus: hold Volume Down and the Side button together until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier: hold the Home button and the Side (or Top) button together until the Apple logo appears.

7. The iPhone is disabled, unavailable or will not start

A locked or broken iPhone cannot show the Trust message. In this case, you do not need it: put the iPhone in recovery mode. The computer then detects it automatically and offers Update or Restore.

iPhone 8 and later (including iPhone SE 2nd/3rd generation): press and release Volume Up, press and release Volume Down, then press and hold the Side button. Keep holding when the Apple logo appears and release only when you see the computer-and-cable recovery screen.
iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: press and hold the Side (or Top) button and Volume Down together until the recovery screen appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier, iPhone SE (1st generation): press and hold the Home button and the Side (or Top) button together until the recovery screen appears.

Detailed guides: recovery mode, DFU mode and iPhone Unavailable.

Still not recognized?

Test the iPhone on another computer. If it works there, the problem is your computer (driver, port, security software).
Temporarily disable antivirus or USB control software, which sometimes blocks Apple devices.
If no computer recognizes it, even in recovery mode, the iPhone's port or board may be damaged. See iPhone not charging to test the port.

Next step: restore or update with an IPSW file

Once the computer sees the iPhone, you can install firmware manually: how to install an IPSW file on Windows and Mac. Download the right file for your model:

iPhone 18 Pro · iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 17 · iPhone 17 Pro · iPhone 17 Pro Max · iPhone Air · iPhone 17e
iPhone 16 · iPhone 16 Plus · iPhone 16 Pro · iPhone 16 Pro Max · iPhone 16e
iPhone 15 · iPhone 15 Plus · iPhone 15 Pro · iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 14 · iPhone 14 Plus · iPhone 14 Pro · iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 13 mini · iPhone 13 · iPhone 13 Pro · iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 12 mini · iPhone 12 · iPhone 12 Pro · iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 11 · iPhone 11 Pro · iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2nd gen) · iPhone SE (3rd gen)

Another model? Browse all iPhone firmware or use the Identifier Lookup tool.

Official reference: Apple: If your computer doesn't recognize your iPhone or iPad.