Not being able to connect both the devices poses a major hurdle to users, and you will find several forums on the web where users complain of the same. A common factor amongst all these forums is that nowhere will you find a credible and effective troubleshooting approach. Therefore, we have dedicated this guide to help you understand why Windows 11 is not recognizing your iPhone, and walk you through the fixes for the problem.

Why is Windows 11 not recognizing my iPhone?

Since this situation involves two devices, problems with either can lead to Windows 11 not recognizing the iPhone. So, you will have to put in almost twice the effort. We have listed some of the common issues that cause the problem:

Faulty connections Critical permissions not granted Outdated drivers Running an older version of iTunes

Now, that you have a basic understanding of the underlying causes, you are in a far better position to troubleshoot the error.

What do I do if Windows 11 is not recognizing my iPhone?

1. Check the connection between the devices

Your primary approach when dealing with connection issues should be to check if they are faulty. Make sure the cable is properly plugged in at both ends, in the Windows 11 system and the iPhone. Even better, unplug and then firmly replug them. Also, check for any damage to the cables or the ports. Check if the same cable can charge your iPhone. If it does, continue with the methods listed below, but if it doesn’t, try using another cable and it should now work.

2. Make sure your iPhone is unlocked and provide necessary permissions

Whenever you connect your iPhone to the computer, there are some permissions to be granted and an authentication process to complete. If the display is turned off, you are likely to miss the notification. After following the steps listed above, Windows 11 should now be recognizing the iPhone. In case the prompt doesn’t pop up on your iPhone, head to the next method.

3. Restart both the Windows 11 PC and iPhone

In some cases, it could be a trivial bug or a background process that’s preventing Windows 11 from recognizing your iPhone. You have the option to identify the process and terminate it, though a simple way out would be to restart both the iPhone and the PC. Restart the PC Restart your iPhone ➡ iPhone X, 11, 12, or 13 ➡ iPhone SE (2nd generation), 8, 7, or 6 ➡ iPhone SE (1st generation), 5, or earlier Now, check if you can establish a connection between the iPhone and your Windows 11 computer.

4. Remove the non-critical peripherals

Another simple troubleshooting method is to remove all the peripherals, barring the critical ones. In simple words, remove everything except the keyboard and the mouse. SPONSORED If you have speakers, earphones, an external hard drive, a printer, or maybe an external Bluetooth adapter, remove them all. Once done, restart your computer, and then check if the connection works. In case a peripheral was conflicting with the functioning, Windows 11 should now recognize your iPhone, and a connection should be established right away.

5. Update drivers

An outdated driver is also one of the possible reasons why Windows 11 is not recognizing the iPhone in Windows 11. If that’s the case, updating the driver should fix the problem. The Device Manager method listed here is one of the simplest ways to update any installed driver, but this too has a drawback. It will only scan for the updates that have already been downloaded to the computer, and wouldn’t check the other available sources. In case the update didn’t go through earlier, you can check for the latest version in Windows Update or manually install the setup from the manufacturer’s website and install it. If that sounds like too much trouble, you can always use a reliable third-party app. We recommend using DriverFix, a dedicated tool that will scan all available sources for the latest driver version, and keep the installed ones up-to-date.

6. Update iTunes

The steps listed above would work only if you have downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store. In case you used a standalone installer to get iTunes, click on the Help menu and select Check for Updates. If one is available, click on Download iTunes on the pop-up. After updating, check if Windows 11 is now recognizing your iPhone.

7. Repair/reset iTunes

Repairing an app identifies corrupt files and replaces them, along with verifying the Registry entries, and making the necessary changes, if required. The whole process doesn’t affect the configured app settings or data. On the other hand, resetting an app is similar to reinstalling it, since the result is the same in both cases. However, resetting is a far simpler and quicker method. Do remember, though, the data and saved settings, if any, will be lost. Once done with the reset and repair, Windows 11 would now recognize the iPhone.

How can I project my iPhone screen to a Windows 11 PC?

Several users have been looking around for ways to mirror their iPhone screen to a Windows device, and honestly, there are a lot of them available. But, most of these are not as effective. To find the answer, check our curated guide for the best software to project iPhone screen to Windows 11 as well as the previous iterations. Also, some of these offer free trials, which gives you the option to check out the various features before subscribing to the paid version. That’s all there is to fixing issues when Windows 11 is not recognizing the iPhone. Once the error is eliminated, you can start transferring files between the two.  Also, learn how to use Facetime in Windows 11 to seamlessly make video calls from your PC. Do not forget to check out how to download iCloud on the latest iteration. Tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

Name * Email * Commenting as . Not you? Save information for future comments
Comment

Δ