TouchCopy does not detect my iPhone, iPad or iPod
TouchCopy should automatically detect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod when it's connected via USB cable. If your device isn't appearing, follow this guide to troubleshoot the issue.
Related pages
- Using a click-wheel iPod? See our dedicated guide for classic iPod detection issues.
- Prefer to connect wirelessly? Learn how to use TouchCopy over Wi-Fi instead of USB.
1. Update TouchCopy
Ensure you're using the latest version of TouchCopy for the best performance and latest fixes.
You can check for updates in the app by going to Settings > Updates, or download the latest version below.
2. Unlock your device
Disconnect your device, unlock it with your passcode, and go to the Home screen. Then, reconnect it via USB. Make sure your device stays unlocked and on the Home screen while using TouchCopy.
3. Trust the Computer
If prompted, tap Trust on your device to trust your computer.
If you choose not to trust the connected computer, you can charge your device, but the connected computer won't be able to access any content on your device.
Check out our other guide if the trust prompt does not show on your device when TouchCopy is waiting for it.
4. Check for required services (PC only)
TouchCopy normally installs the Apple Mobile Device services automatically on Windows. (Macs running macOS Catalina or later don't require additional components.)
If your iPhone isn't detected, these services may be missing or not installed correctly. To fix this, install or reinstall the free Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store.
Then, open Apple Devices and connect your iPhone (tap Trust if prompted).
If Apple Devices connects to your device, close the app and launch TouchCopy, which should now also connect without issue.
5. Reconnect and check the cable
If your device still isn't detected in TouchCopy or Apple Devices, the issue may be with the USB cable or port.
Try a different USB cable and port if available. You can also test the cable with another device to confirm it's working.
Also, make sure you're using a cable that supports data transfer, as some cables are charging-only.
What cable do I need to connect my iPhone to my computer? TouchCopy supports all standard Apple connection cables, including USB-C, Lightning, and even older 30-pin iPod cables. So, whatever cable you usually use to connect your particular device to your computer, it'll be supported by TouchCopy.
6. Restart your devices
The classic IT troubleshooting recommendation - but you'd be amazed how often this resolves lingering issues.
Turn off your iPhone/iPod/iPad as well as your computer. After at least 30 seconds turn them back on. Once they are fully loaded back up, connect your device via USB cable, then launch TouchCopy - are you able to establish the connection now?
7. Check Permissions
Please make sure that TouchCopy has the correct permissions to run as expected. Here's how:
- TouchCopy for PC:
- Click the Start menu on your computer and search for "TouchCopy".
- Select the TouchCopy app entry and choose "Run as administrator".
- TouchCopy for Mac:
- From your Launchpad, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.
- Scroll down and click the "+". If prompted, enter your password to allow changes.
(On macOS Sonoma and earlier, you'll need to click the lock icon before being able to click "+".) - Select TouchCopy from the list and click Open to grant Full Disk Access.
8. Check Restrictions on your iPhone
Restrictions set on your iPhone could be blocking communications between it and your computer. To remove these restrictions:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap "Screen Time".
- Tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions".
- Finally, tap to toggle off "Content & Privacy Restrictions".
Contact Us
If you continue to have problems with TouchCopy detecting your iPod, iPhone or iPad, please contact our support team.
Optionally, to help our team investigate the issue in detail, please send us TouchCopy's process log. This log may provide info of any processes on your computer that may be blocking TouchCopy from detecting your device.
To email us a log from a Windows computer:
- Launch TouchCopy and then connect your iPhone using a USB cable.
- Please wait a few moments for TouchCopy to attempt to connect to your device.
- If the device does not connect after a few minutes, go to Settings > Console.
- This will open TouchCopy's console log.
- Click "Save Log" and choose a location on your PC to save to.
- Create a new customer support request and attach the log file along with details of the issue you experienced.
To email us a Console log on a Mac computer:
- Launch TouchCopy and then connect your iPhone using a USB cable.
- Please wait a few moments for TouchCopy to attempt to connect to your device.
- If the device does not connect after a few minutes, make a search (cmd+spacebar) for "console" and hit enter.
- This will open your console window which shows all processes on your Mac.
- Right-click the 'system log' header > Reveal in Finder
- Right-click the system.log file in Finder > Share > and save it to your desktop.
- Please create a new customer support request and attach the system.log file along with details of the issue you experienced.
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