Some users reported receiving an error message that said, “iTunes could not connect to [iPhone/iPad] because an invalid response was received from the device.” This message appeared when the users tried to connect their iOS device to their computer. Some have even mentioned that iTunes will freeze while it is syncing the iOS and computer.
If you have come across this problem, here is some information on how to fix it.
When the Error Occurs
The main reason why this error happens is because the USB communication with your iOS device has been broken. This could be because the cord is old or something needs to be updated.
This might also happen if you have recently gotten a new Apple device and are trying to sync it with your iTunes.
Try Different Cables, Ports, or Devices
I suggest this as the first thing you should try because it is the simplest way to fix the problem, as well as the fact it can be a common problem for older cables or devices.
Here is what you should try:
- Use a different USB cable
- Try a different USB port on your computer
- See if the error still appears on a different computer
- Close out of iTunes completely and try again
- Make sure your device is unlocked while it is connected to your computer
- It could be a third-party security program making this error pop up; update or temporarily disable your security software
Check Time/Date Settings
This is important as it can throw your computer or device out of sync if it is not, which would cause this error to occur. Here’s what you do:
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On your iPhone or iPad date/time settings by going to Settings, selecting General, then turn Date & Time to “Set Automatically”
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On a Mac, check that the time/date settings are right; they can be changed by going to System Preferences then Time & Date
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On a PC, check the time/date settings to see if they are right; this can be changed by right-clicking your date/time on the taskbar and adjusting the settings
Restart Devices or Reset Settings
Another pretty simple fix, you can try restarting your devices or the iTunes application. This can just be frustrating if your device has updates to install during the update or if it takes a while to restart fully. It’s also frustrating when it deletes your information.
This might, in this case, be the last section of tips you should try.
Here are the things you should try if replacing the cables and such didn’t work:
- Restart the iOS device you are trying to use
- Restart the computer
- Restart the router
- Reset the network settings on your iPhone or iPad; go to Settings, select General, then Reset to access Reset Network Settings; this will remove your Wi-Fi passwords
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Reset TCP/IP if you are on Windows
If you aren’t sure how to force your Apple device to restart:
- Most Apple devices: hold down the sleep/wake and home button until you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 7: hold down the sleep/wake and volume down buttons until you see the Apple logo
Update Devices and iTunes
While most of these fixes are incredibly simple, it can take some time for an application or device to update fully, making this potentially the most time-consuming step if you are a few updates behind. Here is how you update each device or application.
To update iTunes:
- On macOS: Select Menu, click on iTunes, then click Check for Updates
- On Windows: Select Menu, click on Help, then click Check for Updates
To update the computer:
- On macOS: Go to Mac App Store, select Updates; see if you have the latest version installed
- On Windows: Read this; then check to see if you have all the updates installed
To update your Apple device:
- Go to Settings, select General, then select Software Update
- Make sure latest iOS version is installed
If none of these tricks work, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes again, although it may not have all of your settings and data if you wipe all of the iTunes data on accident, so be careful.
Conclusion
Hopefully this will help you resolve the issues you are having with iTunes. If you run into other issues later, make sure to check on the iTunes support pages and see if you can find an answer to your problem.
