Apple mobile device USB driver is a crucial component required to create a smooth connection and workflow between your Apple device and Windows. Usually, Windows and Apple are not known to be the most compatible devices. However, if you happen to own an iPhone, iPad, or an iPod and you have a Windows PC, you will require the necessary drivers to create a connection,
The computer automatically reads the Apple device when installed with the most recent version of Apple drivers. However, if the Apple Mobile Device USB driver for Windows is missing, corrupt, or outdated, the system fails to read iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices.
Hence, it is better to download and update the drivers . To help with that, we have curated this tutorial that explains the best ways to update the iPhone USB driver.
What is Apple mobile device USB driver
This driver helps the Windows PC recognize connected iPhones. When it is missing or outdated, errors like Apple device is not recognized, and others are encountered.
6 Best Ways to Download/Update Apple Mobile Device USB Driver Windows
Downloading drivers for Apple devices is not that complicated, provided you know which is the best method. Below, we mention the best ways to update the driver.
Method 1: Manually Through Device Manager
Windows provides a built-in facility (Device Manager) to help update drivers. Using Device Manager, you can update the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver on Windows 7/10/11.
To use it, follow the steps below:
1. Press Windows + X > select Device Manager from the context menu.
2. Navigate to Universal Serial Bus devices. Double-click it and locate the Apple Mobile USB Device driver.
3. Right-click the Apple Mobile Device USB Device > select Update Driver.
4. Select, Search automatically for drivers.
5. Windows will now look for Apple Mobile USB Device driver updates. Please wait for it to download and install the latest driver update. If you get the message, “The best drivers for your device are already installed.” You will need to check for available Windows Updates.
6. Restart the PC to apply changes after updating and installing the driver. In case the changes aren’t properly installed, you can do it by following the steps below:
Method 2 – Reinstall Apple Mobile USB Device Driver
1. Press Windows + X
2. Double-click Universal Serial Bus devices
3. Right-click on the Apple Mobile Device USB Device > Uninstall
4. Checkmark the box next to Delete the driver software for this device > Ok.
5. Go to Device Manager > click Action tab > Scan for hardware changes.
6. Wait for the scanning to complete and install the Apple Mobile USB device driver.
Method 3 – Updating Using Advanced Driver Updater (Recommended)
Above, we explained manual ways to update the driver. As you may agree, manual steps are time-consuming and require some technical knowledge. Also, manually updating drivers involves risk & is not easy. Therefore, if you want an easy way to download the Apple Mobile Device USB driver, we recommend using Advanced Driver Updater. This professional tool helps update all types of outdated drivers.
You can use either the Free or Registered version to update drivers. The free version sets a limit for updating one driver at a time, while the registered version allows updating all at once. To use this amazing tool, follow the steps below:
1. Install Advanced Driver Updater by clicking the button below
2. Run the tool and click Start Scan Now, allowing Advanced Driver Updater to scan the system.
3. Let the scanning complete.
4. When done, to update the driver, click the Update driver next to the Apple Mobile Device USB driver (if using the trial version). However, if you use the registered version, click Update All.
5. Wait for the driver update to be downloaded and installed.
6. Restart the PC to save changes. Now, connect the Apple device, and it should be detected.
Method 4 – Reinstall Apple Mobile Device USB Driver Through .inf File
1. Disconnect your device from your PC.
2. Unlock your iOS and iPadOS device and go to the Home screen.
3. Reconnect the device to the PC and exit iTunes when prompted.
4. Press Windows + R to open the Run window. Here copy and paste – %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers and press the Enter key.
5. If you are working on a 32-bit Windows OS, right-click usbappl64.inf > Install. However, if you are 64-bit, Windows users right-click usbappl.inf > Install.
Tip : To find a file, Windows 8/7 users need to right-click on the space in File Explorer > select Details and look for the file type.
6. Disconnect the device > restart the PC and reconnect the device. You should no longer face the issue.
Method 5 – Install iTunes
Reinstalling iTunes is another way to fix the missing Apple Mobile Device USB driver. This will reinstall the driver and fix the issue. Download iTunes Here
Method 6 – Restart Apple Mobile Device Service (AMDS)
When connecting your Apple device, if you encounter “This [device] cannot be used because the Apple Mobile Device Service is not started” or you see a yellow exclamation mark next to Apple Mobile Device USB, try restarting AMDS to fix it.
1.Exit iTunes and disconnect the Apple device.
2. Press Windows + R and open Run window.
3. Types services.msc and press the Enter key.
4. Look for Apple Mobile Device Service—Double-click on it.
5. Click the General tab, set the Startup type to Automatic, and click Stop.
6. Restart the service and click Ok.
7. Reboot the PC and connect the device. You should be fine.
That’s it; you can update the Apple Mobile USB device driver using these simple steps. You can use either of the steps to update your driver on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. However, try Advanced Driver Updater if you want the fastest and easiest way to update the USB driver. With minimum or no effort, the tool helps update all outdated drivers.
However, if you know of any other effective way to update the Apple Mobile USB device driver update, share it in the comments box. For any product-related issue, you can send an email to support@systweak.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended-
Fixed – USB Drive Not Showing Up – Windows 11/10
Apr 4, 2020 11:06 AM in response to turingtest2
I followed the link you gave me and both of these locations do not have the Apple folder.
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers or
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers
I went into my Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features and I don’t even see iTunes as installed; however, it’s installed. I can launch the iTunes application and logged into my account.
I’m also following this thread and one the users suggestion to removed the following in that order.
- iTunes
- Apple Software Update
- Apple Mobile Device Support
- Bonjour
- Apple Application Support (iTunes 9 or later)
However, I don’t see any of them besides the Bonjour is installed. So, what are my next steps?
Apr 4, 2020 11:09 AM in response to LCMan
You likely have the Microsoft Store version of iTunes installed. You may have better luck removing it and using the direct download from https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win64.
tt2
Apr 4, 2020 11:57 AM in response to LCMan
So, what I did next right click and Right click/Update Driver/Search automatically for updated driver software and I got this window.
I closed it out and now, this is what it shows in my Universal Serial Bus Controllers:
Apple Mobile Device Service is also running and these apps are now installed.
Apr 4, 2020 3:14 PM in response to LCMan
How frustrating! The next line of attack you could try is to visit Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates and install the previous build of iTunes instead of the current one. Links are at the very bottom of the user tip.
tt2
Apr 19, 2020 4:11 AM in response to LCMan
Revisiting this comment:
So, what I did next right click and Right click/Update Driver/Search automatically for updated driver software and I got this window.
Don’t let Windows search for drivers. See iOS device not showing in iTunes for Windows — Apple Community again and explicitly tell Windows which driver you want it to use.
tt2
May 5, 2020 7:36 AM in response to turingtest2
turingtest2 wrote:
Revisiting this comment:
So, what I did next right click and Right click/Update Driver/Search automatically for updated driver software and I got this window.
Don’t let Windows search for drivers. See iOS device not showing in iTunes for Windows — Apple Community again and explicitly tell Windows which driver you want it to use.
tt2
I tried that several times. It’s not working. I believed I’ve posted the result of that process in my previous posts. If I plugged in an iPhone 5, 6, or 7, it works fine. It’s just not my Iphone 11 Pro Max.
Apr 4, 2020 2:55 PM in response to LCMan
Just to try it out, I removed all these.
- iTunes
- Apple Software Update
- Apple Mobile Device Support
- Bonjour
- Apple Application Support (iTunes 9 or later)
And then re-install iTunes with right-click run as Administrator and the same issue.
Apr 18, 2020 6:40 AM in response to turingtest2
Okay, here’s what I found thus far. If I connect an iPhone 7, iTunes is able to recognize the device. Windows has no problem seeing this iPhone 7. However, if I plugged in my iPhone 11 Pro Max, I have that same error. Is it because the iPhone 11 Pro requires more power?
May 5, 2020 10:16 AM in response to turingtest2
No, I manually select the driver that I’ve down loaded and it still fails. I already tried that method and posted the result back in Apr 4, 2020 12:48 PM and forward. Again, it works on other iPhones such as 5, 6, and 7 just not my 11 Pro max.
Apple Mobile Drivers Installer 🍎
USB Tethering not working? Device only recognized as media? Forget those! 👻
Download / Installation
-
Open PowerShell (or Windows Terminal with PowerShell) as administrator.
-
Paste the following and press enter:
iex (Invoke-RestMethod -Uri 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NelloKudo/Apple-Mobile-Drivers-Installer/main/AppleDrivInstaller.ps1') -
A good minute and we’re done, drivers installed!
Why is this a thing? Where does it download drivers from?
The whole reason behind me creating this script is Windows STILL not including Apple’s drivers
by default, making their installation a burden for every Apple user which needs to do all of this just to use their devices:
- Download iTunes and iCloud
- Enable Windows Update
- Wait for all the updates to finish and hope for Windows to eventually pull Apple drivers when needed
Since Googling doesn’t help with the issue, as all forum posts return strange ways to download such drivers (with most of those being super-outdated)
I just went for the easy way: a script that installs the same drivers Windows Update would, but in an extremely faster way.
This’d make life easier for everyone who’d just want to use their phone as hotspot and not install every hunch of Apple software just to have some internet.
Making the script download iTunes and use its MobileSupport .msi file is still needed though, as I can’t probably just upload Apple’s programs like nothing… xd
The script pulls drivers from Microsoft’s Update Catalog, which you can pretty much browse yourself to look for Apple’s stuff.
It just installs the right ones from that catalog for them to actually work out of the box on Windows.
Last but not least, administrator is obviously only needed in order to install drivers. All it does is installing the .inf files
included in such updates, which you could pretty much do yourself by right-clicking those.
Can I install the script on an offline machine?
The script itself requires an internet connection in order to download drivers from Microsoft, so it’s not gonna work on such machines.
Anyways, that makes no problem: you can just move them out and install them yourself this way!
- Download iTunes from here
- Extract it (using WinRAR/7zip) and install AppleMobileDeviceSupport64.msi
- Download the .cab updates from the following links: Apple USB Drivers — Apple Tether USB Drivers
- Extract the .cab files
- Right click the .inf files in the same folder and select Install
And that’s all! 🥳
iTunes is more than an app if you are an iPhone user. Most of the problems caused when connecting an iPhone to the PC are resolved by iTunes. It helps you organize and enjoy music, movies, and TV shows. In some cases, it can run into issues. In this article, we will guide you through the process of Apple mobile device driver support download in order to fix missing Apple mobile device support on Windows 10.
Table of Contents
Apple Mobile Device Support can be used to communicate with any of the iPhone, iPad, or iPod connected to your PC. It is one of the software components of iTunes. Apple Mobile Device Support detects your device automatically when it is connected to a PC. You may need Apple Mobile Device Support download to sync and backup Apple devices, whereas iTunes is not required. Follow any of the methods listed below to download Apple mobile device driver in Windows 10.
Method 1: Download from Microsoft Store
You can download iTunes from Microsoft Store. Sometimes, iTunes may fail to recognize when your iPhone is connected to a PC. If you have downloaded iTunes from Microsoft Store, then follow the given steps for Apple mobile device driver download on Windows 10:
1. Press the Windows key, type device manager, and click on Open.
2. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus Controllers. Click on it to expand.
3. Right-click Apple Mobile Device USB Driver and select Update driver.
Note: This driver can also be found under Imaging Devices, Portable Devices, or Other Devices section.
4. Select Browse my computer for driver software.
5. Navigate to the location where the Mobile Device Support is installed. It is generally located in:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers
6. Select the option Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
7. Select Apple Mobile Device USB Driver.
8. Click Next and wait for the installation to complete and Click Close once the process is finished.
Also Read: How to Transfer Playlist from iPhone to iTunes
Method 2: Download from Apple Website
Follow the below steps to download iTunes from the official website for Apple mobile device support Windows 10:
1. Download iTunes from the official Apple website.
2. Open the downloaded file using 7-zip.
3. Now, select AppleApplicationSupport.msi and AppleMobileDeviceSupport64.msi and extract them.
4. Run both the applications and wait for the installation to complete.
Note: If you are unable to find iTunes after installing it from the Apple website then:
1. Disconnect and reconnect your device.
2. Press Windows + R keys together to launch Run dialog box.
3. Type %ProgramFiles%Common FilesAppleMobile Device SupportDrivers and press OK as shown.
4. Install the file usbaapl64.inf or usbaapl.inf.
5. Disconnect the device and restart your PC.
Also Read: How to Transfer Music from CD to iPhone
Method 3: Download Without iTunes
You can also get Apple mobile device driver without using iTunes. Using this method Windows 10 will automatically detect and install the connected devices.
Note: Ensure that you have an authentic or Apple-approved data cable and your PC is connected to the Internet.
1. Connect your iPhone to a PC using a data cable. Wait till you get a notification with a message Device is ready to use.
2. Then, hit the Windows key, type Apps and Features, and click on Open.
4. Scroll through the list as you will find Apple Mobile Device Support listed there.
Also Read: Fix iTunes Keeps Opening By Itself
Pro Tip: How to Fix Apple Mobile Device Support Windows 10 is Not Recognized Error
If Apple mobile device support is not recognized even after following the above methods, follow the below steps to run its service.
1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open Run dialog box.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter key.
3. Scroll down and double-click Apple Mobile Device Service.
4. Select Automatic in Startup type drop-down menu as depicted below.
5. Click Apply and then OK.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is there any third-party tool to download and fix Apple Mobile Device Driver?
Ans. You can try the iMyFone TunesFix tool. A few users say this tool makes work easier with a single click.
Q2. How to uninstall iTunes in Windows 10?
Ans. Find iTunes from the list of installed apps as done in Method 3. Right-click on iTunes and then click Uninstall to remove it from Windows 10.
Q3. Will removing iTunes from Windows 10 delete music files?
Ans. No, uninstalling or removing iTunes from Windows 10 will not delete music files. You can delete the bulky software and still retain files on your PC.
Recommended:
- How to Cast iPhone to Firestick
- Fix App Store Missing on iPhone
- Fix Computer Not Recognizing iPhone
- How to Remove a Device from Apple ID
We hope this guide helped you to download and install Apple mobile device support on Windows 10. Let us know which of the methods mentioned above helped you the best. Drop your queries and suggestions in the comment section below, if any.
«Since a recent update to Windows 10, I get the following error message when connecting my iPhone 6S Plus ‘Driver is not installed. iTunes is waiting for Windows Update to install the driver for this iPhone. You may need to use the Windows Settings app to check for updates.’ That is what I did. And Windows app tells me that the latest driver has been installed. Any other ideas on what I can do? Thanks, Wolfgang.»
Many people recently report that they have received the «iTunes driver not installed» error on their PC Windows 10. When you connect your iPhone to the Windows PC, it will automatically download the drivers, firmware, or updates necessary to connect your iPhone with iTunes. However, sometimes, it may fail to download for unknown reasons.
If you have just encountered the problem, don’t worry. We will show you several practical solutions to resolve the problem within minutes.
Part 1. How Do I Fix ‘iTunes Driver Not Installed’?
Part 2. Use an iTunes Alternative to Back Up and Restore iPhone/iPad/iPod
Part 1. How Do I Fix ‘iTunes Driver Not Installed’?
While connecting your iDevice to a computer, sometimes, you may encounter the following situations: «iPhone driver not installed waiting for Windows Update.» «The driver required for this iPhone is not installed.» «Driver not installed for iTunes.» «iPad driver not installed.» «iPod driver not installed.»…
Then, how to fix the error iTunes says iPhone driver not installed? And how to install a driver for iTunes? You can follow the easy solutions below.
Solution 1. Reconnect your iPhone or iPad to iTunes
As mentioned above, when you connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer, iTunes will automatically install the drivers, Windows Updates, firmware necessary to recognize your iDevice. If you receive the message «iTunes is waiting for Windows Update to install the driver for this iPhone,» you can first try to reconnect your iPhone to iTunes using a USB cable. In some cases, reconnecting your iPhone does solve the problem.
Solution 2. Check for the Windows Updates manually
If «iTunes is waiting for Windows Update» constantly exists, you can manually check for the Windows Updates as below.
Click the Start button at the lower-left corner > enter Windows Update in the search box > tap Open on the right panel > press the button Check for updates and wait for it to check the Windows Updates.
If there’s a new update version, it will start installing the new version automatically. After installing, connect your iPhone to the computer again to check if iTunes can detect your iPhone/iPad or not. If the problem «iTunes driver not installed» still exists, you can check out the other fixes below.
Check if you need: Seamlessly Sync iTunes Backup to Android via 2 Methods
Solution 3. Update the Windows firmware
Sometimes, the error «iTunes is waiting for Windows Update to install the driver for this iPhone» pops up because you are using an outdated version of firmware on your computer. At this moment, you can update the Windows Update manually by going to the system’s Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and allowing it to install the latest update.
Solution 4. Update iTunes
Another way to fix the error is to update iTunes to the latest version. For this, you can open iTunes > click Help > tap Check for Updates to update iTunes.
Or, you can update iTunes from Windows Store: Open Windows Store > tap the three dots at the top-right corner > click Downloads & Updates > tap Get Updates > press the Download button to install the latest update.
Solution 5. Install the iTunes Driver manually
How to get an iPhone driver if it says «iTunes driver not installed»? You can do it like this. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer and exit iTunes if it opens automatically. Later, right-click the Start button at the lower-left corner > tap Device Manager > click the Greater-than sign next to Portable Devices > right-click your iPhone or iPad.
Next, choose Update driver from the menu > select the option Search automatically for updated driver software. It will update and install the latest version of the iTunes driver on your computer.
Then, expand the option Universal Serial Bus devices > right-click Apple Mobile Device USB Device > choose Update driver > tap the option Search automatically for updated driver software as prompted. After that, exit the Device Manager settings and run iTunes. Now you will find the iPhone or iPad icon in the iTunes window.
Solution 6. Reset the location and privacy
This operation will reset the trust permissions for iTunes. To start with, go to iDevice’s Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy > enter the iPhone passcode to confirm the operation > hit Reset. Afterward, connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer and hit Trust to trust this computer. If successful, your iDevice will show up in the iTunes window.
You might need: When your iPhone is stuck on zoom mode, you can use these methods to repair it without hassle.
Solution 7. Reinstall iTunes
iTunes driver not installed issue may sometimes occur when there are glitches in iTunes. Besides the above methods, you can uninstall and reinstall iTunes on your computer and connect your iDevice again. Occasionally, it solves the problem.
Solution 8. Troubleshoot the problem with a professional iOS System Recovery tool
If all the above methods cannot resolve iTunes driver not installed, you can try the ultimate tool iOS System Recovery to fix the error. This program can repair most iOS system problems under various scenarios. Besides, you won’t need to worry about the operation since everyone can handle this foolproof app without difficulties.
The highlights of iOS System Recovery:
* The professional iOS system repair tool can fix 32 kinds of errors for your iDevice, screen, iOS mode, and iTunes.
* Repair iTunes driver not installed error in three steps without data loss.
* Support various scenarios: iTunes syncing issue, iTunes update problem, cannot connect to iTunes Store, iPhone disabled, iPhone charge issue, iPhone activation problem, battery drain, get stuck in DFU mode, blue/red/black/white screen of death, etc.
* Easy to use for fresh hands. It has on-screen instructions in each step.
* Fix your iOS system error without data loss and keep the we-arranged data original.
* Free to downgrade and upgrade iOS version.
* Work with all iOS devices (iOS 16 supported), including iPhone 14/13/12 Pro Max/12 Pro/12/12 mini/SE/11 Pro Max/11 Pro/11/XS Max/XS/XR/X, iPad Pro, iPad mini 5/4/3/2/1, iPod touch 7/6/5/4/3/2/1, and other series.
Follow the three-step tutorial to fix the iTunes driver not installed problem:
1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer.
After installing iOS System Recovery on your PC, please open the program and connect your iDevice to the PC via a USB cable. Then, select More tools from the left panel and click iOS System Recovery from the interface.
2. Detect the device problem automatically.
This software will start detecting the device problem automatically and display the issues on the interface. You can click the Start button to continue.
3. Repair the iTunes driver not installed issue.
After confirming or modifying the device information, click the Repair button to download the firmware package and start fixing the problem.
Further reading:
Complete Guide on How to Fix iTunes Error 4005 or iPhone Error 4005
How to Fix the Problem iTunes Could Not Connect to This iPhone? (6 Effective Solutions)
Part 2. Use an iTunes Alternative to Back Up and Restore iPhone/iPad/iPod
iTunes is complicated to use and will cause thorny issues like iTunes driver not installed. If you are getting fed up with it, you can use an iTunes alternative to back up and restore your iDevice. Coolmuster iOS Assistant is the easiest way to back up your iPhone/iPad/iPod to the computer and restore the backups to your iDevice.
Unlike iTunes, which will erase the existing data on your iDevice, Coolmuster iOS Assistant allows you to back up and restore contacts, messages, music, photos, notes, etc., in one click without data loss. Besides, you can choose the storage path as the iTunes default backup location or a computer folder.
What’s more, Coolmuster iOS Assistant supports all generations of iPhone models, such as iPhone 14/13/12 Pro Max/12 Pro/12/12 mini/SE/11 Pro Max/11 Pro/11/XS Max/XS/XR/X/8/8 Plus/7 Plus/7/6S Plus/6S/6 Plus/6/5S/5C/5/4S/4, etc.
How to back up and restore iDevice in one click?
Note: Please ensure that your iDevice is detectable by iTunes or Music, or the app will fail to detect your device.
1. Install Coolmuster iOS Assistant on your computer.
2. Connect your iDevice to the computer.
Connect your iPhone to PC and tap Trust on your phone to trust this computer. Once connected, you will see the iDevice information on the interface.
3. One-click to back up your iOS data.
Click the Super Toolkit section on the top > choose iTunes Backup & Restore > tap Backup > select your iDevice from the drop-down list > define a storage location to save the backups > hit the OK button to start backing up all iOS data to the computer.
4. One-click to restore backups to your iDevice.
After connecting the target iDevice to the computer, choose Super Toolkit on the top. Then click iTunes Backup & Restore > Restore > choose the target iDevice from the drop-down list > select a backup file to restore from the list > tap OK to start restoring computer backups to your iDevice.
You may like:
How to Transfer Music from iPhone to Computer Effectively? (4 Tips)
Best Checklist for How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to Computer
The Bottom Line
Most of the time, you can connect your iPhone to the computer without a hassle. When you, unfortunately, encounter the iTunes driver not installed issue on Windows 10, you can follow our guide to repair it. To save your time, you can directly use iOS System Recovery to repair the error without data loss. It only takes a few minutes.
If you are hurry to back up and restore your iDevice, you can quickly start with Coolmuster iOS Assistant. The one-click operation will guide you through the process breezily.
Finally, if you need technical support when fixing the problem or backing up iDevice, please tell us in the comments.
Related Articles:
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iPhone Recovery
How to Fix ‘iTunes Driver Not Installed’ on Windows 10 with Foolproof Methods