User profile for user: batuhan138
batuhan138 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

iPhone can't connect to Windows properly with Apple USB Type-C cables.

I was trying to backup my iPhone to my Windows PC. I tried both iTunes and Apple Devices App, they both have the same issue. When I connect my phone with an Apple type-c cable to the front port of my desktop, it shows up on the app for a few seconds and then disappears. Windows recognizes the phone and I can browse the files via file explorer, but I can't see the phone on either iTunes or Apple Devices. If I connect it on the rear ports, Windows doesn't recognize the phone at all. I have two Apple type-c cables (one came with the phone the other came with airpods pro), they both cause the same issue. Both cables work fine for fast charging.


However when I try a third party type-c cable (came with samsung portable ssd), everything works just fine on all the ports. It also works fine with type-a to type-c cables. What's wrong with Apple type-c cables connecting to Windows?


phone: iPhone 16 Pro

iOS: 18.4


PC specs:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Motherboard: MSI Tomahawk X870E

OS: Windows 11 24H2


iPhone 16 Pro, iOS 18

Posted on Apr 13, 2025 12:27 PM

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User profile for user: Servant of Cats
Servant of Cats
User level: Level 7
24,502 points

Apr 13, 2025 1:00 PM in response to batuhan138

The symptoms you describe are unusual. Usually if you have problems connecting a phone to a computer, it's because you're using a charging-only cable that doesn't have the data pins hooked up at all. In that case, the phone would not show up in File Explorer, and would not show up in iTunes or in Apple Devices even briefly.


I wonder if it has to do with the USB data transfer speed that the charging cable supports. Looking at the cables that Apple sells separately in the online Apple Store, their descriptions say they transfer data "at USB 2 rates."


60W USB-C Charge Cable (1 m) - Apple


That would be enough to match the capabilities of the the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus – but an iPhone 16 Pro supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 transfer rates (up to 10 gigabits per second).


Your SSD's USB-C cable – the one with which you don't have any problems – probably is built to be able to carry data at USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds. But maybe the charging cable bundled with the iPhone tops out at USB 2 speeds, and for whatever reason, this sometimes causes the connection to be dumped on the floor.


Just a hunch …

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User profile for user: batuhan138
batuhan138 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Apr 14, 2025 12:09 PM in response to Servant of Cats

Thank you for the reply. I've just tested both Apple cables with my samsung ssd and they are indeed working at USB 2 speeds. It's really disappointing that Apple doesn't even provide a proper cable with the phone matching its capabilities.


But I also have some Type-A to Type-C cables that work at USB 2 speeds and those cables work perfectly fine for my iPhone 16 Pro. I can make a backup using those cables though it's incredibly slow. So I ended up making the backup with my ssd cable.


I would expect Apple to pull something like making it work properly "only" with official Apple cables. I'm surprised it's the other way around :D

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iPhone can't connect to Windows properly with Apple USB Type-C cables.

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