You will get an error called “iPhone not reachable” on Windows and another operating system. Device owners can solve the iPhone unreachable error, and we have to go through the situation for an in-depth understanding of the problem. However, there is no official solution to address the error but we are going to use existing methods to solve it by following our simple guide.
Why iPhone is not reachable?
iPhone is a combination of software and hardware, but device owners don’t measure the software limitations. Apple created an ecosystem to keep the existing customers within the consumer base and give them no option to choose other brands. iOS is considered safe to some extent, but it is nothing but a pool of limitations. The security layers and hardware limitations that Apple applied via software tweaks in the system are what results in the “Device is unreachable iPhone” error.
It is rare to get such an error on Mac, while you will experience this situation now & then on Windows and Linux software. As long as you do it right, you don’t have to worry about transferring the files from iPhone/iPad to PC.
Let iPhone Keep Original Photos
You have a dedicated setting in iPhone & iPad, where you can prevent deletion of media files from the Photos app. Yes, you can delete photos from the Photos app from Windows 10, and I have used this feature to increase storage.
- Tap on the Settings > Photos.
- Find the “Transfer to Mac or PC” option.
- Tap on “Keep Originals” to complete the task.
Now, you won’t have a single error on the screen while transferring data from iOS device to PC.
Switch to USB 2.0 Port
All laptops and desktops have USB 2.0 ports in the rear panel or front panel. Switch the lighting cable from 3.0 to 2.0 because your iPhone might be having connectivity problems. Remember, Windows does get problems from time to time, so you have to ensure that the PC is clean from junk files.
Note: USB 2.0 data transfer speed is slower than 3.0, and you will witness a minimum 40% speed drop.
Reconnect and keep it on Home screen on Linux
Your iPhone/iPad follows a strict policy when it comes to data transferring from the device to the PC.
Error Code on Linux:
“Oops! Something went wrong. Unhandled error message: Error initializing camera: -10: Timeout reading from the report or writing the report.”
Apple does not trust Windows or Linux for the sake of the customers, and you have to keep the device on Home Screen.
- Disconnect iPhone/iPad and reconnect within 10 seconds.
- Keep the iPhone/iPad on the Home screen and do not let the device go to sleep.
- Now, the DCIM and iCloud folder are accessible on Linux.
You have to keep the device on Homescreen till the transfer is complete because that’s how iOS knows that the device owner has granted permission. You don’t have to do this all the time but make sure to do this during the iPhone/iPad data transfer.
Check Home Screen before transferring data on Windows
Similar to what we did on Linux, you have to do the same on Windows. However, it’s a little bit different on Windows because iPhone works a little differently on PC.
- Disconnect and reconnect the iPhone or iPad.
- Unlock the device and make sure it is on Homescreen.
- Access the iPhone photos folder and transfer the media files to local storage.
- You can let the device go to sleep during the data transfer.
If the problem persists during the transfer, then don’t let the iOS device go to sleep. Make sure you are using an authentic lighting cable or Apple Certified Cable during the process.
Faulty Cable
We are aware that this suggestion might silly, but Apple tweaked the iOS software to detect non-OEM cables.
iPhone/iPad Error Code:
“This accessory may not be supported.”
“Accessory Not Supported.”
“This accessory is not supported by iPhone or iPad.”
“This cable or accessory is not certified and may not reliably work with this iPhone.”
It is hard to believe, but Apple added a patch unofficially in iOS 14 that rejects aftermarket parts, but they fixed it later. Overall, Apple wants the users to know that the cable is not genuine and may not give 100% experience that the original accessory can deliver.
Uninstall iOS Device Drivers
iPhone and iPad prompt Windows to install drivers to support, but you have to uninstall it. Do not worry, we will tell you how you can re-install new drivers on the PC later on.
- Press Windows Key + S and open “Device Manager” to start the process.
- Click on the “Portable Device” drop-down menu, and you will find iPhone or iPad there.
- Select the device and right-mouse click to view more options, and then click on “Uninstall.”
- Click on the “Uninstall” button to remove it.
Close all windows and save files, if you haven’t yet because you have to shut down the PC. Remove iPad or iPhone connected to the PC and connect it next time, when you turn on the PC. iOS devices will automatically install Apple drivers, and that’s the way new basic drivers are installed.
Bottom Line
I recommend Windows users to install iTunes because it maintains the drivers and updates the software when needed. The first solution has worked for thousands of iPhone and iPad users, who were getting “iPhone not reachable” error.
