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8 Fixes to iPad Not Showing Up in iTunes on Windows 11/10
Why is iPad not showing in iTunes? How to get iTunes to recognize iPad? Just read this guide to find the answer.
By Lena / Updated on May 16, 2023
Problem: iPad not showing up in iTunes
With iTunes, you can easily sync files to your device, backup important data or upgrade software. No matter what, you need to connect your iPad to iTunes first before you can start the operation. However, you find that iPad not showing up in iTunes. Why iPad is not showing up in iTunes?
Well, iPad not showing up in iTunes is a common problem that has been reported by many users. There are many reasons for this problem. Here in this guide, I’ ’ll tell you why iPad not showing up in iTunes on Windows 11, 10 and how to solve this problem quickly.
Why is iPad not showing up in iTunes?
It is difficult to determine the exact cause of this problem. Below are some of the possible reasons behind iPad not showing up in iTunes on Windows 11, 10.
● Computer is not trusted by iPad. iTunes will not be able to detect your iPad if you don’t trust the computer.
● Faulty USB port or cable. When the cable is worn and broken inside, it will not be able to connect iPad to computer smoothly.
● Outdated operation system. The bugs in the OS may prevent your computer from detecting your iPad.
● Problems with Apple’s Windows driver. Your computer will not detect your iPad when there is a driver problem.
● Unknown errors of iPad/computer. Temporary software glitches can also cause iPad not showing up in iTunes problem.
How to fix iPad not showing up in iTunes
What to do if iTunes doesn’t recognize your iPad? Don’t worry too much! Here are some of the working methods that can help you fix iPad not showing up in iTunes issue. You can also try these tips if iPad not showing up in iTunes recovery mode.
Tip 1. Make sure you have trusted the computer
Please make sure you have trusted the computer on your iPad. Otherwise, you will meet iPad not showing up in iTunes problem. Usually, when you connect your iPad to your computer, a pop-up message appears on your device. You should tap Trust so that iTunes can detect your iPad. Maybe you didn't notice the message.
- Just unlock your iPad and see if a message pops up, if so, please tap Trust.
- If you accidentally tap Don’t Trust, you can go to Settings > General > Reset (Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset in iPadOS 15 and later) and choose Reset Location & Privacy to reset the choice. After that, when you plug in your iPad, you will see the Trust This Computer notification.
Tip 2. Restart your iPad and computer
When you meet iPad not showing up in iTunes problem, a worthwhile solution is to restart your device. It can help clean up system glitches that caused the problem. You can follow the steps below to force restart your iPad.
● Force restart iPad without Home button
Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button > Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button > Press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
● Force restart iPad with Home button
Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time until the Apple logo appears.
Tip 3. Check USB cable & port
You never know when your hardware will break down. The issue could be related to the USB cable or USB port. Hardware failure can sometimes cause connectivity issues. If possible, you can try a different USB port or USB cable.
If needed, you can carefully clean the port of iPad and computer. By the way, it’s recommended to use the USB cable that comes with your iPad or an Apple-certified cable.
Tip 4. Reinstall Apple mobile device USB driver
Your Windows computer will not recognize your iOS device correctly when there is a problem with the driver. Therefore, when iPad not showing up in iTunes on Windows 11, 10, you can reinstall or update the driver to fix the problem.
If you downloaded iTunes from Microsoft Store:
- Plug in your iPhone and unlock it.
- Go to Start and type device manager in the search bar > Choose Device Manager.
- Find Portable Devices and click it > Right-click Apple iPad and choose Update driver.
- Choose Browse my computer for driver software option > Choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer option.
- Choose the device driver and click Next.
- After that, it will begin to install the driver on your computer > Click Close when it’s done.
- Restart your computer and check whether your computer can recognize your iPad.
If you downloaded iTunes from Apple website:
- Connect your iPad to computer and unlock it.
- Press the Windows key and R key at the same time to open Run box.
- Copy and paste %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers to the box and press Enter.
- Right-click usbaapl64.inf or usbaapl.inf > Choose Install option.
Tip 5. Disable or uninstall security software
iPad not showing up in iTunes problem may be caused by security software. You may temporarily disable security software or antivirus software. Or you can go to Control Panel > Programs to uninstall the software.
Tip 6. Update iTunes, iPadOS, Windows OS
Outdated operating systems may have errors and faults that may prevent iTunes from recognizing your iPad. When iPad not showing up in iTunes on Windows 11, 10, you can update iPadOS, iTunes and Windows OS to the latest version.
🔸 Update iTunes: open iTunes > click Help from the menu bar > select Check for Updates. Or you can go to Microsoft Store to download the latest version.
🔸 Update iPadOS: go to Settings > General > Software Update > tap Download and Install if a new version is available.
🔸 Update Windows OS: go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to install the latest updates.
Tip 7. Check data and time
iPad not showing up in iTunes problem will occur due to wrong date and time. Incorrect date and time can interfere with iTunes syncing so you meet the problem. You can go to Settings > Time & language > Date & time and let it set your time zone automatically.
Tip 6. Conntact Apple Support
If iTunes still doesn’t recognize your iPad, you can contact Apple Support for help. Visit https://support.apple.com/contact and find the contact information. Or you can bring your iPad to a nearby Apple Store and have it checked by a professional.
Bonus tip: use iTunes alternative to transfer data
It will take quite a while to fix the iPad not showing up in iTunes problem. If you have an urgent need to transfer data or backup iPad, you can use iTunes alternative for Windows as a workaround.
iTunes alternatives like FoneTool can help you transfer data between iPad and Windows PC, between iPad and another iPhone iPad. It is able to transfer both purchased and non-purchased items. What’s more, it will not erase any existing data on the device.
Below is an example to transfer music from computer to iPad. You can click the download button to get FoneTool and give it a try.
1. Launch FoneTool > Connect your iPad to computer via USB cable > Trust the computer.
2. After FoneTool detects your device, choose Phone Transfer > Go to PC to iPhone and click Get Started.
3. Choose Music icon > Choose the songs you’d like to add to iPad. You can drag and drop songs into the box. Or you can click anywhere in the box to browser the computer and select the songs.
4. Finally, click Start Transfer.
💡 Notes:
When you want to transfer music from iPad to computer, just choose iPhone to PC to make it. FoneTool supports data transfer between different Apple IDs, which means you can share purchased songs with family and friends.
FoneTool also supports data backup and restore. If needed, you can go to Phone Backup to backup all content or important files. What’s more, it supports selective restoration, which is not supported by iTunes.
Final words
That’s all about how to fix iPad not showing up in iTunes problem. When you connect your iPad to computer, you should tap Trust on the pop-up message so that your computer and iTunes can detect your device. In addition, you can check the USB connection, update software, reinstall Apple driver to troubleshoot the problem. If it still doesn't work, you can contact Apple Support or use an iTunes alternative as a workaround.