iPhone not connected

72
votes

I have my iPhone connected to Xcode. It used to work just fine recently. I see it in the Devices and Simulators section, but when I try to compile my app, it says D's iPhone 6S is not connected. Xcode will continue when D's iPhone 6S is connected.

In the Devices and Simulators I see it as disconnected. I tried restarting the phone, turning it's wifi on and off. It's connected to the same wifi network, I tried restarting Xcode, nothing. I run Xcode 9, Beta 6 at the moment. Does anyone has similar issue and hopefully know how to solve it?

25
iosiphonexcode
Have you tried to connect it with USB or only via WiFi? – Xvolks
If you have upgraded your phone to a former beta, you should try via USB. Beta9 erased all my music, so there are side effects. – Xvolks
Hmm, I've upgraded to beta 9, but I didn't notice anything unusual happening in my phone. There was an issue with the usb, but now its working wirelessly. I don't get it really... – Dani
Maybe, just connecting it with USB restored some security token that was lost with the upgrade. – Xvolks
@Sauvage sort of. See the answer that I've posted below. I hope it helps you – Dani

25 Answers

67
votes

Troubleshooting:

  1. plug in your iPhone.
  2. Open Xcode
  3. go to window -> Devices and Simulators
  4. Right click on your device
  5. click Unpair Device and unplug it.
  6. restart Xcode
  7. restart your iPhone.
  8. Connect your iPhone via USB
  9. run your app
  10. then unplug it, and it should run via the wifi again.

Set up

  1. Window -> Devices and Simulators

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  1. Choose your device from the list.

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  1. Tick the box for "connect via network."

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45
votes

In Window > Devices and Simulators, right click on your iPhone and "Connect with IP address", then enter the iPhone IP address and you're connected.

36
votes

Turn off WIFI on Mac, and also on your iPhone too. Then turn on WIFI again on both devices.

I frequently face this issue since I don't use USB cable to build the app to my iPhone. So this is my usual way to resolve the connection problem.

25
votes

As Sam H.'s answer, can Connect via IP Address. This is XCode 9 or 9.1 's function. And need your device update to iOS11 +

enter image description here

14
votes

Apparently, more people have this issue. The only "solution" I found was to connect the iphone with a USB, run the app and then try to run it using wifi. This usually solves my problem.

7
votes

Restarting the wifi on my Mac worked for me.

7
votes

You can also connect via IP address

While Xcode is open, go to

Windows -> Device and Simulators

right click your device and connect via IP address. You can get your phone IP address from settings under wifi and clicking the info button on the network.

6
votes

I'm using Xcode 9.1 and suddenly had this issue.After reading other answers a realized it is a Xcode bug via wifi debug.My solution was to connect the iphone with a USB, then go to the Add Additional Simulators,then come to the interface below,uncheck "connect via network". Problem sovled,and back to debug via a USB.

enter image description here

4
votes

Making Cellular data Off solved my problem

3
votes

I had to update Xcode in my case. I tried literally everything else in this thread.

2
votes

I had this issue when I changed my network connection on my Mac and in this case reconnecting the phone with an USB cable doesn't work. I had to restart xCode.

2
votes

Also make sure your iOS device is on the same wifi network as your Mac, otherwise Xcode will insist you connect your device via USB, even if you've checked the box to use wireless development for that device.

2
votes

Make sure your Mac and device connected in same network(Wi-Fi) connection.

1
votes

This is just to add the other possible reasons that the answers forgot to mention:

You got a new phone and Xcode is trying to connect to the old phone: Window<< Devices and Simulators: Press the + button and connect your phone via usb cable and click
your on your device. It should add it at that point.

You could also try running bluetooth instead of wifi, but it might still do the same problems. Make sure your device is connected correctly

1
votes

I had to reopen Xcode with my iPhone X unlocked and then I had to open Windows->Devices immediately afterwards.

Then the message was changed into:"iPhone X is busy: Preparing debugger support for iPhone X"

1
votes

There could be more than one reason why xcode forgets the device often. One of them could be the dynamic IP which is assigned automatically.

Apart from general troubleshooting (device is unlocked etc), here are few suggestions based on my experience.

1) Check if you are using the SAME WIFI on computer and device.

2) In Xcode > Devices and Simulators > Right Click > Unpair Device and connect again.

3) Prefer to use static IP. At least for the device (Give Manual IP address in the iPhone).

4) In Xcode > Devices and Simulators > Connect via IP Address

5) Use USB cable to run the app and then unplug to use wireless solves it most often.

6) Disconnect and Reconnect Wireless on Computer & Mobile Device

7) Turn off the Cellular Data

8) Turn off any VPN you are using.

9) Check your Network Settings on Computer and Device. Disable any suspecious setting (Proxy etc).

10) Restart Device and Computer. It often resolves few network interface problems.

1
votes

1 - Go to Xcode - Window - Device and simulator - Unpair device 2 - Xcode and Mac both are restart and open Xcode again and connect your device Via USB cable and run it.

1
votes
  1. Restart Xcode & if issue persists do steps 2-4.
  2. Open Devices and Simulators window in Xcode (shortcut is ⌘⇧2 command+shift+2)
  3. Make sure your device is active (press home button & enter passcode if needed)
  4. Open terminal & run netstat command.

You device will be reconnected

1
votes

In my case a pending software update on my iPhone was preventing it from accepting new builds from Xcode - even over USB.

I tried all the other suggestions in this thread and nothing worked, but accepting the pending update on my phone fixed the problem.

0
votes

Just in case someone did what I did: I used to have wireless connection with my mac mini but one day I decided to use a cable. From that day I had problems with my devices, I always had to use usb the first time I opened Xcode. When I removed cable connection everything worked fine as before.

0
votes

I tried a combination of the above solutions and can't pinpoint what solved it.

When Xcode was stuck on trying to connect to my wireless iPad, I had to do was start browsing with Safari on my iPad. I think that somehow refreshes the network on the iPad.

The Xcode's 'Device and simulator' may not properly reflect the connection status between the device and mac so after browsing with your iPad/iPhone hit run on Xcode and then just wait till they find each other

0
votes

I was able to reconnect using this method:

  1. Disconnect/Unplugged the device from Mac
  2. Close X-Code
  3. Run "sudo pkill usbmuxd" in terminal
  4. Reopen Xcode
  5. Reconnect Device

Try this if unpairing method does not work.

0
votes

I had the same problem yesterday/today. Tried the various suggestions here but none worked. Except maybe, restarting the iPhone. I was able to install my app!!

Previously I had a Xcode/iOS version mismatch but currently at 12.2/14.2 which should and finally did work.

0
votes

My problem was actually the cable itself, seems that some of the cheap cable you buy might not work 100% with your ipad/iphone. Try with a different cable

0
votes

You must put a passcode on the device, otherwise wifi debugging will not work.