On May 15, 2025, at 14:43, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

Since the recent update to iOS 18.4.1, I get the message. “A software update is required to connect to your phone.”. Since this did not pop up before this update, instead it opened Photos to transfer the photos from the iPhone to my Mac mini, I have to ask by and what does it do?

iPhone XR, now running iOS 18.4.1

Mac mini, late 2012, running macOS 10.15.7, Catalina, the highest OS it can run

I am being cautious because some updates mess up old OSes and are not easily reversible.

After reading,?, I find I can connect to the iPhone in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder, with the added benefit of no longer opening Photos.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

<Screen Shot 2025-05-15 at 2.27.33 PM.png>

On May 15, 2025, at 6:59 PM, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

Periodically, Apple issues software updates designed to make your Mac talk to your iPhone more reliably. These don’t install as part of normal macOS update channels and only pop up when you plug your iPhone into your Mac. I’ve never seen a problem with these.

As of macOS 10.15, iPhone device/sync/backup management takes place in the Finder whereas prior versions used iTunes.

On May 15, 2025, at 14:43, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Since the recent update to iOS 18.4.1, I get the message. “A software update is required to connect to your phone.”. Since this did not pop up before this update, instead it opened Photos to transfer the photos from the iPhone to my Mac mini, I have to ask by and what does it do?

iPhone XR, now running iOS 18.4.1

Mac mini, late 2012, running macOS 10.15.7, Catalina, the highest OS it can run

I am being cautious because some updates mess up old OSes and are not easily reversible.

After reading,?, I find I can connect to the iPhone in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder, with the added benefit of no longer opening Photos.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

<Screen Shot 2025-05-15 at 2.27.33 PM.png>

On May 16, 2025, at 17:03, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

Thank you for telling me what it most likely does.?So is there any way to turn off the alert? Is there any way to turn off the alert?

I don’t use the Mac to make phone calls, so I see no need for the update. If I have to use a usb cable to connect the iPhone to the Mac, I don’t need this feature. We need another setting to turn this feature off.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 15, 2025, at 6:59 PM, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

Periodically, Apple issues software updates designed to make your Mac talk to your iPhone more reliably. These don’t install as part of normal macOS update channels and only pop up when you plug your iPhone into your Mac. I’ve never seen a problem with these.

As of macOS 10.15, iPhone device/sync/backup management takes place in the Finder whereas prior versions used iTunes.

On May 15, 2025, at 14:43, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Since the recent update to iOS 18.4.1, I get the message. “A software update is required to connect to your phone.”. Since this did not pop up before this update, instead it opened Photos to transfer the photos from the iPhone to my Mac mini, I have to ask by and what does it do?

iPhone XR, now running iOS 18.4.1

Mac mini, late 2012, running macOS 10.15.7, Catalina, the highest OS it can run

I am being cautious because some updates mess up old OSes and are not easily reversible.

After reading,?, I find I can connect to the iPhone in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder, with the added benefit of no longer opening Photos.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

<Screen Shot 2025-05-15 at 2.27.33 PM.png>

On May 16, 2025, at 17:56, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

?The update doesn’t likely have anything to do with phone calls. If you plug your iPhone into your Mac and?keep the software on your iPhone up to date, these software updates enable your Mac to continue communicating with your iPhone.

The notice is an invitation to install the update, not exactly an alert. Perhaps the only way to “turn it off” is to stop plugging your iPhone into your Mac.

If your Mac rings when a call comes in, you can disable Calls From iPhone in FaceTime preferences as FaceTime manages this feature. Again, this is unrelated to the software update notice you asked about.

On May 16, 2025, at 17:03, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Thank you for telling me what it most likely does.?So is there any way to turn off the alert? Is there any way to turn off the alert?

I don’t use the Mac to make phone calls, so I see no need for the update. If I have to use a usb cable to connect the iPhone to the Mac, I don’t need this feature. We need another setting to turn this feature off.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 15, 2025, at 6:59 PM, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

Periodically, Apple issues software updates designed to make your Mac talk to your iPhone more reliably. These don’t install as part of normal macOS update channels and only pop up when you plug your iPhone into your Mac. I’ve never seen a problem with these.

As of macOS 10.15, iPhone device/sync/backup management takes place in the Finder whereas prior versions used iTunes.

On May 15, 2025, at 14:43, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Since the recent update to iOS 18.4.1, I get the message. “A software update is required to connect to your phone.”. Since this did not pop up before this update, instead it opened Photos to transfer the photos from the iPhone to my Mac mini, I have to ask by and what does it do?

iPhone XR, now running iOS 18.4.1

Mac mini, late 2012, running macOS 10.15.7, Catalina, the highest OS it can run

I am being cautious because some updates mess up old OSes and are not easily reversible.

After reading,?, I find I can connect to the iPhone in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder, with the added benefit of no longer opening Photos.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

<Screen Shot 2025-05-15 at 2.27.33 PM.png>

On May 16, 2025, at 21:27, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

Here we go again, Ben. I miss understood what you wrote, but did you read the Apple Support I mentioned,?

?? The first section reads:

"If your computer doesn't?recognize your iPhone or iPad

When your device is turned on and connected to your computer, it?should appear in the Finder, iTunes, or the Apple Devices app.?
Look in the Finder, iTunes, or Apple?Devices

? On a Mac using?macOS Catalina or later, your connected device should appear in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder.* On a Mac using an earlier version of macOS, it should?appear in iTunes. For more information,?learn about viewing your device in the Finder or?iTunes."

I guess it is time to call Apple. Or maybe I don’t understand ?""If your computer doesn't?recognize your iPhone or iPad.”

Thanks, Ben for the exchange.?

Brent

On my iPhone Xr

On May 16, 2025, at 17:56, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

?The update doesn’t likely have anything to do with phone calls. If you plug your iPhone into your Mac and?keep the software on your iPhone up to date, these software updates enable your Mac to continue communicating with your iPhone.

The notice is an invitation to install the update, not exactly an alert. Perhaps the only way to “turn it off” is to stop plugging your iPhone into your Mac.

If your Mac rings when a call comes in, you can disable Calls From iPhone in FaceTime preferences as FaceTime manages this feature. Again, this is unrelated to the software update notice you asked about.

On May 16, 2025, at 17:03, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Thank you for telling me what it most likely does.?So is there any way to turn off the alert? Is there any way to turn off the alert?

I don’t use the Mac to make phone calls, so I see no need for the update. If I have to use a usb cable to connect the iPhone to the Mac, I don’t need this feature. We need another setting to turn this feature off.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 15, 2025, at 6:59 PM, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

Periodically, Apple issues software updates designed to make your Mac talk to your iPhone more reliably. These don’t install as part of normal macOS update channels and only pop up when you plug your iPhone into your Mac. I’ve never seen a problem with these.

As of macOS 10.15, iPhone device/sync/backup management takes place in the Finder whereas prior versions used iTunes.

On May 15, 2025, at 14:43, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Since the recent update to iOS 18.4.1, I get the message. “A software update is required to connect to your phone.”. Since this did not pop up before this update, instead it opened Photos to transfer the photos from the iPhone to my Mac mini, I have to ask by and what does it do?

iPhone XR, now running iOS 18.4.1

Mac mini, late 2012, running macOS 10.15.7, Catalina, the highest OS it can run

I am being cautious because some updates mess up old OSes and are not easily reversible.

After reading,?, I find I can connect to the iPhone in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder, with the added benefit of no longer opening Photos.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

<Screen Shot 2025-05-15 at 2.27.33 PM.png>

On May 17, 2025, at 12:59 AM, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

Why do you need to call Apple? What problem are you trying to solve?

On May 16, 2025, at 21:27, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Here we go again, Ben. I miss understood what you wrote, but did you read the Apple Support I mentioned,?

?? The first section reads:

"If your computer doesn't?recognize your iPhone or iPad

When your device is turned on and connected to your computer, it?should appear in the Finder, iTunes, or the Apple Devices app.?
Look in the Finder, iTunes, or Apple?Devices

? On a Mac using?macOS Catalina or later, your connected device should appear in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder.* On a Mac using an earlier version of macOS, it should?appear in iTunes. For more information,?learn about viewing your device in the Finder or?iTunes."

I guess it is time to call Apple. Or maybe I don’t understand ?""If your computer doesn't?recognize your iPhone or iPad.”

Thanks, Ben for the exchange.?

Brent

On my iPhone Xr

On May 16, 2025, at 17:56, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

?The update doesn’t likely have anything to do with phone calls. If you plug your iPhone into your Mac and?keep the software on your iPhone up to date, these software updates enable your Mac to continue communicating with your iPhone.

The notice is an invitation to install the update, not exactly an alert. Perhaps the only way to “turn it off” is to stop plugging your iPhone into your Mac.

If your Mac rings when a call comes in, you can disable Calls From iPhone in FaceTime preferences as FaceTime manages this feature. Again, this is unrelated to the software update notice you asked about.

On May 16, 2025, at 17:03, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Thank you for telling me what it most likely does.?So is there any way to turn off the alert? Is there any way to turn off the alert?

I don’t use the Mac to make phone calls, so I see no need for the update. If I have to use a usb cable to connect the iPhone to the Mac, I don’t need this feature. We need another setting to turn this feature off.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 15, 2025, at 6:59 PM, Ben Rosenthal via <ben@...> wrote:

Periodically, Apple issues software updates designed to make your Mac talk to your iPhone more reliably. These don’t install as part of normal macOS update channels and only pop up when you plug your iPhone into your Mac. I’ve never seen a problem with these.

As of macOS 10.15, iPhone device/sync/backup management takes place in the Finder whereas prior versions used iTunes.

On May 15, 2025, at 14:43, Brent via <whodo678@...> wrote:

Since the recent update to iOS 18.4.1, I get the message. “A software update is required to connect to your phone.”. Since this did not pop up before this update, instead it opened Photos to transfer the photos from the iPhone to my Mac mini, I have to ask by and what does it do?

iPhone XR, now running iOS 18.4.1

Mac mini, late 2012, running macOS 10.15.7, Catalina, the highest OS it can run

I am being cautious because some updates mess up old OSes and are not easily reversible.

After reading,?, I find I can connect to the iPhone in the?sidebar of any window in the Finder, with the added benefit of no longer opening Photos.?

Brent??

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

<Screen Shot 2025-05-15 at 2.27.33 PM.png>

On May 17, 2025, at 6:58 PM, Al Varnell via <alvarnell@...> wrote:

[Edited Message Follows]

I'll see what I can do to resolve whatever conflicts you are still experiencing. Most everything you have been told is exactly correct. These updates are perfectly normal and always happen to accommodate a new iDevice, whether you own that device or not. They have been happening for all of us for decades, but the dialog box changed within the last year or so to become more noticeable. Every time you connect an iDevice to your computer a check is made to see if the connectivity database on your computer matches the latest version on Apple servers. If not, you get the dialog. The database has nothing to do with phone calls, only connectivity (as stated earlier). If you have a new device and it isn't listed in your database, it will not connect. Apple wants you to keep it current, which is why it pops up for older devises, but you can just ignore it if that suits your needs and your iPhone properly connects. My choice is to always chose to update. There have been a few times when an update comes out and there was no new iDevice and just guessing that there was a bug in what they last posted.

?

I'll guess again that the 18.4.1 update contained an old copy of the database, which would explain why you got the notification you noted.

?

The only way to turn it off is to disconnect your computer from the internet before connecting your iPhone.

On May 18, 2025, at 1:54 PM, Al Varnell via <alvarnell@...> wrote:

I must be missing something. Which button did you push when you got the dialog? Did you hit "Install" and do not see your iPhone in Finder or the next time you plugged your iPhone in the dialog appeared again, because those are the only situations which are not normal.

On May 18, 2025, at 7:53?PM, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

?When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

<Screen Shot 2025-05-18 at 7.26.18 PM.png>

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 18, 2025, at 1:54 PM, Al Varnell via <alvarnell@...> wrote:

I must be missing something. Which button did you push when you got the dialog? Did you hit "Install" and do not see your iPhone in Finder or the next time you plugged your iPhone in the dialog appeared again, because those are the only situations which are not normal.

On May 18, 2025, at 20:54, jwarthman via groups.io <jwarthmanlists@...> wrote:

?

Hi Brent,

What new information do you get if you click “Learn more“?

Have you tried googling ng ahead to install the Software Update? I seem to recall that it might simply be a driver, not a major (or even a minor) SW version update.

Jim

On May 18, 2025, at 7:53?PM, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

?When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

<Screen Shot 2025-05-18 at 7.26.18 PM.png>

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 18, 2025, at 1:54 PM, Al Varnell via <alvarnell@...> wrote:

I must be missing something. Which button did you push when you got the dialog? Did you hit "Install" and do not see your iPhone in Finder or the next time you plugged your iPhone in the dialog appeared again, because those are the only situations which are not normal.

When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

?

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

?

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 19, 2025, at 07:26, Eric Nelson via groups.io <emanmb@...> wrote:

?

Watching this with great interest as I have the same issue. ?I have not tried to fix it for some time living my iOS on 17.2 (in case newer iOS screws things up more) ?and my Mac Pro is running 10.13.6 (17G14042) which is as high as mine can go. ?

Eric

?

On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 07:53 PM, Brent wrote:

When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

?

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

?

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On 19 May 2025, at 11.25, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

As normal, learn more was not informative. I generally don’t look at non Apple related sources for answers.?

Brent

On my iPhone Xr

On May 18, 2025, at 20:54, jwarthman via groups.io <jwarthmanlists@...> wrote:

?

Hi Brent,

What new information do you get if you click “Learn more“?

Have you tried googling ng ahead to install the Software Update? I seem to recall that it might simply be a driver, not a major (or even a minor) SW version update.

Jim

On May 18, 2025, at 7:53?PM, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

?When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

<Screen Shot 2025-05-18 at 7.26.18 PM.png>

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 18, 2025, at 1:54 PM, Al Varnell via <alvarnell@...> wrote:

I must be missing something. Which button did you push when you got the dialog? Did you hit "Install" and do not see your iPhone in Finder or the next time you plugged your iPhone in the dialog appeared again, because those are the only situations which are not normal.

On May 19, 2025, at 08:40, Robert Durnford via groups.io <rxd@...> wrote:

?I hav had this pop up several times on my iMac. I’ve always installed the patch offered by Apple without incidence re workings of applications. It then only reappeared on use of iPhone connection on rare occasions after a system software update. Install makes it go away.

Robert Durnford

On May 19, 2025, at 07:26, Eric Nelson via groups.io <emanmb@...> wrote:

?

Watching this with great interest as I have the same issue. ?I have not tried to fix it for some time living my iOS on 17.2 (in case newer iOS screws things up more) ?and my Mac Pro is running 10.13.6 (17G14042) which is as high as mine can go. ?

Eric

?

On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 07:53 PM, Brent wrote:

When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

?

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

?

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

On May 19, 2025, at 12:42, Brent via groups.io <whodo678@...> wrote:

?Robert, which OSes are you running on what devices?

You are the first one to say they have first hands on experience. If you have mildly older devices and OS, that and the offered explanation of what it does is the assurance that I am looking for.?

This should have been written into the OS upgrade, not written as a stand alone upgrade. A line or two of code could have handled this and made it invisible. After all, what triggered this thread was a minor OS upgrade. And it appears to be not essential. It could have waited until the next upgrade.?

This sure isn’t, “it just works”. I miss Steve Jobs.?

Yes, Apple’s goal or motto has become “sell more hardware”, and speed up the obsolescence. Rather than “the computer for the rest of us”, it has become sell them all a device.?

The System Prefs used to have a couple dozen items, but now Settings include hundreds of choices, organized in a confusing manner.?

And crippling bugs are more common in new releases.?

Brent

On my iPhone Xr

On May 19, 2025, at 08:40, Robert Durnford via groups.io <rxd@...> wrote:

?I hav had this pop up several times on my iMac. I’ve always installed the patch offered by Apple without incidence re workings of applications. It then only reappeared on use of iPhone connection on rare occasions after a system software update. Install makes it go away.

Robert Durnford

On May 19, 2025, at 07:26, Eric Nelson via groups.io <emanmb@...> wrote:

?

Watching this with great interest as I have the same issue. ?I have not tried to fix it for some time living my iOS on 17.2 (in case newer iOS screws things up more) ?and my Mac Pro is running 10.13.6 (17G14042) which is as high as mine can go. ?

Eric

?

On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 07:53 PM, Brent wrote:

When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

?

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

?

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?

Robert, which OSes are you running on what devices?

You are the first one to say they have first hands on experience. If you have mildly older devices and OS, that and the offered explanation of what it does is the assurance that I am looking for.?

This should have been written into the OS upgrade, not written as a stand alone upgrade. A line or two of code could have handled this and made it invisible. After all, what triggered this thread was a minor OS upgrade. And it appears to be not essential. It could have waited until the next upgrade.?

This sure isn’t, “it just works”. I miss Steve Jobs.?

Yes, Apple’s goal or motto has become “sell more hardware”, and speed up the obsolescence. Rather than “the computer for the rest of us”, it has become sell them all a device.?

The System Prefs used to have a couple dozen items, but now Settings include hundreds of choices, organized in a confusing manner.?

And crippling bugs are more common in new releases.?

Brent

On my iPhone Xr

On May 19, 2025, at 08:40, Robert Durnford via groups.io <rxd@...> wrote:

? I hav had this pop up several times on my iMac. I’ve always installed the patch offered by Apple without incidence re workings of applications. It then only reappeared on use of iPhone connection on rare occasions after a system software update. Install makes it go away.

Robert Durnford

On May 19, 2025, at 07:26, Eric Nelson via groups.io <emanmb@...> wrote:

?

Watching this with great interest as I have the same issue. ?I have not tried to fix it for some time living my iOS on 17.2 (in case newer iOS screws things up more) ?and my Mac Pro is running 10.13.6 (17G14042) which is as high as mine can go. ?

Eric

?

On Sun, May 18, 2025 at 07:53 PM, Brent wrote:

When I plug the phone into my Mac, this message pops up. (May be at the bottom of the post.)

?

?

I chose “not now”. If I have or open a Finder window, my iPhone appears in the sidebar. Every time I plug in the iPhone, the dialog appears.

?

Going back a couple of versions of iOS, Photo.app started opening each time I plugged in the phone. That was a change. The iPhone was visible in the Finder window. After I updated to 18.4.1, Photo.app did not open, but the dialog appeared. The dialog makes me think that the upgrade fixed/ prevented Photo from opening, but gives the unneeded dialog box.

Brent ?

On my late 2012 Mac mini running?10.15.7?