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Solved Error

How to Fix iTunes Error 0xE8000015 (iPhone Cannot Connect)

Quick Fix

Most of the time this is a simple USB/trust issue, not a software failure: 1. Use a different (ideally original Apple) cable and USB port - faulty cables are a very common cause. 2. Unlock your iPhone and tap Trust on the "Trust This Computer?" prompt if it appears. 3. Restart both the iPhone and the computer, then reconnect and reopen iTunes. 4. If it still fails, delete the contents of the iTunes Lockdown folder (see Fix 3 below) and try again.

What this error means

iTunes error 0xE8000015 appears as "iTunes could not connect to this iPhone because an unknown error occurred (0xE8000015)." It appears when you connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer via a cable, but your device isn't recognized by the computer, and successful communication cannot be established between them. Common underlying causes reported by users and support sites include: USB connection issues from a damaged or unstable cable, the device not being unlocked or not trusted, an outdated or corrupted version of iTunes or iOS, or on Windows the Apple Mobile Device Service not running or malfunctioning. A corrupted iTunes "Lockdown" folder, security software blocking the connection, and Restrictions/Screen Time settings on the iPhone are also frequently cited causes.

Step-by-Step Guide

Fix 1: Check the basics - cable, port, unlock state, and Trust prompt

  1. 1Swap the USB cable. One user tried many times and kept getting the 0xE8000015 code, and a new charge cord to the computer worked because the old cord had a bad contact. Use an original or certified Apple cable if possible.
  2. 2Try a different USB port without hubs. Try a different USB port, and avoid USB hubs - plug directly into the computer.
  3. 3Make sure the iPhone is turned on and unlocked. A frequently overlooked reason for this error is that the device may be turned off, and for the computer to recognize it, it has to be turned on.
  4. 4Tap Trust on the iPhone prompt. Tap Trust on the iPhone if a "Trust This Computer?" prompt appears on screen after connecting.
  5. 5Test connection with a different computer. Try a different computer if available, to confirm whether the issue is with the cable/device or the original PC/Mac setup.

Fix 2: Restart everything and update software

  1. 1Restart your iPhone. A normal restart is sometimes not enough - a reboot is often the fastest fix, but a normal restart may not be sufficient, so try a hard reboot instead which fully ends all running programs.
  2. 2Hard-reset your iPhone by model. Hard-reset your iPhone (platform-specific by model): on iPhone 6s and earlier, hold Home + Power until the Apple logo appears; on iPhone 7/7 Plus, hold Volume Down + Power; on iPhone 8 and later, quickly press Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button until the Apple logo shows.
  3. 3Restart your computer as well before reconnecting.
  4. 4Update iTunes to the latest version (Windows: via Microsoft Store or Apple's site; Mac: Apple's built-in Music/Finder replaces iTunes on modern macOS - make sure macOS itself is updated).
  5. 5Update iOS via Settings. Update iOS on the iPhone via Settings > General > Software Update.

Fix 3: Reset the Lockdown folder (Windows and Mac)

  1. 1Open Run. The Lockdown folder stores temporary pairing data between iTunes and your device. Sometimes iTunes may not recognize your iPhone because of a problem in its lockdown folder, which contains temp data that can get corrupt, and deleting the folder's contents lets iTunes recreate a fresh directory. On Windows: Press Windows + R.
  2. 2Go to the ProgramData folder. Type %ProgramData% and press Enter.
  3. 3Open the Apple folder, then locate the Lockdown folder.
  4. 4Delete files in the Lockdown folder. Delete the files inside the Lockdown folder (you must be signed in as an administrator).
  5. 5Reconnect iPhone and open iTunes. Reconnect your iPhone and open iTunes again.
  6. 6Open Finder and click Go > Go to Folder.
  7. 7Enter the path. Type /var/db/lockdown and press Return.
  8. 8Switch to icon view so you can see all files clearly.
  9. 9Delete all files in the folder. Select and delete all files inside the folder, but do not delete the lockdown folder itself.
  10. 10Reconnect the iPhone and relaunch iTunes. On Mac:

Fix 4: Check Restrictions, Screen Time, and security software

  1. 1Disable Restrictions/Screen Time. Go to Settings > General > Restrictions > Disable Restrictions and enter your passcode, or go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and disable it.
  2. 2Temporarily disable antivirus or firewall software on your computer. Turning off the Windows firewall or other security software has fixed this error for some users. Antivirus software's goal is to protect your computer, so it may not trust your iOS device - open your antivirus software and check if the device is being blocked.
  3. 3Re-enable security software with iTunes exception. Re-enable your security software once the connection is restored, and add an exception for iTunes/Apple Mobile Device Support if needed.

Fix 5: Reinstall Apple Mobile Device USB driver (Windows)

  1. 1Disconnect iPhone from computer. Disconnect the iPhone from the computer.
  2. 2Open Device Manager on Windows. Open Device Manager via Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
  3. 3Uninstall Apple Mobile Device USB Driver. Find Apple Mobile Device USB Driver (may appear under "Universal Serial Bus controllers" or "Portable Devices"), right-click, and choose Uninstall device.
  4. 4Reconnect iPhone to reinstall driver. Reconnect the iPhone - Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically. If not, reinstall/repair iTunes to restore it.
  5. 5Check Apple Mobile Device Service status. Alternatively, check the Apple Mobile Device Service is running: open services.msc, find Apple Mobile Device Service, and make sure its status is Running.

Fix 6: Use Recovery Mode when the phone is disabled or won't connect normally

  1. 1Connect iPhone and open iTunes or Finder. If the iPhone is disabled (e.g. from too many failed passcode attempts) or none of the above works, Recovery Mode can force a connection so you can restore it. This will erase the device unless you have a backup. Connect the iPhone to the computer and open iTunes (or Finder on newer macOS).
  2. 2Force Recovery Mode. Press and hold the Side or Volume button until the slider appears, drag it to shut down the iPhone, wait a few seconds to ensure it's fully off, then press and hold the same buttons and release once the Apple logo appears (button combination varies by model - Home+Power on older iPhones with a Home button).
  3. 3Choose Restore in the connection dialog. Choose Restore when the "cannot connect / restore" dialog appears on the computer.
  4. 4Wait for the restore to complete. Note this erases the device; only use it if you have an iCloud/iTunes backup or have accepted the data loss.

When to get further help

Try another computer entirely (different USB controller/OS) to isolate whether the fault is the iPhone hardware, cable, or your PC/Mac setup. If the error persists after a full restore attempt, or you suspect a hardware fault (e.g. damaged Lightning/USB-C port), contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store/authorized service provider. If you cannot restore because of a disabled/locked screen with no backup, this is now a device-specific data recovery situation - Apple Support can advise on options, though data loss is likely unavoidable in true lockouts.

Sources:

Heads up: this guide was drafted with AI assistance from the real sources listed below, and structured by our team for clarity. It may not cover every possible cause — if it doesn't fix your issue, let us know and we'll take a closer look. See how we create our fixes.

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