iTunes for Windows: Device Connectivity Tests

1. Install the latest version of iTunes.
2. Open iTunes and choose Run Diagnostics from the Help menu.
3. Make sure Device Connectivity Tests is selected and click Next.

The resulting information (sample shown below) can help you troubleshoot device connectivity issues as they relate to iTunes.

Device Connectivity Tests consist of six tests:

• iPod support service check, which checks the status of various software components necessary for recognizing some iPods.
• iTunes helper check, which checks the status of iTunesHelper.exe, used to automatically open iTunes when a device is connected to your computer.
• Apple Mobile Device check, which checks the status of various software components necessary for recognizing iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and most recent iPod models.
• USB Ports check, which checks if your USB ports are USB 2.0 or not, and other USB devices connected to the computer.
• FireWire (IEEE 1394) port check, which checks status of FireWire ports on your computer. (Applies only to early iPod models that use FireWire.)
• Device recognition check, which detects whether or not your device is connected to the computer.

When the results are displayed, a status light appears next to each test. A green light next to a particular test indicates that no issues were found. When iTunes detects an issue with a test, a red or yellow light is displayed next to a Help button. The Help button will display troubleshooting information in iTunes or on the Apple support website that may resolve the issue.

In addition to the status lights and support content, iTunes can display a detailed report of your computer's configuration and connectivity information if you click Next. This report has several sections which contain different information.

This first section of the report displays the following general information:

• Windows version and build
• Make and model of the PC
• Installed version of iTunes, QuickTime, Apple Application Support, and iPod Updater Library
• Installed version of Apple Mobile Device and Apple Mobile Device Driver
• Whether or not the current user profile has administrator privileges

This section of the diagnostic report shows if any iTunes plug-ins are installed. If any plug-ins are listed, temporarily removing them may resolve certain issues. iTunes plug-ins are stored in the following location depending on your version of Windows:

• Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTUnes Plug-ins
• Windows Vista and Windows 7: C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins

This section of the diagnostic report lists whether or not iPodService, iTunesHelper, and Apple Mobile Device Service are running. The respective version numbers of these services are also listed.

Note: If "Not Found" is displayed next to the Apple Mobile Device Service status, this service may not be installed. Depending on your version of Windows, follow the appropriate article to troubleshoot this issue:

• For Windows XP: Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
• For Windows Vista and Windows 7: Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows Vista or Windows 7

This section of the diagnostic report lists the type of USB ports on the computer and if they are working properly. To verify that you have USB 2.0 ports, be sure at least one of these entries has the word "enhanced" in its description. For more information on identifying USB 2.0 ports, see this article.

Note: It is possible that some ports are USB 2.0 and other are not. Refer to the documentation that came with your computer to locate the USB 2.0 ports and only use those to connect your device.

This section of the diagnostic report lists the type of FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports on the computer and if they are working properly. This type of port is only used to connect early iPod models. To identify your model of iPod see this article. For a table of which iPods use FireWire ports, view the table in the bottom of this article.

This section of the diagnostic report lists all of the devices currently connected. If no device is found, this section will list the device most recently connected. You should see the model of the device, its software version, and "its serial number".