iPhone 5 unknown device driver windows7

Is anyone out there getting an ‘unknown device driver’ error when they plug in their iPhone 5 into their Windows 7 computer?

If so, here is a tip that may help:

  • Make sure you iPhone 5 is disconnected from your Windows PC
  • Open a command prompt:
    • If you are logged in as administrator:
      • Open your command prompt, click Start select Runย 
      • Type cmdย  then press Enter (this opens a command prompt window)
    • If you are not logged in as administrator
      • Click Start, and type command prompt into the search box
      • Right click and select ‘Run as administrator’ for the command promptย listing
  • Type the following at the command prompt:
    Net localgroup Administrators local service /add
    then press Enterย 
  • A message stating ‘The command completed successfully’ should appear.
  • Close the command prompt and reconnect your iPhone 5 ๐Ÿ™‚

A reader with an iPhone 5 asked me to look into this issue and these steps fixed her problem!

Also, these steps were adapted to be iPhone 5 specific, here is a link to the original source tip discussing a Nokia 5800 phone.

Best regards,
JD

26 comments

  • Peter

    Awesome – that fixed the issue for me. I couldn’t get BT pairing to work – device not recognised etc.

  • Jim

    I can’t get my iphone5 to connect wireless to window 7.anyone having this issue.

    • Hi Jim,
      Thank you for your comment. I have not encountered this issue. Perhaps another reader has already solved the same issue?

      Best regards,
      -JD

      PS are you trying to wireless sync iTunes, or is it some other form of wireless acess to Windows 7 that you are looking to accomplish?

  • Nicole

    Hi JD

    I tried the above fix but didn’t work for me. when I plug in the iphone5 OS6, the computer bleeps as normal but then the message reads that the “USB Device Not recognised”
    I have reinstalled iTunes, have reinstalled the Apple mobile device drivers,
    the device shows as “Unknown Device” and the PnpID is usb\unknown.
    Any ideas would be gratefully received

    Nicole

    • Hi Nicole,
      Thank you for your comment. I am sorry to hear about the “USB Device Not recognised” issue. It sounds like you have already done a lot of the right things to try to fix the issue. The only two things that come to mind are to try a different USB port on your computer, and perhaps try a different USB cable. Those two things probably won’t make a difference but it may be worth a try just to verify that it is not a physical connectivity or power issue.

      Sorry to not be of more help!

      Best regards,
      -JD

  • Lloyd

    I’ve been working on this all morning. Even if a few Nigerian princes have access to my machine now, I’m happy that my iPhone will at least connect to my computer. That is to say.. I have no idea what this just enabled… but thanks!

  • Betsy

    JD, I am an administrator on my PC and I rec’d the message “access denied when I tried issuing the command both ways. Any advice?
    Thanks, betsy

  • Karen

    It took me awhile to figure out how to get to a command prompt because I don’t have the exact same “run” options and “start” options, but I typed that in. It didn’t look like it did anything, but suddenly my device was recognized. Now it’s working. Thank you!

  • Kiki

    Thank you very much! It worked for me too.

  • Martin Berglund

    Thank you J.D!

    Been out in the bush for a week unable to upload all material I’ve produced. Now I can return and keep working with out worries.

    Happy New Year!

    • Excellent Martin, very glad it helped. ๐Ÿ™‚

      You’ll have to comment or email with a URL sometime if you have a link to your work!

      A very Happy New Year to you as well,
      -JD

  • KLCharles

    Before you try all sorts of machinations, try this: If your iPhone 5 is plugged into a USB hub, switch it out with a USB port on your computer. Voila, Window and iTunes recognized my device instantly. This tip came directly from Apple.

  • Pam

    That was so easy..thanks. Worked like a charm!

  • elimliau

    Hi JDH,

    Your solution worked like a charm for my new iPhone 5

    Many thanks.
    elimliau

  • Thank you for posting about this issue. I’ve been having a lot of trouble with that.
    I have tried the prescribed steps and received the following:

    “System error 5 occurred.

    Access is denied.”

    Do you have any suggestions for this?

  • henry

    Finally a fix thank you so very much

  • David

    nice, worked like a charm

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