Most iPhone users generally have the iTunes app on their computer to access their music library, create backups, transfer data, amongst other features. Also, since the app can be downloaded for free, both from the iTunes website and the Microsoft Store, users find it a convenient and cost-effective solution. However, many users have reported encountering the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error when connecting their iPhone to a Windows PC.

When you connect a new device to the computer, Windows look for the relevant drivers for the proper functioning of the device. It’s pretty much the same with iPhone. When you connect it to the system, Windows will start looking for driver updates, iTunes updates and if it’s unable to find one, it’ll throw the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error. In this case, you can’t access your iPhone through the iTunes app on your Windows PC.

What Leads to ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ Error?

When you are unable to connect your iPhone to the system, it could be due to several reasons. Since the error doesn’t shed any light on the underlying cause, the onus to identify it lies solely on you.

  • Running an Older Version of Windows
  • Outdated Drivers
  • Outdated iTunes App
  • Faulty Cable

The first three issues mentioned above can be fixed on the system itself. However, in case of a faulty cable, try using another and check if you are now able to connect to the system. In case the error persists, it not the faulty cable but one of the first three issues.

1. Update Windows

Most of the errors that you encounter on Windows can be fixed by simply updating the OS. If you are encountering the error due to a bug in the OS, it’s highly likely that it’s been fixed in the later versions.

To update the Windows, press WINDOWS + I to launch the system ‘Settings’, and then select the ‘Update & Security’ option.

In the ‘Windows Update’ tab that launches by default, click on the ‘Check for update’ option at the right.

Windows will now look for updates, and download and install them to your system, if any are available. After the Windows has been updated and the system restarts, check if the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error has been fixed.

2. Update iTunes

If updating Windows didn’t work, the error could be due to an outdated version of the iTunes app itself. Therefore, it’s time you update the iTunes app. Before you proceed, identify if you have the Desktop app or the Microsoft Store app of iTunes as the process is different for both.

Update iTunes Desktop App

To update the iTunes desktop app, search for ‘Apple Software Update’ in the ‘Start Menu’, and then click on the relevant search result to launch the app.

The ‘Apple Software Update’ app will now launch and a dialog box will appear on the screen that shows ‘Checking for new software’. Once the scan is complete, any update will be listed on the screen.

Next, select the update, and then click on the ‘Install’ option at the bottom.

After the update is installed, restart the computer and now try connecting the iPhone and check if the error is fixed.

Update iTunes Microsoft Store App

To update the iTunes Microsoft Store app, search for ‘Microsoft Store’ in the ‘Start Menu’, and then click on the relevant search result to launch the app.

In the ‘Microsoft Store’ window, click on the ellipsis near the top-right corner, and then select ‘Downloads and updates’ from the drop-down menu.

Now, locate ‘iTunes’ in the list of apps, and click on the ‘Download’ icon next to it.

The app will now be updated. Now, check if you are able to connect your iPhone to the system without encountering the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error. In case the error persists, move to the next fix.

3. Reinstall Driver

Corrupt drivers can also sometimes lead to the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error when you try to connect your iPhone to a Windows PC. In this case, it’s best to reinstall the driver. As we did earlier, the process to reinstall the driver is different for both the Desktop and Microsoft Store version of the app.

Before you proceed, make sure that you have connected the iPhone with and closed the iTunes app, in case it automatically pops up.

Reinstall Driver for iTunes Desktop App

To reinstall the driver for the iTunes desktop app, either open the ‘File Explorer’ by searching for it in the ‘Start Menu’ or click on the ‘File Explorer’ option in ‘Taskbar’.

After ‘File Explorer’ is launched, either navigate to the following path, or paste it in the address bar at the top and then press ENTER.

Next, locate the ‘usbaapl64.inf’ (‘usbaapl.inf’ in case of 32-bit version of iTunes) file, right-click on it, and then select the ‘Install’ option from the context menu.

Now, disconnect the iPhone and restart the computer. After it restarts, reconnect your phone and check if the error is fixed.

Reinstall Driver for iTunes Microsoft Store App

To reinstall the driver for the iTunes Microsoft Store app, search for ‘Device Manager’ in the ‘Start Menu’, and then launch the app from the search results.

In the ‘Device Manager’ window, locate and double-click on ‘Portable Devices’ to view the devices under it.

Next, right-click on ‘Apple iPhone’, and select the ‘Uninstall device’ option from the context menu.

In the ‘Uninstall Device’ confirmation box that pops up, click on ‘Uninstall’ to confirm the change and complete the process.

After the driver is uninstalled, disconnect the iPhone and restart the computer. After you restart the computer, reconnect your iPhone and check if the error is fixed.

4. Update Driver

If reinstalling the driver didn’t work, it’s likely that you are using an outdated version of the driver. With each update, multiple bugs and glitches are fixed in an app, which might be leading to the error in the first place.

To update the driver, launch the ‘Device Manager’, double-click on the ‘Portable Devices’ option, right-click on ‘Apple iPhone’, and then select the ‘Update driver’ option from the context menu.

The ‘Update Drivers’ window will launch and you will be presented with two options, either to let Windows search and install the best available driver on your system or choose and install one manually. It’s recommended that you choose the first option and let Windows search for the driver to avoid the risk of infecting your system with malware. Now, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

In case an update was found and installed, check if the error is fixed. However, there is a possibility that while Windows was unable to fetch an update, there could be one available on the web. Many manufacturers release driver updates directly on their official website. In this case, you will have to manually download and install them.

Note: Manually downloading and installing a driver involves risk, therefore, it’s recommended that you only download the driver from the official website after thorough research.

Before you proceed to the install process, it’s necessary that you find the current driver version to identify if an update is available.

To find the current driver version, right-click on the driver, and select ‘Properties’ from the context menu.

In the properties window, navigate to the ‘Driver’ tab, and then jot down the driver version.

Once you have the current driver version, search the web for an update. Locate the manufacturer’s official website from the search results, and download the latest version of the driver. Now, double-click on the downloaded file to launch the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

After the driver is updated, check if the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error is fixed.

5. Restart Apple Mobile Device Service

The Apple Mobile Device service manages the Apple devices connected to your system. In case the service has run into an error, it could lead to the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error. To fix the issue, all you have to do is restart the service.

To restart the ‘Apple Mobile Device’ service, search for the ‘Services’ app in the ‘Start Menu’, and then click on the search result to launch the app.

Now, locate the ‘Apple Mobile Device Service’ from the list, right-click on it, and select ‘Restart’ from the context menu.

Windows will now restart the service. After the service is restarted, check if the error is fixed and you are able to connect the iPhone to the Windows PC.

6. Uninstall Conflicting Apps

Many a time, it’s an app that conflicts with the functioning of the system and leads to the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error. If you recently encountered the error, make a list of apps that you installed during that period. When you have a list of probable apps, start uninstalling them one at a time and check if the error is fixed.

To uninstall an app, press WINDOWS + R to launch the ‘Run’ command, enter ‘appwiz.cpl’ in the text box, and then either press ENTER or click on ‘OK’ at the bottom.

You will now find the apps installed on your system listed on the screen. Select the one that you believe might be leading to the error, and click on ‘Uninstall’ at the top. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstall process.

After you have uninstalled the app, check if the error is fixed. If it’s fixed, you have found the app that was leading to the error. In case the error persists, uninstall the next app on the list and check for the error. Proceed similarly until you have found the app causing the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error.

However, there’s a chance that the error might not be due to a conflicting app, therefore, stop once you have uninstalled the probable ones and move to the next fix.

7. Disable Antivirus

Many users have reported that it was the antivirus that leads to the error in their case and disabling it fixed it altogether. If you have installed any third-party antivirus on the system, disable it. The process to disable the antivirus is different for all, check the process for the antivirus installed on your computer and disable it.

After disabling the antivirus check if the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error is fixed.

8. Run System Restore

If none of the above fixed helped resolve the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’, you can always opt for ‘System Restore’. It is a feature on Windows that reverts your system back in time to a point where the error did not exist. To achieve this, certain apps and settings are removed from the system, although, the stored files are not affected during the process.

Running ‘System Restore’ should always be your last resort since it affects the saved settings and you might find certain changes after executing it. After you have run ‘System Restore’, the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error will be fixed.

Once you have fixed the ‘iTunes is Waiting for Windows Update’ error, connect your iPhone to your Windows PC seamlessly without encountering any glitch.