I'm trying to back up my iPhone SE to my MacBook, but it keeps disconnecting and I'm really frustrated. A few weeks ago, I successfully backed it up on my 2013 Air using an OEM cable, but now I'm having trouble. When I tried connecting to my 2019 Pro, it was working until suddenly it said my iPhone was disconnected. I went back to the Air, it connected for a moment, but then wouldn't start the backup process because it said the iPhone was disconnected—even though I wasn't touching it! It's so disheartening because all I want is to transfer my photos, and now I'm even contemplating switching to Android. Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds really frustrating! If it worked before, it's unlikely to be planned obsolescence. Typically, the 'iPhone disconnected' message is related to connection issues—either the cable or the port might be the culprit. Have you tried a different USB port or maybe cleaning the port on your phone?
Honestly, you had all that time to set up iCloud and now it’s suddenly Apple’s fault? If your phone isn’t broken and you just don’t want to use iCloud, it’s a bit unfair to blame them. Maybe look into other backup methods?
I totally get that perspective. My phone is working fine, I just prefer not to rely on iCloud. Still, I would love to find a way to get my photos off without all this hassle!

I did get a new OEM cable specifically for this, and I haven't used it since the last backup, so I don't think that's the problem.