The error can be a very bothersome one as users are not able to use iTunes to manage their Apple device(s) from their Windows computer. Nonetheless, it can be easily fixed by following a few simple solutions (depending on your scenario) that are provided down below. But before we get into that, let us first discuss the causes of the error message so that you have a somewhat understanding of the said error.
What causes the ‘iTunes Could Not Connect to this Phone. An Unknown Error Occurred 0xe80000a’ Error Message on Windows?
The causes of the said error message can differ depending on the various scenarios, however, most often, it is caused by the following reasons —
Solution 1: Reset the Lockdown Folder of iTunes
iTunes has a Lockdown folder in Windows which stores the security certificates of previously connected iOS devices using iTunes to your computer. You need to delete this folder to reset the lockdown folder so all the security certificates are deleted. To do that:
Solution 2: Update Windows and iTunes
There have been several users who faced the said issue due to an outdated Windows or iTunes version. Since the iTunes version needs to be latest to get updates from Apple such as software updates (iOS updates), thus if you are having an outdated version of iTunes on your computer, then you would get this error. The good remedy here is to see if your Windows have any pending updates. If yes, then update your Windows first and then download the latest version of iTunes and install it again. Here’s how to check for any pending Windows 10 updates:
Solution 3: Uninstall iTunes completely on Windows and Reinstall
The next thing to do when you are getting this error is to get rid of any iTunes related components on your Windows machine and then reinstall it.
Solution 4: Stop Certain iTunes Related Processes and Reconnect your Apple Device
The next thing you can try is to stop some of the iTunes processes from Task Manager and then reconnect your Apple device to your Windows machine. The processes you need to stop are “PodService.exe, AppleMobileDeviceService.exe or iTunesHelper.exe”.
Solution 5: Disable Antivirus/Security Software on Windows
Sometimes, antivirus software that you use might be blocking the iTunes ability to establish a successful connection with your Windows machine because it considers it as a security risk. Thus, it’s always a good step to disable your antivirus software on Windows for a while and try to connect your device again. If the error was caused due to an antivirus software blockade, then you will hopefully not be getting the error after disabling it. In such a scenario, you have two options. You can either change your antivirus software and download a different one or just make an exception for the iTunes files within your antivirus so that it doesn’t flag them as harmful.
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