On Windows 10, iTunes is known for throwing around the most ridiculous of errors or bugs. Be it failing to check out the contents on your iPhone to flat out rejecting to play your music, iTunes will rarely upset you in that department. Of course, I hope you will get my sarcasm, which comes from the frustration of facing such troubles. You may face error while connecting your iPhone with Windows 10. In this article we will discuss how to quickly fix iTunes error 0xE80000A?
One day recently, my Windows 10 PC greeted me with ‘iTunes couldn’t connect to this iPhone, an unknown error occurred (0xE800000A)’ prompt, & left me just unmindful. I need to back up my iPhone to install the iOS 13 beta, and the timing could not be worse.
Luckily, iTunes-related errors can be fixed easily provided you’re prepared to spend some timing trying out specific troubleshooting tips. So without further ado, let’s check out the tips and tricks you can do to fix iTunes error 0xE80000A error once connecting an iPhone to your PC.
How to Fix iTunes Error 0xE80000A On Connecting iPhone
Most Important: Before trying out each of the troubleshooting tips mentioned below, make it a point to disconnect your iPhone from your PC.
1. Update Windows, iOS, and iTunes
The first and vital thing that you must do is to go on an updating spree. In case the iTunes error 0xE80000A is caused due to hardware or software incompatibilities, installing the latest Windows 10, iOS, and iTunes updates will likely fix it.
Start by updating Windows 10. To do so, type check for updates into the Start menu, and then tap Open.
Now on the Windows Update box that shows up, tap Check for Updates & install any updates if available.
And when it comes to iOS, open the Settings app on your iPhone, click General, and then click Software Update.
If any updates are available, tap Download and Install.
Finally, update iTunes. Search for updates available by typing apple software update in the Start menu, then hit Enter to install them.
While you’re at it, also install updates for related Apple software like iCloud.
2. Disable Antivirus
Third-party antivirus apps can often cause connectivity issues between iTunes & your iPhone. And to check that, pause your antivirus software temporarily, then try connecting your iPhone again.
Tip: You can usually disable an antivirus app’s various live shields after tapping on its icon on the system tray.
If that helped resolve the problem, you should add iTunes as an exemption to the antivirus app’s firewall.
3. Reset Location and Privacy Settings
Corrupted location & privacy settings on your iPhone are another cause for the iTunes 0xE80000A error to show up. These settings carry the trust permissions granted to your iPhone the first time you linked it to your PC. To resolve this issue, you are required to reset them.
Note: Resetting location & privacy settings will prompt certain apps on your iPhone to request permission to use location services all over again.
Step 1: At first, on the Settings app of your iPhone, click General, and then click Reset.
Step 2: On the subsequent screen, click Reset Location and Privacy, then click Reset Settings as confirmation.
After resetting the location & privacy settings, connect your iPhone to your PC. Launch iTunes, and then click Trust on the pop-up prompt on your iPhone when prompted.
4. Reset Lockdown Folder
The Lockdown folder is a special and unique directory created by iTunes containing the several security certificates needed to communicate with previously connected iOS devices successfully. Similar to trust permissions on your iPhone, it is time to reset the folder.
Step 1: Press Windows+R jointly to open the Run box. Type %ProgramData% into the Open field, then hit OK.
Step 2: Now, on the File Explorer window that shows up, double-tap the folder labeled Lockdown.
Step 3: Within the Apple directory, right-tap the folder labeled Lockdown, and then tap Rename.
Step 4: Afterward, rename the folder to Lockdown.old.
Note: Instead of deleting the Lockdown folder, renaming ensures that you have got a backup of it at hand just in case.
Relaunch iTunes, connect your iPhone, and then click Trust once prompted. The Lockdown folder will be generated by scratch, complete with the security certificates required to communicate between both devices successfully. It is important to Fix iTunes Error 0xE80000A.
5. Reinstall iTunes
If you’re still faced with the 0xE80000A error when connecting your iPhone, then it is time to reinstall iTunes. Hopefully, that should take care of any corrupted data or improper settings, causing the error to show up.
Type apps & features into the Start menu, tap Open, and remove iTunes related programs in the following order:
iTunes
Apple Software Update
Apple Mobile Device Support
Bonjour
Apple Application Support 32-bit
Apple Application Support 64-bit
Afterward, please restart your PC, download a fresh copy of iTunes, and reinstall it.
6. Switch Versions
Just a year ago, Apple released iTunes on the Windows Store. While it seems nearly the same, the Windows Store version is marginally better in terms of performance and throws far fewer errors than the standard desktop version.
If the fixes above did not help to Fix iTunes Error 0xE80000A, then switching to the Windows Store version of iTunes should likely resolve the problem.
Migrating to the Windows Store version is even painless. During installation, iTunes migrates the downloaded music & backups automatically. Get to the iTunes page within the Windows Store, tap Install, and you should be good to go in a matter of minutes.
Download iTunes Windows Store Version
Growing Pains
I sincerely hope the iTunes 0xE80000A error no longer shows up, and you can now go about successfully connecting your iPhone to iTunes. However, there is simply no excuse for these unusual issues to show up in the first place.
Besides, Apple needs to take drastic action by splitting iTunes into its several components (Music, Podcasts, etc.) on Windows, just like the company did with the new macOS Catalina. That should help cut the bloat out and offer the vast majority of Windows & iPhone users a decent experience for a change.