A Device Attached to the System is Not Functioning Error (Fixed)

A device attached to the system is not functioning? Wondering what to do next? Why does Windows 10 pop up this error notification on the screen? This error is most commonly encountered when you try to connect an iOS device to your PC.

Whether we want to transfer our photos or videos from our iOS device (iPhone or iPad) to Mac or PC, transfer any other data, or be it anything, getting stuck with this error message is nothing but a road breaker. When there’s no connectivity established between the respective iOS device that you’re trying to connect and your PC, you may experience this issue on your Windows device.

So, before we proceed towards discussing the solutions to resolve this issue, let’s learn a little about what causes the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error on your PC.

What Causes A Device Attached to the System is Not Functioning Error?

When a certain iOS device is not able to connect to your PC, then there may be several reasons that may address this issue. But yes, majorly it has to be a connectivity failure between the iOS device and your system. So, what causes it?

As we’re all aware, Windows and macOS are some of the most popular platforms and of course, they’re both awesome in their unique ways. Although, if we’re specifically talking about images then JPG is quite compatible with Windows, and on the other hand, Apple prefers HEVC or HEIF file formats for storing digital data.

So, when you’re trying to transfer images or videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Windows PC, you may run into some compatibility issues in rare circumstances. Whenever you connect an iOS device to a Windows PC, a real-time conversion takes place that converts the HEVC and HEIF image formats into JPG or something more readable by your machine. And if anything goes wrong in this process, you may get stuck with the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error.

Also read: 10 Best Online Video Converters

How to Fix A Device Attached to the System is Not Functioning Error Issue?

Here are a few workarounds that you can try to get past this error message.

1 Free up Storage Space on your Device

If your device’s storage space is majorly occupied and if there’s absolutely no room available for the conversion to take place, you may encounter this issue. Hence, we recommend you quickly free up some storage space on your iPhone or iPad and try your luck if it resolves the error.

Head on to Settings> General> Storage and free up some storage space instantly. After freeing up space, reconnect your iOS device to your PC and check if the issue persists.

Also read: How To Delete Duplicate Images From Photos App on iPhone and Mac?

2 Transfer Images in their Original Format

Another simple hack that can get you past the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error is by transferring the images and videos in the original format. Wondering what it implies? Well, if you will transfer the images in their original format, the conversion won’t take place and Windows will receive the digital data in the HEVC or HEIF format itself. Here’s what you need to do.

On your iOS device open Settings> Photos.

Under the “Transfer to Mac or PC” section, select the “Keep Originals” option.

Also read: How to Import Photos from iPhone to Windows 10: 3 Easy Ways

3 Try a Different USB Cable

This error can also occur if you’re trying to connect your iOS device via a faulty or tampered USB cable. Hence, make a quick check or try an alternative USB cable to connect your iPhone or iPad to your Windows PC.

Also, once you’re sure about the USB cable, try a different USB port as well just to be sure that there’s nothing wrong with the physical connections.

4 Reset Location and Privacy Settings

Whenever you try to connect any iOS device to a PC, it first asks you whether you trust this device or not. The iOS device only connects once you press the “Yes” button. Isn’t it? But if somehow you hit the “No” button accidentally it may lead to several connectivity issues. To fix this, we will try resetting the location and privacy settings of the iOS device.

Open Settings> General> Reset> Reset Location and Privacy.

After resetting the location and privacy settings on your iPhone or iPad, try reconnecting your device to check if you’re still encountering any issues.

Also read: How To Untrust Computers Previously Connected to Your iPhone

Conclusion 

Here were a few solutions that you can try for fixing the “A device attached to the system is not functioning” error on your Windows or Mac. Do let us know which solution worked out the best for you. Feel free to hit the comments space!