7 Best Fixes for ‘This iPhone Is Open in Another Window’ Error on Mac

The Apple ecosystem is amongst the best in terms of device syncing. You can sync your Mac, iPhone, or iPad wirelessly by signing in with your Apple account. You can also access the contents of your iPhone by connecting it to your Mac via a cable.

However, some users complain that Apple Music shows ‘This iPhone is open in another window’ error on Apple Music. This happens after connecting the iPhone using a cable. If you are also facing the same, keep reading this post to learn the best fixes for ‘This iPhone is open in another window’ error on Mac.

1. Close Finder Window

As per the official Apple Support community page, some users have suggested closing and relaunching the Finder window to fix this issue. This is reportedly the biggest reason why Apple Music shows the error on your Mac. But after closing the Finder window, relaunch it. Here’s how to try this solution.

Step 1: Press the Option key on your Mac keyboard and right-click on Finder at the bottom-left corner.

Step 2: Click on Relaunch.

After you relaunch Finder, you will not see the error in Apple Music anymore.

You can also refer to our post in case your iPhone fails to show up in Finder.

2. Force Quit and Relaunch Apple Music

If relaunching Finder did not work, you can force quit and relaunch Apple Music on your Mac. This will give the app a fresh start.

Step 1: Click the Apple logo at the top-left corner and select Force Quit.

Step 2: Select Apple Music from the list of apps and click the Force Quit button.

Step 3: Relaunch Apple Music and check if the problem is solved.

3. Use MFI Certified Cable

If you still see the ‘This iPhone is open in another window’ error, we suggest checking the cable you use. It is recommended always to use the MFI (Made For iPhone) cables that you get in the box with your iPhone. Using a third-party cable that is not Made For iPhone can lead to connection issues. If you still prefer a third-party cable to keep as a spare, check our posts where we suggest the best iPhone Lightning and Type-C cables.

4. Check USB Port

After you are sure about your iPhone port, you need to check the USB port of your Mac. Try switching to a different USB port. If you prefer a USB Hub, connect your iPhone using a different USB port. Also, here’s how you can check and confirm if there’s any internal damage to the USB port on your Mac.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type System Settings, and press Return.

Step 2: Select General from the left menu and click on About on the right side.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on System Report.

Step 4: Click on USB from the left menu and check the info for the ports on the right side.

Refer our post to learn more troubleshooting methods to fix USB Type-C issues on your Mac.

5. Allow New Accessories to Connect With Mac

If the error is still present in Apple Music, you should check if your Mac is allowed to connect with new accessories. There is an option that restricts your Mac to connect with new accessories like iPhones. You need to ensure that it has been disabled.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type System Settings, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Privacy and Security from the left menu.

Step 3: Click the drop-down menu next to Allow Accessories to Connect.

Step 4: Ensure that your Mac is allowed to do so.

Step 5: Close Settings and open Apple Music to check if the problem is solved.

6. Use Safe Mode

Since Apple Music is a system default app, you can try booting your Mac in Safe Mode. This is a troubleshooting method to check any underlying issues with system apps and fix them. In Safe Mode, your Mac will restrict third-party app interferences and only boot system apps like Apple Music. Check out our post to learn how to boot your Mac in Safe Mode.

7. Update Apple Music

If Apple Music is still showing ‘this iPhone is open in another window’ error, the last resort is to update its version. You can do that by installing the latest version of macOS.

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar to open Spotlight Search, type Check For Software Updates, and press Return.

Step 2: If an update is available, download and install it.

Step 3: After that, open Apple Music after connecting your iPhone and check if the problem is solved.

Sync iPhone With Apple Music

These solutions will help to fix ‘this iPhone is open in another window’ error on your Mac. You can also refer to our post if your Apple Music playlists aren’t syncing between iPhone and Mac.