Sometimes iTunes will throw an error saying “iTunes cannot read the contents of the iPhone”. This can be an extremely frustrating error, especially since iTunes will want to restore a device, deleting all the new media and settings since the last restoration.
This is usually caused by a corrupt database in iTunes or on the iPhone. If the problem is iTunes, a reinstall of the program will usually fix this error.
If the problem is on the iPhone, users will need to follow these steps:
- Download and install i-FunBox
- Open the folder
/var/mobile/Media/iTunes_Control/iTunesor search for “iTunesDB” or “iTunesCDB” - Rename the files iTunesCDB, iTunesControl, and iTunesPrefs one by one.
- Test if iTunes will connect to the iPhone after each rename.
- Delete the renamed files if the reconnection works.
Music will be lost with this method, but everything else will remain.
In my experience, these errors occur most frequently when non-Apple programs are used to modify or backup media on the iPhone.
References
Apple Forums