15.8 isn't available as a platform in xCode, but 15.5 is. Yes, the iPhone 7/15.5 simulator works, but that doesn't resolve the issue with connecting a physical iPhone 7 with iOS 15.8 repeatedly fails.

I have totally reset and wiped this iPhone 7 to factory settings. I have rebooted the Mac Mini multiple times. I have removed this iPhone 7 from my list of devices, signed out, signed back in. I have used a second cable and used a USB port instead of firewire port. And yet, xCode will still not allow this iPhone 7 with iOS 15.8 to be paired with xCode 26. Surely this is not difficult for someone at Apple to replicate. Is there not anyone out there who can vouch that a physical iPhone 7 is recognized by xCode 26?

Thanks, but there is no "after the failure" since xCode just non-stop continuously displays the message "xCode will continue when iPhone 7 is finished" along with a never-ending spinning glyph. The message never goes away and the animated glyph never ceases. When does one determine "after the failure" takes place in such a situation? See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aweV3x7PgcA