It can be disheartening when you are trying to sync your iPhone with iTunes and encounter issues that prevent the process from working smoothly. And there are multiple situations where you may need to sync your iPhone with iTunes, such as when you want to back up your data, transfer files, or update iOS.
In this article, we will provide 11 quick fixes that can help you resolve "iPhone not syncing with iTunes". Plus, we will also introduce an iTunes alternative to assist you in syncing your iPhone to your computer/iTunes without trouble. Yet before proceeding, let's first understand what invites this phenomenon.
- Part 1: Why Won't My iPhone Sync with iTunes?
- Part 2: Fix iPhone Not Syncing with iTunes via 11 Hot Tips
- Part 3: Utilize the Best iTunes Alternative to Sync iPhone Smoothly
Part 1: Why Won't My iPhone Sync with iTunes?
There are several reasons why iPhone won't sync with iTunes. And some of the common underlying causes include:
- Outdated iTunes/iOS.
- iTunes driver is not installed.
- Failed USB Connection.
- Security Software Like Antivirus Programs.
- The System Is Running Low on Memory.
- Corrupted iTunes Library.
- Incorrect Syncing Options.
- Wrong Data & Time on Computer.
- Outmoded System Drivers.
- Disabled iCloud Sync.
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- Finding Methods to Connect iPhone to iTunes? Here!
- Top 4 Solutions to Fix iPhone Unavailable without Data Loss
Part 2: Fix iPhone Not Syncing with iTunes via 11 Hot Tips
Tip 1: Try another USB cable or port
To avoid "iTunes not syncing with iPhone", it is recommended to use a dependable USB cable when linking your smartphone to your computer. Improper USB cables are often the cause of such issues. Therefore, you'd better inspect the USB cable before connecting your iPhone 14/13/12/11/X/8/7 to your computer.
Tip 2: Reauthorize iTunes
- On a Windows PC, connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes; click on the "device" button that resembles a phone and go to the "Account" section in the new window; from the drop-down menu, select "Authorizations" and tap "Authorize This Computer".
- On a Mac, open iTunes and go to the menu bar at the top of your screen; choose "Store" and select "Authorize This Computer" to fix "iPhone won't sync with iTunes".
Tip 3: Verify data & time on your computer
To troubleshoot "iPhone won't sync with computer", check your computer's date and time settings first:
- On a PC, right-click the time in the lower right corner and select "Adjust Date/Time".
- On a Mac, go to the "Apple" menu > "System Preferences" > "Date & Time".
Tip 4: Sync iPhone with iTunes wirelessly
You can now perform the sync process wirelessly by turning on the Wi-Fi sync option in iTunes. If the option is already enabled, just toggle it off and on again to troubleshoot "iPhone won't sync to iTunes". To activate this feature, navigate to the "Summary" tab on the left side of the iTunes interface and check the "Sync with this iPhone over the Wi-Fi" option in the right panel.
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- 6 Workarounds to Recover Deleted Files from iPhone with/without Backup
- How to Back Up Your Android Phone to PC in 2023?
Tip 5: Consolidate iTunes media files
This method is especially applicable to the iTunes error 54 that occurs when you can't sync iPhone due to media files saved in different folders. You can consolidate your iTunes media files as follows:
- Open iTunes and go to "File" > "Library".
- Tap "Consolidate Files..." or "Organize Library" with the "Consolidate files" option checked.
Tip 6: Update iOS and iTunes
- Update your iPhone's iOS: Open the "Settings" app, select "General" > "Software Update" > "Download and Install" > "Install Now" to fix iPhone not syncing.
- Update iTunes on your computer: Run the software and click on "Help" > "Check for Updates". If a new version is available, follow the on-screen instructions to update it.
Tip 7: Update the system driver
- To tackle the iPhone sync problems, open "Device Manager" on your computer.
- Locate "Portable Devices" under "Network Adapters".
- Right-click on "Apple iPhone" and select "Update Drivers".
- Browse for drivers from C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers.
- Once done, launch iTunes and your iPhone should be visible.
Tip 8: Create another iTunes library
"My iPhone won't sync to iTunes"; It could result from a corrupted or duplicated iTunes library. To fix this, follow these steps:
- Hold down the "Shift" key and launch iTunes.
- Choose "Create Library" and reopen iTunes to see if the new library works for syncing data from your iPhone to iTunes.
- Navigate to "My PC" > "Music" > "iTunes" and rename the old iTunes Library as "outdated" or "corrupted".
- Find the most recent library in the "Previous iTunes Library" and copy it.
- Paste the library into the current iTunes and rename it as "iTunes Library.itl". (How to transfer purchases from iPhone to iTunes library?)
Tip 9: Turn off iCloud Sync
Enabling iCloud sync on your iPhone can also cause the "problem syncing iPhone to iTunes". To ensure that this is not the case, do as the drill demonstrates:
- Go to "Settings" on your iPhone.
- Click on your iPhone's name and select "iCloud".
- Turn off any options related to iCloud to prevent it from interfering with syncing on iTunes.
Tip 10: Factory reset iPhone
Before resetting your iPhone, ensure you have a backup of all your important data, including contacts, photos, documents, and more. Then disable "Find My iPhone" by going to "Settings" > [Your Name] > "Find My" > "Find My iPhone" and turn off the switch. Next, here's the trick to fix "iPhone won't sync to computer" by doing a factory reset on your device:
- Go to "Settings" > "General" > "Reset" > "Erase All Content and Settings".
- You will be prompted to enter your passcode and Apple ID.
- Tap "Erase iPhone" to factory reset your iPhone.
- Once it is finished, your iPhone will reboot and display the "Hello" screen.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your iPhone from your backup.
Tip 11: Restart iPhone, iTunes, and computer
Restarting your iPhone, iTunes, and computer can help resolve various issues related to "iPhone won't sync with iTunes on Mac/PC". Here, please follow the simple steps to potentially settle the matter and improve your device's overall performance:
- To restart your iPhone, press and hold the "Power" button until the "Slide to power off" option appears; swipe the power off slider to the right; wait a few seconds until the screen goes black; press and hold the "Power" button again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
- To relaunch iTunes, close iTunes if it is open; reopen the program on your computer.
- To restart a PC, click the "Start" button in the bottom left corner of your screen; tap the "Power" > "Restart".
- To reboot a Mac, click on the "Apple" menu, select the "Restart" option, and click "Restart" to confirm.
Part 3: Utilize the Best iTunes Alternative to Sync iPhone Smoothly
Are the ten quick workarounds not working for you? If not, there is an alternative way to sync your iPhone to your computer without iTunes. One option is to pick MobiKin Assistant for iOS (Win and Mac) for convenience. This professional product allows you to easily sync your iOS device to your computer flexibly within minutes. Additionally, you can also use this utility to manage your iOS data with minimum effort.
Why select MobiKin Assistant for iOS?
- Sync your iPhone with your computer seamlessly with a single click.
- Select and sync specific data from your iPhone to your PC/Mac easily.
- Effortlessly restore your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch from your computer.
- Selectively transfer data between iOS devices and computers with ease.
- Compatible with a wide range of data types, including Contacts, Text Messages, Videos, Photos, Songs, eBooks, Notes, Safari Bookmarks, Voice Memos, Podcasts, Ringtones, Playlists, and more.
- Let you directly manage iOS files on any computer.
- Apply to overall iDevices, including iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro (Max), iPhone 13/13 Pro (Max)/13 mini/12/12 Pro (Max)/12 mini, iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max, iPhone X/XR/Xs/Xs Max, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6/6S/6 Plus, iPod touch, iPad, etc.
- It won't let out your privacy.
How to sync your iPhone with iTunes/computer via Assistant for iOS?
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable and launch the installed software. Follow the on-screen prompts to make sure your device is recognized. Once it is, you'll see the following screen.
Step 2. Click on "Super Toolkit" > "iTunes Backup & Restore". Then a window will pop up. Just choose "Backup" from the top interface.
Step 3. Select your device to back up and choose the option "Backup file(s) to default iTunes backup location" or customize the location. At last, please tap on "OK" to start syncing your iPhone with iTunes/computer.
Note: Do you want to selectively sync your iPhone with your computer using this program? Quick Navigation: Pick the data types you wish to back up from the left-side menu when you get to the main screen of the program. Next, preview and select the specific items on the right. Finally, click "Export" from the top menu and save the selected iPhone files to the connected computer.
The End
In conclusion, having an iPhone not syncing with iTunes can be quite discouraging. However, there are several quick methods that are perhaps applied to fix the issue timely. If the going gets tough, don't hesitate to try a dedicated iTunes substitute like MobiKin Assistant for iOS. This powerful program can provide you with an even better syncing experience, in addition to managing your iPhone data on your computer without any hassle.
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FAQs
Why won t my iPhone 11 sync with iTunes? ›
Figure out the reasons may save your time to some degree when troubleshooting. The USB cable or USB port you're using is broken or incompatible, which leads to an unstable connection between iPhone and iTunes/computer. An outdated version of iTunes or the operating system of iPhone.
Why is my iPhone not syncing with my iTunes? ›Sometimes your iPhone may be causing the problem in the synchronization process. To resolve it you can restart your iPhone. You must disconnect your gadget from the computer then hit the power off button and switch it on again to overcome the iTunes sync obstacles.
How do I force my iPhone to sync with iTunes? ›- Make sure that your iPhone or iPad is signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with your Apple Music subscription.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Music.
- Turn on Sync Library.
- Turn on Sync Library on your other devices.
- Open iTunes. ...
- Connect your iPhone to your PC via USB. ...
- Click on the device icon.
- Click Settings on the left side of iTunes to see the types of content you can sync.
- Click on the content you want, then click on Sync in iTunes.
- Click Apply in the lower right corner of iTunes.
1. From the Settings screen, select your Apple ID then select iCloud. 2. Select Show All, then select the switch next to each item to turn iCloud synchronization on or off as desired.
When I click Sync on iTunes nothing happens? ›You may need to set up the iPod's media "tabs" to tell iTunes what to sync to the iPod. If nothing happens now when you click Sync, it may be because nothing is selected for syncing, or there have been no changes to your iTunes library that are related to the existing sync settings. Select the iPod in iTunes.
Do I still need to sync my iPhone with iTunes? ›If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch: You only need to sync your device with iTunes if you want to do any of the following: Add your iTunes playlists to your device (unless you subscribe to Apple Music or iTunes Match) Add your own videos to your device.
How do I reset my iPhone sync? ›- Disconnect your device.
- Open iTunes.
- From the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
- Click the Devices tab.
- Click the Reset Sync History button, and then reconnect your device.
If you want to allow your computer to access information on your device, select your device in the Finder and click Trust, or if you're using iTunes, click Continue. On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, confirm that you allow your computer or other device to access your data.
Where is my iTunes library on iPhone 11? ›In the Music app, tap Library, then tap a category, such as Albums or Songs; tap Downloaded to view only music stored on iPhone. Scroll to browse or swipe down the page and type in the search field to filter your results and find what you're looking for.
Can iPhone 11 connect to PC without iTunes? ›
Without iTunes or third-party software, you can connect your iPhone to a Windows PC via a USB cable directly, which is the easiest way to get things done. However, convenient as it is, you can only access and transfer photos and videos from iPhone to PC.
How do I force SYNC? ›- Open your phone's Settings app.
- Tap About phone Google Account. Account sync. If you have more than one account on your phone, tap the one you want to sync.
- Tap More. Sync now.
Restart & Hard Reset iPhone
So, if you cannot sync your iPhone, restart your iPhone. Hold the Power button to restart your iPhone to get the Power Slider. Then, slide it and turn off your iPhone. Afterward, restart it and try to sync iPhone again.
Check your cell phone's compatibility. Possible cell phone malfunction. Try switching off your cell phone, resetting it or removing the battery, then trying again. Try deleting your device from SYNC and deleting SYNC from your device, then trying again.
Why is my sync having problems? ›Ensure you have an active internet connection
One of the first things that trigger the "Sync is currently experiencing problem" notification on Android is a poor internet connection. Your phone needs an active internet connection to sync information across your accounts.
In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window. Click Music in the sidebar on the left, below On My Device. Click the Autofill From pop-up menu at the bottom of the Music pane, then choose which songs you want to sync.
Why are my Apple devices not syncing? ›Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. Then, check that you turned on Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders in your iCloud settings. Check that the date and time settings on your device are correct for your current location.
How do I get all my Apple devices to sync? ›Simply select the “Automatically sync when this [device] is connected” checkbox in the General pane, then turn on syncing for each type of content you want to sync. Your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch update to matching content whenever you connect them.
How do I completely sync my iPhone? ›Open the Settings app on one device, tap your name to open the Apple ID screen, then select iCloud. Turn on the toggle switches next to every category of app and content that you want to sync between the iPhone and iPad. Repeat this process with the second device.
How do I fix my sync settings? ›Step 1: Press Windows + I to open the Settings app. Step 2: Go to Accounts > Sync your settings. Step 3: Turn on or off the button under Sync settings according to your requirements. Step 4: If you turn on Sync settings, the options under Individual sync settings will also be available.
How do I enable my phone to connect to my computer? ›
In the search box on the taskbar, type Phone Link, and then select Phone Link app from the results. Select Android. You'll be asked to sign into your Microsoft account (you'll need to be signed into the same Microsoft account on both your Android device and PC in order to link your devices.)
How can I access my iPhone files on my computer without iTunes or Icloud? ›- Download, install and launch FoneTool. ...
- Connect your iPhone to computer via USB cable > Enter passcode when asked.
- Choose iPhone to PC option.
- Then you can see all photos, music, videos, contacts on your iPhone.
- Connect your device to your computer. ...
- In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window.
- Click Summary.
- Select the checkbox for “Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi.”
- Click Apply.
Make sure that all of your devices have Sync Library turned on and signed in with the same Apple ID that you use with Apple Music. If your music library is stored on your computer, check the cloud status of songs to find missing music and resolve issues.
Has iTunes been discontinued? ›So far iTunes is still available for Windows users and receives regular maintenance updates. In macOS Catalina, iTunes was already replaced with four other apps in 2019.
What replaced iTunes? ›Q. What is Apple's replacement for iTunes? With the launch of macOS Catalina, Apple introduced dedicated apps namely Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Books to replicate the functionalities of iTunes.
How do I transfer music from my computer to my iPhone 11 without iTunes? ›- Download, install and launch MobileTrans. Head to the official site of MobileTrans, download and install it on your computer. ...
- Connect iPhone device to PC. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone device to the computer. ...
- Start to transfer music.
Depending on the number of music files, network condition, and your iDevice condition, it could take anywhere from a few minutes to multiple hours when initially turning the feature on. Let's get started to figure out how the three aspects influence the duration of syncing Apple Music library.
How do I get iTunes to recognize my iPhone wirelessly? ›- Connect your device to your computer. You can connect your device using a USB or USB-C cable or a Wi-Fi connection. ...
- In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window.
- Click Summary.
- Select the checkbox for “Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi.”
- Click Apply.
If you connect to a computer, it syncs. Your device may sync with iCloud. There isn't anything else to sync or link. If you log into your Apple ID account appleid.apple.com, you can see all of your active devices.
Why is it taking so long to sync? ›
As a program, Backup and Sync is susceptible to various factors that slow down the running process, such as incorrect user connections, damaged databases, broadband providers reducing connection speed, insufficient storage space, etc.
How do I check iPhone sync progress? ›Check the iCloud Sync Status
Firstly, open the in-app Settings, by tapping the ⚙️ in the top-right corner, and then select the iCloud Sync entry. This will open a page with the current syncing status at the top.
- Sign up for free and get your books in front of millions of customers. Here's what you need: ...
- Sign up for iTunes Connect. Use your existing Apple ID or create a new Apple ID. ...
- Choose your publisher type. ...
- Check your email. ...
- Complete your agreement. ...
- Provide tax and banking information.