Apple iTunes

Deprecated

Since the latest updates of iOS and OSX a lot of this information from 2013 is deprecated. Please look for iTunes 2021

Wi-Fi Synchronization

This sections is a summary of useful information found on different Internet articles.

Basics

The basics .
One of the worst things about syncing your iOS device was that you were constantly having to plug in your device to you computer. Not anymore. Now, if your computer and iOS device are both on the same Wi-Fi network, you can sync all your applications, books, movies, tv shows, music, podcast, audiobooks, ringtones and photos without plugging any wires in.

Well, I lied when I said you didn’t have to connect your device by wire again, because in order to enable wireless syncing you have to connect your device via wire one last time. Plug in your device and go to the source list in iTunes, then scroll down to the summary pane. Your iOS device can’t sync with iTunes when iTunes isn’t running, so you’ll need to check two boxes in the options section.

• Open iTunes when this <device> is connected [Optional]
• Sync with this <device> over Wi-Fi [Mandatory]

Once both are checked, simply press the sync button to save your changes.

There are two ways to get your device to sync now,

• Gg to the Settings app on your device and tapping General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync then Sync Now, which will simply start syncing right away.
• Automatically sync whenever you plug your device in to charge.
  For instance, when I go to bed, I plug my iPhone and iPad in on my nightstand, when I do that it automatically sync with my iTunes, I don’t even have to think about it. It’s pretty much a simple setup that you only have to do once for each of your devices and then just forget about it and let it do all the work.

If you open up iTunes while your device is wireless connected, you can still change the settings and select media to sync. To get to the connected devices, click the devices button on the upper right hand side of the iTunes. If you have more than one device connected, they will all show up in the little devices pane. Select the one you’d like to go to and you can select or de-select media to sync, as well as change options that will all wirelessly sync to your device.

Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot an iOS device
It would seem that even though the device is set up to sync with iTunes correctly, sometimes it just feels like being a jerk and not syncing. I’m a fan of Apple products, but it’s no secret that syncing with iTunes can be a little buggy.

First if you simply need help understanding how to sync with iTunes or how to set it up you can check the part Basics.

The fixes are what I have found through hours of reading articles and forums, as well as speaking to people through twitter and other online resources to find out what has the highest chances of working. These instructions may work for you, however nothing is guaranteed as it’s pretty much trial and error. Try each solution, then attempt to sync, if it doesn’t work, go to the next solution and so on. I will put them in order of easiest and quickest methods, down to the more drastic.

Device not found

• If syncing over Wi-Fi, make sure both your computer and iOS device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• If iTunes computer is also on Wi-Fi
  • Turn Wi-Fi off
  • Turn Wi-Fi on
• Restart your iOS device, restart computer and restart your wireless router if your device syncs over Wi-Fi.
• Plug in your iPad, iPhone or iPod into iTunes.
  • Uncheck Sync with this <device> over Wi-Fi.
  • Click Apply.
  • Check Sync with this <device> over Wi-Fi.
  • Click Apply. It also may help to disable Home Sharing and then re-enable it.
• Uninstalling iTunes and then re-installing it may work. If you take this route make sure to do a backup first.
• If you just want your iOS device to sync and don’t care if it syncs over Wi-Fi or by plugging it in with the cable, then just deselect Sync with this <device> over Wi-Fi.

Remember that with the new iTunes (11) the devices tab has moved from the left side to the top right hand side of iTunes. If none of the above made iTunes recognize or connect to your device you could always restore your device (wipe everything off it then restore it with a backup). I have heard many people fix most syncing issues with this method. However make sure you have made a backup if you take this route, so that you can restore all your settings and apps ect, when you’re done restoring.

If you want to bring back the left side-panel that shows all the devices connected, Music, Movies ect. Then go to the menu bar in iTunes -> View -> Show Sidebar.

Connects but no sync

• If you have Manually manage music and videos checked, try unchecking it and then syncing.
  • After recheck it and try syncing.
  • Make sure you have the music or video selected when syncing.
• If your apps aren’t syncing properly try to deauthorize and then reauthorize your computer.
  • To do this, open iTunes, go to the menu bar and select -> Store -> “Deauthorize This Computer”.
  • After it’s done, simply select Authorize This Computer.
• In your device window under the Summary tab,
  • Check to see if Sync only checked songs and videos is checked, if it is make sure you have the music or video selected when syncing.
• If your music isn’t syncing,
  • Go to the Music tab in your iOS devices window in iTunes and uncheck Sync Music.
  • Click Apply.
  • Once done, check Sync Music.
  • Try the same thing if it’s something else like your Movies that isn’t syncing.
• The only options that I have selected under the iTunes summary page are
  • Sync this iPhone over Wi-Fi
  • Prefer standard definition videos
  • Syncing working well for me with these options selected, maybe it would also work for you.
• Restoring your device may work. Instructions on how to do this are at the bottom of the page.

Music is greyed out

• Go to the devices window
  • Select the On this <device> tab.
  • Make sure the song is checked, once checked it should change from grey to black and then be playable.
• An issue that is surprisingly common when trying to sync with iTunes via the USB cable is simply that the USB cable is faulty.
  I know it may sound strange, but if nothing here works, then you may need to use a different/new USB cable or even trying syncing over Wi-Fi.
• If when/after you sync you notice that the song is greyed out on your iOS Device then the song may not be in the proper format.
  • Right click on the song in the iTunes and select Create AAC version.
  • This will create a new version of the music file.
  • Delete the original song file and sync the newly created AAC version.
• Check to see if you have
  • Manually manage music and videos or
  • Sync only checked songs and videos selected in the Summary tab of your devices window,
  • if it is make sure you have the music or video selected when syncing.
• Go to the Settings app on your iOS device
  • Tap iTunes & App Stores, turn off Automatic Downloads for Music, Apps and Books.
  • Connect your device to iTunes,
  • Go through the device page
  • Uncheck Sync Music,
  • Click Apply.
  • After it’s done check Sync Music.
  • Turn Automatic Downloads back on if you like.
• Sign out of all iTunes accounts on your iOS device and iTunes, then sign back in.
• There is a very good chance that restoring your iOS device will also fix this issue.

Restore iOS Device

Restoring your device will wipe everything off of it, so if you want to restore everything make sure you make a backup!

1. Disconnect the USB cable from the iPad, iPhone or iPod
2. Launch iTunes
3. Turn off your iOS device.
   Press and hold the Home and Power button until it turns off.
4. Press and hold the Home button while you reconnect the USB cable
5. Keep holding down the home button until iTunes shows an alert saying that a device in recovery mode has been detected.

Sometimes restoring your device and setting up as a new device instead of restoring from a backup works as well, however this should be only used if nothing else works.

Backup device

Backing up your iOS device is very important. It could be lost, stolen or even just accidentally erased.

With backing up your device being so simple there is no reason not to keep a backup.

There are 2 ways to easily backup an iPad, iPhone or iPod,

1. iCloud backup-restore
2. iTunes baclup-restore

Backup iCloud

Backing up in iCloud is imho, faster and easier than backing up in iTunes. It automatically backs up your device when it is connected to Wi-Fi, plugged in and has its screen turned off. Most people plug their device in at least once a day/night to charge, so iCloud will make a daily backup.
You can still however do a manual backup by going to Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup on your iOS device and tapping the Back Up Now button.

Restoring iCloud

Restoring an iCloud backup is even easier. When you initially start up either a new iOS device or a freshly restored (erased) device you’ll be presented with the Setup Assistant. It’ll ask you how you’d like to restore. There are 3 choices,

1. Setup as a new device,
2. Restore from iCloud
3. Restore from iTunes.

If you’ve been backing up in iCloud, tap the “Restore from iCloud Backup”. Sit back and watch as iCloud starts downloading all the apps, your contacts and everything else that is conveniently written in the big letters above. Depending on your internet speed and how much iCloud has to restore it could take a while, so maybe do something other than sit back and watch as it downloads…

Backup iTunes

Backing up in iTunes is as simple as plugging your device into your computer. If iTunes is set to sync automatically it’ll make a backup if necessary. You can also manually backup in iTunes by by going to Summary page of your iOS device. Under the Backups section you can choose to backup to iCloud or “This Computer”. Make sure “This Computer” is selected if you want to use iTunes then click the “Back Up Now” button.

Restore iTunes

Imho the most secure wy for making a backup of you devices.
To restore in iTunes,

• Go to the Device page
• Click the Restore Backup button.

For added security you can also encrypt it. So if you have a lot of sensitive information on your device and worried that someone is going to steal the backups off your computer, you can set a password and encrypt it.
If you also backup your entire computer with Time Machine you can have a backup of your backup.