FalakShah

Q: The iPhone "..." could not be synced because the sync session failed to start

I am trying to sync my iPhone 4 with iTunes and I receive this "The iPhone 'XYZ's iPhone' could not be synced because the sync session failed to start." I have synced this phone many times in the past without any issues and this error just started to occur. I have done all the usual: reset my phone settings, restarted my computer etc. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what I could do?

iPhone 4, Mac OS X (10.6.7), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 24, 2011 8:32 PM

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Q: The iPhone "..." could not be synced because the sync session failed to start

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  • by FL_iphone_user,

    FL_iphone_user FL_iphone_user Nov 30, 2011 4:15 PM in response to greenhut
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2011 4:15 PM in response to greenhut

    greenhut:

     

    Try the following.  It's a repeat of what we did above.

     

    Since you're using multiple devices, upgrade ALL devices to the latest OS.  Avoid any betas and use the latest stable software (iOS 5.0.1).

     

    After you install the software upgrade, do a cold reboot on all devices.

     

    Then empty the trash can (or Recycle Bin) on everything.  iTunes puts some bad files in there which are causing problems.  This is a key step.  If you have temp files too remove them also.

     

    Since you implied iCloud in your message, I'm assuming that you were messing around with the iCloud settings like I was.  You need to do a complete iCloud sync on all devices first.  Let it complete.  Check the option to sync over Wifi too in iTunes.  If the iTunes struggles, go into Settings | iCloud | Storage & Backup and try syncing from there instead.

     

    Once the iCloud Wifi completes successfully on all devices, then try changing the option back to USB and resync again with USB.

     

    There should be no need to uninstall or reinstall anything.  Try playing around with the Trash and the iCloud sync. 

     

     

    My setup:  iphone4 + WinXP

  • by greenhut,

    greenhut greenhut Nov 30, 2011 4:20 PM in response to FL_iphone_user
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 30, 2011 4:20 PM in response to FL_iphone_user

    Thanks for the tips FL - unfortunately - no luck. Was already on the latest everything (no betas), did the trash emptying and disbaled icloud. Can't say I know how to do an icloud sync?

     

    Anyway, after trying everything, I did a full erase/restore with the latest 5.1 beta and then a backup restore to a backup about a month ago just in case to avoid corruption in a backup. All is well... FINALLY!!

     

    I am going to keep my wifes iphone 4 broken so when apple gets back to me on the bug I submitted, maybe they can get to the bottom of this.

  • by FL_iphone_user,

    FL_iphone_user FL_iphone_user Nov 30, 2011 5:19 PM in response to greenhut
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 30, 2011 5:19 PM in response to greenhut

    Regarding the iCloud, you have to enable the iCloud and not disable it.  If you disabled it you have to reactivate it and recreate the account.  Then either sync up to the Cloud with your device or iTunes.  You can do this after installing the new software update.  After you install the update on your device, your device will ask you if you want to use the Cloud or not.  You can also control the iCloud settings under Settings | iCloud like I said above.

     

    After you sync with the Cloud and everything goes well, then change it back to the USB option but you must complete the sync with the Cloud if you messed around with the settings.

     

    Also enable the option in iTunes to sync via Wifi.

     

    The problem seems to involve the Trash and the iCloud via Wifi.

     

    Although someone mentioned about Outlook mail, I did not do anything with my Outlook mail.

     

    Look in Settings | iCloud carefully.

  • by lkahdkjhlahdslas,

    lkahdkjhlahdslas lkahdkjhlahdslas Dec 5, 2011 8:11 PM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 5, 2011 8:11 PM in response to FalakShah

    Did anyone try restarting your computer? it worked for me

  • by JamesBou,

    JamesBou JamesBou Dec 7, 2011 6:27 PM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 7, 2011 6:27 PM in response to FalakShah

    I don't have any beta versions of software on my iPhone 4 and cannot sync for the same reason of the original post

  • by aaronc2008,

    aaronc2008 aaronc2008 Dec 8, 2011 12:12 PM in response to JamesBou
    Level 1 (20 points)
    Dec 8, 2011 12:12 PM in response to JamesBou

    I'm having the same issue. I have no Beta versions of anything on my iPhone, iPad, or MacBook but I can't sync either device due to this error

  • by Lumbo,

    Lumbo Lumbo Dec 11, 2011 7:49 AM in response to nikkiespo
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 11, 2011 7:49 AM in response to nikkiespo

    I tried this restore solution and it worked for me too.  Took three hours to reload the back-up but got there in the end.  Naughty Apple "upgrades" !!

  • by Jason Sheen,

    Jason Sheen Jason Sheen Dec 12, 2011 7:46 PM in response to Lumbo
    Level 2 (284 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 12, 2011 7:46 PM in response to Lumbo

    for me, my backup setting in Summary in itunes was setup to icloud instead of my computer and since i hadnt set up icloud, that was the issue

     

    once i switched it, it worked fine

  • by mrsiluvchoco,

    mrsiluvchoco mrsiluvchoco Dec 14, 2011 1:47 PM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 14, 2011 1:47 PM in response to FalakShah

    have you tried quitting itunes and reopening it

  • by simonafromalexander city,

    simonafromalexander city simonafromalexander city Dec 17, 2011 3:53 AM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 17, 2011 3:53 AM in response to FalakShah

    I did everythig you said and it worked at first. I was able to upload 3-4 pics to my phone and then the same problem occured again. I'm using iTunes 10.5.2, any suggestions?

  • by nowinNM,

    nowinNM nowinNM Dec 17, 2011 10:21 AM in response to simonafromalexander city
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 17, 2011 10:21 AM in response to simonafromalexander city

    If you leave your iPhone plugged into your computer when you shut down and it is still plugged in when you restart, iTunes and the syncing software does not like it. Don't know why.

     

    I have had good success when I start-up my computer without my iPhone attached.

     

    Good luck & happy holidays.

  • by mathman2011,

    mathman2011 mathman2011 Dec 19, 2011 2:14 AM in response to sound-jack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 19, 2011 2:14 AM in response to sound-jack

    What's this nonsense about beta 1 and beta 2 ?? .. could someone tell me what this means ? ...

  • by jambay,

    jambay jambay Dec 19, 2011 9:00 AM in response to mathman2011
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 19, 2011 9:00 AM in response to mathman2011

    I was able to get this working on OSX 10.7.2 and my iPhone 4S after restarting iTunes.

  • by froyafromdawson,

    froyafromdawson froyafromdawson Dec 25, 2011 5:28 PM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2011 5:28 PM in response to FalakShah

    Would the updating to beta 2 solution work for an iPod Touch 4?

  • by BobHinCF,

    BobHinCF BobHinCF Dec 28, 2011 3:58 PM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 28, 2011 3:58 PM in response to FalakShah

    Have had this problem occassionally.  I'm running iTunes 10.5.2(11) on OS X (MacBook Pro w/ Snow Leopard 10.6.8) and iOS 5.0.1 on an iPhone 4.

     

    This fixed the problem:

         1) Unplug the iPhone from the computer

         2) Power down the iPhone and restart

         3) Restart the computer

         4) Plug the USB cable in

     

    ... it synced.

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