"Automatically sync ..." is greyed out - no Syncing under Preferences

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"Automatically sync ..." is greyed out - no Syncing under Preferences

I see someone else had this problem, but the solution confused me.

In iTunes Summary my iPhone, the "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected" is unchecked and greyed out. Another poster suggested going to Preferences > Syncing, and that seemed to fix the problem for him, but.... there is no "syncing" under my preferences.

I want iTunes to launch when I connect the iPhone (it currently does) and automatically sync (which it does not).

iTunes 8, iPhone 2.1, OSX 10.5.5.

Any ideas?

MBP, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Sep 17, 2008 7:02 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

neuroanatomist

Level 9

56,217 points

Sep 17, 2008 7:14 AM in response to mmmiles B

The checkbox is in iTunes menu > Preferences > Devices tab. Make sure the box "Disable automatic syncing..." is UNchecked.

When that option is checked, the Automatic syncing option on the Summary tab is grayed out. So, uncheck that box in the Devices tab of Preferences, then check the box to automatically sync on the iPhone Summary tab, and you should be all set (iTunes will launch and sync when you connect the iPhone).

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Answer 2

Sep 17, 2008 8:46 AM in response to mmmiles B

The checkbox in settings disables automatic syncing of all devices. The one on the Summary tab applies only to that specific device. For example, I want to automatically sync my iPhone, and one of my iPod nanos, and a mini, but not my iPod Touch, the iPod Classic, and and a second nano, so the Summary tab checkboxes let me do that. But, with the Preferences settings, I could turn them all off at once.

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Answer 3

mmmiles B Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 17, 2008 9:16 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I understand what it does, but I don't see the point. For starters, most users will never look past the Summary page. The only person I could see it being useful for would be users who a) own many devices b) never want to sync a single one.

If I own few devices, I could easily check them off manually (you only do it once after all), and if I own a lot of devices, it seems more likely that I'd want to auto sync at least ONE of them.

Anyway, mystery solved. Just seems like an option that shouldn't be there in the first place.

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Answer 4

Sep 17, 2008 9:25 AM in response to mmmiles B

Well, one scenario that applies is that I sync my iPhone and multiple iPods to my Mac (automatically or via manual management of music), but I frequently need to connect them to the USB port of my computer at work to charge them. I don't want any of them to sync to iTunes on the work computer (no music/etc. in there), so the global option to disable syncing is quite handy for me.

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Answer 5

mmmiles B Author

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Sep 17, 2008 7:40 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Thank you. That seems like a confusingly redundant checkbox.

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Answer 6

mmmiles B Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 17, 2008 9:31 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Good point, thanks - that does make more sense.

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