itunes 12.9.4.94 photo sync stuck at "reading photos"

Ive been having the same issue since Mac OS 10.14.4 was released on 25th March. Even 10.14.5 didn't resolve the issue and it still takes about 4-5 hours for every sync with it being stuck at "Reading photos from". I have tried all kinds of reseting devices and deleting iPod Photo Cache etc but nothing works.

No idea why I didn't think of this before but I have a time machine backup so copied a version of iTunes from 10.14.3 to a different folder, opened it, pressed sync and it was finished in less than a minute!

My photo folder is well over 10,000 photos and videos but it only had to sync about 50 photos that weren't already on my phone and it did it just as quick as it used to!

If you have a time machine backup this is worth doing until if/when Apple fix it.

Hi Fidipaldi,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you’re having trouble syncing with iTunes. I’m happy to help. I suggest taking a look at the article below:

Sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod using iTunes on your computer - Apple Support

Should the issue persist, you’ll want to refer to the “Get help” section.

Take care.

I posted about this as well. And followed the steps you followed.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250270137

I have no advice except to please report it to Apple.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html

I have this problem, too and it seems like a lot of others do as well. Please report it to Apple:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

The more people that so this, the quicker the problem may get fixed!

John

I've had this same problem since iTunes 12.9.4.94 as well. Just updated to 12.9.5.5, and the problem is still there.

Before, adding maybe only one photo took less than a minute to sync and complete.

Now it takes hours and hours as it is stuck at "reading photos." I have thousands of images as well as videos. It's exhausting that it has to repeat the same tired process every time.

I have sent notifications to Apple about this, but apparently, no engineers fixed the issue with the recent software update.

Has anyone figured out if the problem is solved elsewhere on user-end?

I just tried it with one of my iPads. The initial sync with the old version of iTunes took a while (almost 30K photos in my library) but it worked, and then I added a few photos and it synced right away, like it's SUPPOSED TO.

Will try my other devices now.

THANK YOU!!!

I had to do a bit of tweaking with my folders, but this solution has apparently solved this problem. I recommend it to others until Apple fixes this! I wouldn't call this "Solved" because we shouldn't have to have multiple versions of iTunes, but it is certainly an "interim fix". 😉

Great ! ... just restored iTunes 12.9.2.5 (build 06/11/2018) out of timemachine backup (24/11/2018) to dekstop and it works, like before and as you told. Many thanks! fine solution!

So, please, Apple should repair the actual iTunes 12.9.5.5 !!!!

A.

As I posted in another question about this same thing, I have tried the same things as well with no luck. Even though it is a pain I'm so glad to see I'm not alone on this.

No, there is no known fox for this that I can see anywhere else.

Please keep pestering Apple. This problem occurred once before and they eventually fixed it after quite a long time.

John

5.5 hours reading photos... not good. I will now do what others have done and look on my backup for an earlier iTunes version to use.

bad testing Apple.