iPhone & iTunes refuses to enable Sync Over Wi-Fi

Question

Level 1

20 points

iPhone & iTunes refuses to enable Sync Over Wi-Fi

I have an iPhone X that for reasons was backing up and syncing to two of my Macs at home. I wanted to stop using one of them as a destination, but this was the only computer that the iPhone recognised as a Wi-Fi Sync destination on the iPhone's settings: General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync.

I read online that the iPhone is actually designed to only sync/backup to one computer at a time – not two as I had it. Apparently, the only way to assign which sole computer to sync to is to Erase the iPhone to factory settings and restore from backup, in which case the iPhone supposedly should greet the next connecting computer as a new computer.

Today I erased the iPhone and restored from an iTunes computer backup. I'm not sure if during the process the iPhone started to see the computer as a "new" backup destination.

Either way, I'm now having a problem where on the iPhone's General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, it shows the same image below regardless if I flip the checkbox in iTunes: Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi:

I have tried various combinations of flipping the checkbox and restarting the iPhone/iTunes/Mac and syncing the iPhone, without success. The iPhone screen constantly shows the image to connect the cable.

Since I just erased and restored the iPhone from backup, I'm a bit pessimistic it would help with the issue. I suspect something might be wrong with the unique syncing identifier for iTunes/Wi-Fi Sync?

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Apr 1, 2019 11:03 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Apr 1, 2019 11:22 AM in response to 6280

Did you sync with the cable and then enable the WiFi Sync option after that?

Did you try a manual sync using the cable and then enable the WiFi option?

Launch iTunes and go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices. Check the box at the bottom of the window to prevent iPods, iPhone, iPads from auto syncing. Click OK. Quit iTunes, reboot the Mac and try again. Do a cable sync and then select the option to sync over WiFi.

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 2, 2019 7:21 AM in response to 6280

Is the other computer that you synced with still on the Wi-Fi network? If it is try turning it off.

Reply

Answer 3

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Apr 2, 2019 7:14 AM in response to 6280

I assume that you have tried initiating the sync from iTunes itself correct? Another thought, though I don’t think this will lead anywhere, if you also backup with iCloud, turn that off on the phone before you try syncing.

I suggest that because, I backup up with iCloud every night (that is when it works correctly) and I backup with iTunes every week or two. I used to leave the option to backup to iCloud checked on the Mac when I tried to sync, but that caused problems. Sometimes it would backup and sync OK, but too often it wouldn’t do either. So I got into the habit of turning of iCloud backup on my phone and iPad before backing up and syncing with iTunes.

Whether my suggestions help or not, I want to keep this discussion going for you.

Reply

Answer 4

6280 Author

Level 1

20 points

Apr 2, 2019 6:53 AM in response to Demo

Yes, I have tried different combinations of connecting the iPhone to the Mac via USB cable and flipping the checkbox "Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi" – along with rebooting iTunes, Mac, iPhone etc. I think I've done most of the possible combinations.

I also now tried your suggestion of iTunes to "Prevent Auto Sync iPods, iPhone, iPads of syncing automatically", restarting the devices, connecting the iPhone to the Mac via USB cable and then enabling the Wi-Fi sync button. I was hoping that would work, but unfortunately not.

I still have the problem on the iPhone where it shows the same screen as above – asking me "To enable Wi-Fi syncing with iTunes, connect to iTunes on your computer using a cable and click 'Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi'".

Thanks for your help, appreciate any advice anyone has on this matter.

Reply

Answer 5

Demo

Level 10

166,747 points

Apr 2, 2019 7:29 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Great suggestion. I lost sight of that.

Reply

Answer 6

6280 Author

Level 1

20 points

Apr 3, 2019 4:02 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thanks Lawrence for this good suggestion – the other Mac is still on the network and I tried doing this while having it's Wi-Fi disabled (it's a MacBook not on Ethernet). Unfortunately, it didn't help.

For what it's worth, I have removed the Backup of the iPhone X from the other Mac's iTunes, in Preferences > Devices > Device backups. I'm not sure however if that removes the sync linkage between the Mac and the iPhone, or if that only removes the backup. I deleted the device on that menu before actually factory resetting my iPhone, and curiously when connecting the iPhone over cable after deleting the device, it wanted to reinitiate sync as if it still knew the iPhone – only that the previous backup was gone.

I haven't reconnected the iPhone to the other Mac after the factory reset, and I'm not sure if I should – as I'm worried that might reinitiate syncing to that Mac's iTunes.

BTW, I believe my issue is similar or identical to this one (unresolved): https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8256411

According to that thread, the iPhone would actually sync over Wi-Fi at times, but it's not just visible on the iPhone Wi-Fi Sync screen, and the button to manually initiate syncing obviously isn't there. This seems to be the case, as I can connect the iPhone to iTunes via cable, then press the button "Sync" in iTunes, unplug the iPhone – and it will still continue to backup/sync according to iTunes. The iPhone briefly shows the rotating sync icon in the top right corner, but only for a few seconds. I am suspecting this way of initiating Wi-Fi sync is unintended (either Wi-Fi sync should be initiated automatically or by button press on the iPhone screen).

Reply

iPhone & iTunes refuses to enable Sync Over Wi-Fi

Similar questions