Catalina - iPhone sync issues

A current fix for me was to update my iOS Device via the new Finder Sync, and before doing the update, select all of the files you want to sync and they'll sync over, it sucks tho cause you can only do it when their is a update for your phone which isn't often unless you are running a beta.

I deleted all the .plist files and left them in the trash and then rebooted my mac. What I noticed was time capsule lost all the info for my backups and some network info seemed to be lost. I restored all the .plist file from the trash and everything was back. No harm done and possibly during the next back all the time capsule data may have come back. I didn't want risking going through a full backup.

What I found out with respect purchased movies that were downloaded after my upgrade to Catalina is kind of interesting. Movies that were already on my Mac when I upgraded all have a file extension of '.mp4'. Movies downloaded after the upgrade have a file extension of '.movpkg'. All movies with '.mp4' extension show up fine in the Finder sync select list. Movies that have the extension of '.movpkg' do not show up. So, I bought a cheap movie and downloaded it. It had the '.movpkg' extension and did not appear in the movie sync list. Then I located the file on disk and changed the extension to '.mp4' and it showed up but it won't play with new file extension. I changed the extension back to '.movpkg' and it played, but did not show up in the movie sync list. It look like, for me, the issue I am trying to get past is the file extension not being recognized. Hopefully, soon all these issues with the upgrade will be corrected.

awoodell...... i am sure it was not all the plist files that were meant to be deleted.... " I only deleted a few: "'com.apple.finder.plist' plus any .plist files that start with 'com.apple.' and then have something like AMP or applemedia... after it. They haven't shown up again and I didn't note down their names so I can't tell you the exact name, but those were like 2-3 .plist files."

Well Apple has excelled itself this time....spend 4 hours making a playlist for a radio station; put your phone on a charger; go to bed; wake up in the morning and the playlist has gone.... and all Apple support can say is, it shouldn’t do that.....

Catalina is as good as Windows 10. I just wish there was somewhere else to go....

Trying to delete photos have been **** for me. I deleted a bunch on the photos app on my mac but it continues to stay on my iphone taking up space. And you're totally right about getting back a status bar because on my iphone which isn't even connected to my computer, it says that its still syncing on its own finder app...

I guess the only consolation is that everyone is having the same problem. When I try to google a solution, all I get is what to do if the iphone doesn't show up in the finder. Mine shows up, but won't sync. As soon as I select new music to add to the iphone, the sync button grays out and it won't sync. So I'm left with all the music that was on my phone pre-Catalina (can't add Christmas music!). Also, most of the artwork for the albums and playlists on the phone is messed up--most of it is now artwork for podcasts! They sync, sort of, over wifi. It takes some cleaning up, but it's bearable to use. But music doesn't seem to sync over wifi or any other way. Hopefully they get it sorted out in an update. I agree with everyone above--this is very disappointing Mr. Cook. Not worthy of Apple. Try testing updates before they're released! If I ever get everything working, maybe I'll finally learn my lesson and wait six months to update to a new OS.

Did you try to delete some duplicates?

If you are using Fotostream and do regular syncing, you get the same pictures twice: one jpeg version over Fotostream and the original version as HEIC picture.

I stopped usage of Fotostream here.

Reinstalled Catalina OS. It did not help at all with the sync issues. I keep waiting for a patch to come out, but will not hold my breath. I was a very active user of iTunes, not just using it to listen to music or watch tv or movies. I've bought almost 300 movies over the years not to mention buying hundreds of tv show, including most of the Dr Who episodes (most of the classic and all of the post reboot ones). I have no urge to buy or uses anything from Apple TV of music anymore. I'm using Netflix, Fire TV and Amazon music now.

Sadly, I too am looking at alternatives and the lack of response or update from Apple, shows how they value their customers.

Whag they are not getting, is that the majority of customers with the same issues are not vocal and either grin and bear it or move on.

EPIC MISS BY APPLE

Same issue. Catalina is a disaster. I am very close to abandoning Apple products after more than two decades of being a loyal user. I have spent hours already trying to rectify many issues and I am not even close to resolving them. Absolutely disgusting! 

It's like being a slave and you just get to shell out incredible amounts of money and have absolutely no real power or ownership of your possession and time. In the old days, I could fix almost anything myself in the back end, and now we have to just sit and take it, if you want to own an Apple product. Horror show!

I chatted last night with Apple Genius online and they basically said I just need to keep updated Catalina until the issues clear. Eff that - my Macbook is migrating BACK to Mojave. I've spent way too many frustrated hours for no good reason. I'm attempting proper syncs on an iPod Classic and an iPhone Xr - both worked fine with Mojave.

The Music App is simply no way near as robust - even just for Music - than iTunes was. So, if people think it's bloated, strip out Movies, TV, Podcasts - but leave it for Music (or even rename it Music) - but don't strip of functionality! 'Seeing' device tracks in Finder is NOT the same as seeing and controlled them in iTunes.

Ironically, iTunes for Windows works well even for my iPod classic that hasn’t been recognized since Mavericks.

I installed Windows 10 with Boot Camp and moved my library to an external drive formatted as FAT32 so visible by both Mac & Windows. Now all is good again.

Now I am reluctant to upgrade my iPhones and iPads and am looking at other options.

10.15.2 OS updated just now. Mail looks good. Phone linked right away with Finder...BUT wouldn't let me backup. "Phone not connected"..."Phone timed out"...and one other goofy error notice I can't remember. I attached phone to MacBook Pro with USB and it beeped like crazy, flashed like crazy on computer screen. Between Apple and AT&T I feel like I am an experiment in the MKUltra program...

So latest update did absolutely nothing. Both Catalina and iOS were updated to latest and greatest NOT.

hooked up my iPad Pro which has been synced on this computer many times and it asked I want to Erase and Replace since music and photos. I thought why is it asking that but said OK. Made sure all my choices were still selected and hit Sync.

16 hrs later, not a single file was deleted or new ones added.

NO FREAKING STATUS IS BEYOND INSANE. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MI D THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA?

SO back to a fully functioning iTunes on Boot Camp Windows 10.