finder iphone sync apply grayed out

Same problem. Finder looked like this, eject option available for iPhone so sync finished. Relaunched finder (holding 'alt-option' button and clicking finder in dock or 'alt+cmd+esc' to launch force quit menu). All previous greyed buttons became available.

I am having this problem too. I also cannot set Backup options to my machine. I have backed up my iPad Pro to my iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014) for years but those options are now greyed out. I was forced to set up an iCloud backup from the iPad.

Basically, the syncing interface in the Finder seems useless. I'm tempted to clear the device and restore it but it seems more like a MacOS issue than an iPad OX issue. I'll try syncing from my laptop to see if it is Catalina-wide.

Well, I was going to report that I had the same problem, but it's now solved.

The iPhone did sync, but after sync'ing it would not back up, even after the sync wheel was complete (first pic: sync wheel almost complete).

At this point if I tried to eject (see second pic where backup options are still grayed out, showing date of last backup) I would get a message saying the phone was still sync'ing - even though it had just finished sync'ing!-).

But then the iPhone went into a loop of quick synchronizations (5 seconds each) and when I was ready to take the pic of the grayed out backup options, the back up was complete!!

Notice that before the above described sequence I had run the sync process at least three or four times AND rebooted the phone.

I too am having this problem. Running MAC OS Catalina 10.15.2 and IOS 13.3 on a brand new 7th Generation iPad. I was able to complete the initial synch using the Apple provided USB cable. The Photos did not synch correctly with hundreds of individual photos in the wrong albums. I am attempting to synch again to fix the photos problem, but both the revert and apply buttons are greyed out still two hours after the iPad has been connected to the Mac.

Hello,

Thank you for posting in discussions.

First things first concerning the Finder Window for your iOS Devices: When you plug it in for the very first time you need to click trust etc.

Secondly, it will appear as grayed out as long as the Syncing process is concerned - If you can recall on iTunes, there were 4 steps, 2 out of the 4 where the diagnostics and the sync would take place.

Wait for the initial sync to be completed then the Back Up etc Options will become available.

If you are still experiencing the same issue, unplug, restart the iOS Device and plug it in again.

If the same issue persists, let me know.

All the best!

Kind regards,

Andrew

iOS/Mac Product Specialist

I'm having the same issue with my iPhone 7 in Catalina. I see no wheel or any other indication on the phone or the sidebar in Finder that the phone is still syncing, but the buttons are still grayed out.

I have the same problem with my iPad. I want to back it up, but it's just grayed out and there's no type of loading indicator on Finder next to my iPad icon nor is there a spinner of any kind on my iPad. I've tried restarting the iPad and I'm unable to sync anything. And the Finder's storage meter shows my iPad being completely full, but when I check on my iPad, it says I have 25GB free. I'm really starting to miss the old iTunes setup before; once they split up everything in Catalina, syncing just doesn't work anymore.

I tried all that Andrew and I still have the same problem.

1- First: I never got the question to TRUST the computer. How can I get that?

2- The iPad Pro Third Generation is connected with a new USB-C cable to my iMac and all SW are up to date. It keeps Sync for hors and hors, never stopped and them it says; disconnected.

3- my iPhone 11 Pro Max worked like a charm, no problems at all

HELP HELP

I have the same problem. My iPad Pro seems to be syncing fine, but my iPhone won't. I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting, and I've tried restarting both my iMac and the phone. Each time, the phone shows up, but as soon as I make a change to the sync selections, the buttons gray out. There is no indication that anything is happening in the Finder window or on the phone.

Apparently some partial sync has occurred at some point, because I'm now missing a bunch of music that had been on my phone previously. I'm not sure why it took stuff off that's supposed to be on there, but, that's what has happened.

This is extremely frustrating. I'm not accustomed to Mac OS upgrades being this problematic.

I have the same issues.

Purchased an Iphone 11pro max yesterday, with 13.2.3 , and all the "sync" buttons were greyed out. can not transfer any photos, music, etc.

Checked other devices that I have:

I pad with 13.2.3

I pod with 12.3

Other devices have the same results. The common theme is Catalina 10.15.1 on my Mac. All my IOS devices worked with sync prior to installing Catalina. Can not transfer anything.

I have reset nvram, did a smc reset, and that is about all I know how to do.

Anyone have any luck yet?

I am having same problem with iPhone X as well as iPad. The backup (and restore) buttons are greyed out EVEN AFTER the synching is completed. Both the wheel stops rotating as well as the pie completes rotating and the eject icon appears.

I am wondering if it is because the iPhone is low on charge and the cable is not providing enough power for charging? Will this prevent the iPhone from allowing a back up?

All my IOS devices are at 100% charge. At least for me that is not an issue.

I have thought about restoring at least one of my IOS devices, since it at least gives me that option but am a little gunshy of what I might end up with.

I am stumped!

hi there all, the issue below is now solved. I have kept the post here in case anyone has the same challenge. Once I selected the albums, the APPLY button (greyed out) eventually showed up for selection. I trust this will take away all the other albums that were synced over by default.

hi there all, will appreciate any advice on this issue. My photos synced across (both iTunes and iOS updated) but at the first connection, the default seems to be ALL albums. With this, the phone will show limited space and the SYNC button will show up. However, when you select the albums, the APPLY button will grey out. How am I to reduce the iphone storage when I cannot select albums?

I have an iPhone Xs. As with everyone else I have Catalina 10.15.1 on by MacBook. I accepted "trust" on both devices. My iPhone battery is at 100%. Backup is greyed out and sync is greyed out. I guess sync is in progress but I have no indication on either my Mac or iPhone of progress. I have rebooted both my Mac and iPhone twice. I saw @DiegoRasmussen post that his sync finished but have experienced no such luck myself. I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions, clues or guesses?

Good day,

after doing everything stated above I am still having issues syncing my music onto my iPhone. I deleted the music app on my phone and reinstalled it to see if that would help but now even after selecting the playlists I want synced no music is on my phone. The iPhone does not appear to be syncing in the finder app ( no syncing icon, just the eject button) however, on the music on my Mac at the very bottom left says syncing