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Wifi syncing with iPhone not working on Big Sur?
I've synced my iPhone XS via USB to my MacBook Air, then checked the 'Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi' but the iPhone refuses to show up in the finder wirelessly until plugged back in via USB.
macOS: Big Sur 11.2.2
ios: 14.4
Both are on the same network... Both are updated to the last OS
iPhone XS, iOS 14
Talking with apple support was extremely disappointing.
Look at this statement on this link:
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/wi-fi-syncing-mchlada1d602/mac
Before disconnecting your device from your Mac, click the Eject button 
in the Finder sidebar. The device icon disappears, but Wi-Fi syncing remains turned on. The icon reappears automatically the next time your Mac and device are connected to the same WI-Fi network.
The second sentence says I should see my iPhone on the Mac Finder automatically when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. AND WITHOUT ANY USB CABLE.....
I also have had this experience one month ago that I could sync my iPhone with my Mac Book wirelessly and transfer some files to my iPhone without any cable and just through Wi-Fi. I do not know what is wrong at the moment but after "2 hours talking with 4 people from apple support the problem is still going on and they couldn't solve it! It's pity and very disappointing.
I showed all of them this sentence on the above-mentioned link. To me, it was like they even don't know this!!!
It's a serious problem and I recommend apple company to think about the support team to put some experts to avoid wasting customers' time!!
Enough funny that one of them told me it's not necessary to see the iPhone's icon on the Mac when the USB cable is not connected. COME ON! If all the time iPhone needs to be connected to Mac by a USB cable what's the point of synchronizing wirelessly?!!!!! GUYS, IT SHOULD BE A CONNECTION BY WI-FI WITHOUT CABLE.... :))))))
[Image Edited by Moderator to Remove Personal Information]
Talking with apple support was extremely disappointing.
Look at this statement on this link:
https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/wi-fi-syncing-mchlada1d602/mac
Before disconnecting your device from your Mac, click the Eject button in the Finder sidebar. The device icon disappears, but Wi-Fi syncing remains turned on. The icon reappears automatically the next time your Mac and device are connected to the same WI-Fi network.
The second sentence says I should see my iPhone on the Mac Finder automatically when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. AND WITHOUT ANY USB CABLE.....
I also have had this experience one month ago that I could sync my iPhone with my Mac Book wirelessly and transfer some files to my iPhone without any cable and just through Wi-Fi. I do not know what is wrong at the moment but after "2 hours talking with 4 people from apple support the problem is still going on and they couldn't solve it! It's pity and very disappointing.
I showed all of them this sentence on the above-mentioned link. To me, it was like they even don't know this!!!
It's a serious problem and I recommend apple company to think about the support team to put some experts to avoid wasting customers' time!!
Enough funny that one of them told me it's not necessary to see the iPhone's icon on the Mac when the USB cable is not connected. COME ON! If all the time iPhone needs to be connected to Mac by a USB cable what's the point of synchronizing wirelessly?!!!!! GUYS, IT SHOULD BE A CONNECTION BY WI-FI WITHOUT CABLE.... :))))))
[Image Edited by Moderator to Remove Personal Information]
Hi Mathoud,
We see you'd like to sync your iPhone via Wi-Fi with your MacBook Air, but it doesn't see your device.
To get started, take a look over the steps in the following article. Can you confirm these are the steps you're following to set up Wi-Fi sync? It would be required to click "Apply" as well after toggling on the option to "Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi".
If you're still unable to sync over Wi-Fi after that, take a moment to restart both of your devices and power cycle your router. If the issue persists after that, check for any VPN or other software that may modify how one or both devices connect to your network. If you are using a VPN on either device, temporarily disable it and see if you can sync properly then.
Cheers!
Mathoud,
Thanks for the additional details.
If you've been able to sync over Wi-Fi in the past, is it only after updating to Big Sur that the issue started? If so, was it immediately after updating? Also have there been any new apps that may monitor or modify how you connect to the internet installed since then?
Additionally, take a moment to boot your Mac into safe mode. Then initially connect via USB and toggle the option to sync over Wi-Fi on.
Let us know the results from there.
Cheers!
Mathoud,
Understood.
At this point we'd recommend some additional isolating steps. Restart your Mac to exit safe mode if need be, then create a new admin account on your Mac, login and attempt to sync in that account.
If the iPhone is able to connect over Wi-Fi in the test account, it's very likely there is some software or process running in the background on your main account that isn't running in the secondary one that is preventing the sync. We'd recommend looking over your startup items in System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items. You can compare items between the two accounts, and if need be remove items from this list by highlighting an item then pressing the "-" in the corner of the window.
Let us know the results from there.
Cheers!
Hi MoonJ.
Yes, I have done all the things you have mentioned. I am a student and am using "eduroam" as the wifi on both devices but recently I have seen this problem. In the past, I did not have the problem even with "eduroam" wifi.
And I am not using a VPN.
So this is a weird problem that I cannot connect my iPhone to MacBook wirelessly.
Cheers!
Dear barberlives123,
I did what you said. Still with a new user, when I select the checkbox for "Show this iPhone when on Wi-Fi." I have the same problem. BTW, I also checked my "login items" in the system preference and nothing is in there.
Look at this statement:
Before disconnecting your device from your Mac, click the Eject button in the Finder sidebar. The device icon disappears, but Wi-Fi syncing remains turned on. The icon reappears automatically the next time your Mac and device are connected to the same WI-Fi network.
After clicking on apply and then sync, I eject my iPhone and remove the USB cable. Then the iPhone icon disappears!!! It's very disappointing. I tried the steps many times and still, I cannot see my iPhone on my MacBook wirelessly.
I also have checked Finder preference to see the checkboxes are chosen correctly.
I really don't know what I can do...
Cheers!
Mathoud,
From here, given the steps taken, we'd recommend reaching out to Apple Support for additional assistance.
You can see contact options below:
Take care.
In the safe mode, Mac doesn’t recognize my iPhone!!!
"show this iPhone when on wifi" is not working
