Can’t sync with iTunes after iOS 17.1.1.update

I have a similar problem. After the latest update, iTunes recognizes my iPhone 13 Pro Max, does the backup and then seems to be in an endless circle with trying to sync (preparing to sync) calendar, contact’s etc. After a number of restarts of the iPhone and the MacBook Pro eventually I get them to sync. This seems to be a definite SW problem by Apple engineering and requires a bug fix. Why? Before the latest iOS update, there were no sync problems! Just for information: I am not using iCloud and I have never used it!

Dear Community

Don't get your hopes up, but for me ios 17.3 didn't solve the problem. Thank you Apple!

Looked for an update on iTunes (now on v. 12.13.1.3), but nothing.

Luckily the work around with the removal of "MDCrashReportTool" still works on my Windows 10 pc.

I can confirm IOS17 versions will still sync with iTunes on Windows computers (even Windows 7), but not MacOS Sierra. Luckily for me my Macbook still has Windows 7 Bootcamp, so now I have been forced to use Windows by Apple.

I had the same problem before. Now I have found out a way to solve this problem that is when step 2 is trying to synchronize for a long time and stays in the same position, you just unplug the wire and then plug it in again. Your problem will be solved.

I have iTunes purchases going back over 20 years that I can't sync with my new iPhone in iTunes thanks to iOS 17. (Having upgraded from a phone that was unable to update past iOS 15.x, I had no clue the new phone would break the sync feature. I assumed, wrongly, that if Apple didn't want iTunes to work anymore they would have also cut off the Store, but that part still works — just not the ability to view my iPhone as a device in iTunes *even though* I selected "Trust this device" when prompted by the new Phone. What's more, in the past hour — prior to finding this discussion — I searched for more specifics about which versions of iTunes are compatible with which versions of iOS but came up empty handed. (The Apple support documents dealing with syncing to iPhones are circular; they mention that it may be necessary to do an update but then link to other support documents, none of which are specific enough to address whether the iPhone should even be visible in iTunes as a device in macOS Catalina or earlier. Of course we know that at some point, very old won't work with very new but it would be nice if Apple posted a table listing iTunes versions and iOS versions to confirm where the cutoff exists.) In my case, iTunes 12.x is confirmed not to work. The question is, does iOS 17.x sync with ANY iTunes version whatsoever — or only with Apple Music?

Ok this is still a problem is driving me mad!! I have talk through the problem with Apple they put me through to a senior engineer who confirmed they know of the issue but don’t know why it is happening. (Considering this has happened on older versions it’s a bit bizarre they can’t work this out…) I was informed it will be fixed in a future update so we have no choice but to wait OR become a millennial and listen to music like they do 😥

I have an iPhone 15 Pro - 512 GB and I also have problems Syncing my iPhone with iTunes on a Windows 10 pc.

After several call sessions with Apple support (started begin december) they told me I will have to wait for an update which should solve the problem. Funny remark from Apple support was that the issue needs to be important enough before it gets in one off the following updates. So what I will be waiting till summer? Come on Apple!

I'm having the same problem. It apparently isn't a problem with the last itunes update because I tried on my old computer which doesn't have the update and it still stops on step 2. I tried manually moving my new music from itunes to my phone and that doesn't work either. Hope they fix this problem soon.

Ok, my first attempt was a success:

I had some pendrive with macOS High Sierra lying around. Plugged it, booted, updated everything and connected my iPhone 13 with IOS 17.3 and the message about needing to update some software in order to connect the phone showed up. After that, I openned iTunes, and the phone showed up there as always.

Given the fact that the system in the pendrive had no music at all (it was meant for testing), I didn't try to sync the phone, but this looks definitely promising.

Now, I will install High Sierra and try to sync.

Thanks again, Servant of Cats

Thank you, CowKow. PC users may be in luck, but looks like 12.8.3 is the latest available iTunes for macOS:

Apple - Support - Downloads

Russ577 wrote:

Just put new update on to iphone12.

fault still there. Computer doesn’t recognise that iphone12 is connected so still can’t sync or back up on to my iMac 🙄

What version of macOS? What version of iTunes?

I have an iMac running 10.12.6 Sierra and a iphone 12. Things were fine until I updated to ios 17 on the phone. Now, my itunes will not recognize my phone at all. I can no longer update my phone, move media or anything. Why can't apple/macintosh research things before doing this to people?? Now, I can't speak to any human from apple concerning this.

As far as I know, there is no Apple support document that spells out which version of iTunes is compatible with which version of iOS. It's all nonspecific information about "updating" — but hardware (and time) is the limitation for many of us. Exactly how new must the iTunes and/or macOS be in order for an iOS 17 device to sync (or even be seen)?

This is an Apple induced issue which must be corrected by Apple quickly.

The iPhone 13 Technical Specifications excerpted below clearly specify I'm using a support configuration.

iPhone 13 with iOS 16.x synced correctly with iTunes on a Mac Pro running macOS Mojave 10.14.6 (the newest that this Mac Pro desktop can run). iTunes on the Mac Pro is version 12.9.x

Now with iOS 17.x on the iPhone 13 the Mac's iTunes will complete the Step 2 Backup step but hangs on Step 3 with "preparing to sync" and never progresses. The Contact and Calendar sync (and probably Music and other Sync items) are NOT performed. These are critical applications to synchronize between the handheld iPhone and desktop Mac.

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From iPhone 13 Technical Specifications

iPhone 13 - Technical Specifications - Apple

System Requirements

• Apple ID (required for some features)
• Internet access17
• Syncing to a Mac or PC requires:
• macOS Catalina 10.15 or later using the Finder
• macOS High Sierra 10.13 through macOS Mojave 10.14.6 using iTunes 12.8 or later
• Windows 10 or later using iTunes 12.12.10 or later (free download from apple.com/itunes/download)

I'm pleased to read that I am not the only who still believes in having his music (cd's) physically on his iPhone. Spotify, Tidal and so one all very good, as long as there is a good connection.

I also experienced that the checkbox wasn't checked anymore for music. This probably has to do with the sync issue. The annoying thing is, that if you check the music box again, the system asks you if you want to delete the music on your iPhone. That means re-syncing all your music again to your iPhone. In my case we are talking about +/- 25.300 songs (1722 albums)! For that my iPhone needs to be hooked up to my pc for at least 10 hours. As long as Apple doesn't come with a proper solution for the problem I'm not checking that box again.

So Apple if you don't mind, work on this! It's all very nice to show off in events how beautiful it is in Cupertino, how great the new devices will be and environmental conscious you are. But what's the use if our pricy devices don't work as expected!