Just upgraded iPhone 15 Plus to iOS 17.2 and am unable to sync music from Mac Mini also just updated to Sonoma 14.2. Operation seems to stall out at Step 2 of 4 “Preparing to Sync”. No further progress even after 3 hours. Shut down iPhone and restarted, then tried sync using cable, then re-tried sync using Wi Fi without success. Any ideas?
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 15 Plus
Hello,
I have the problem since iOS17 (still with iPhone 13 Pro) and Watch OS 10 (Ultra2).
The change to the iPhone 15 Pro and a complete reinstallation of the iPhone did not bring any improvement. The strange thing was that the "fresh" iPhone (without any apps installed, no backup installed) could initially be synchronized just as easily as an iPhone SE, an iPhone SE3 and an iPad Pro 11 3rd. This actually made it clear that the problem could not be due to my computer configuration, especially since it also occurred on another notebook and with another Windows user. Nevertheless, I have gone through all these options together with Apple support.
When I had only installed my most essential apps on my iPhone and paired it again with my Ultra 2, the synchronization went wrong again. Out of sheer desperation, I tried to decouple my Ultra 2 again and, lo and behold, the synchronization ran completely smoothly and all data (including diagnostic data) was synchronized again. As soon as I had paired the Ultra 2 again, the same mishap. This morning, Apple support also confirmed to me that there is a problem that is being worked on in this context.
My workaround to the solution:
My explanation: After every restart of iTunes, iTunes apparently tries to load the diagnostic data onto the PC during the first sync operation of a device. This obviously does not work (for me) with paired Ultra 2. Therefore, the "killing" of the mdcrashreport tool in the task manager leads to the continuation of the sync. It seems as though access to the diagnostic data is blocked by pairing the Apple Watch. (Just a hypothesis)
Why do I prefer to disconnect the cable instead of using the task manager? When killing the tool in the task manager, the current sync continues to run, but the next sync runs back into the same problem because iTunes does not transfer the diagnostic data or the mdcrashreporttool does not register as performed. If, on the other hand, you pull the cable, iTunes seems to regard the mdcrashreporttool as performed and does not try to pull the diagnostic data from the iPhone again at the next sync. I.e. As long as I don't close iTunes, I can always sync my iPhone without any problems. If I close iTunes, the sh… starts all over again.
Which way you choose is, of course, a matter of taste. A fast solution would be very desirable.
I called Apple 3 times and the last tech lady I spoke with gave me this solution: go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements > Stop: Share Mac Analytics & Share iCloud Analitics. If you have an Apple Watch turn it off. This worked for me on a Mac with macOS 13.6.3 and iPhone on iOS 17.2.1 Hope this helps!
I have had this issue since the iPhone 14 Pro Max when syncing with my Mac. I just unplug the phone, wait five seconds, plug the phone again and restart the sync. The process immediately goes to Step 3 and completes properly. I know that unplugging the phone instead of ejecting it has the potential to corrupt some data, but I got tired of waiting for sync to complete.
WKOztotl wrote:
This is still happening on on a MacBook Pro M1 running Sonoma 14.2.1 syncing with iPhone 14 Pro, iPad Air 4 and iPad pro circa 2018, all running the latest version iOS. The sync will hang until you go into Activity Monitor and terminate the CrashReportSuportHelper process. Is Apple aware of this issue?
You can be sure Apple is aware if you use Feedback here
ebertsj wrote:
And feel bound to repeat, a true SHAME that a DEEP tech resource at Apple told me "only way you can do this is to purchase 'iTune Match" subscription...
Using iTunes Match has already been discussed on this thread (Jan 1st) as a possible workaround. It avoids the need to sync music by making it possible to download music (to your iPhone ) from iCloud Music Library (not to be confused with Apple Music). Unfortunately the only way to use iCloud Music Library (which is free!) is to take out an iTunes Match subscription.
It's not "the only way". You could (in the Finder) choose "Manually manage music, movies, TV shows". That also avoids the need to sync music.
And this doesn't help those users who have problems syncing other data/info such as Calendars.
Altogether it's pretty bad.
"The solution was to Open the Activity Monitor app and Force Quit "MDCrashReportTool", syncing should proceed just fine after that." this fixed my issue. For the longest time I dealt with this and never know how to address it. Apple should look into this. Using MBP M2 2023, iPhone 14 Pro
udofromberlin wrote:
Completely disable all crash reporting 1.
Tried that. It didn't work for me. It likely only works if the sync encounters an error in the log, analytics or diagnostic data. Even so, disabling all Analytics & Improvement reporting to Apple is probably a good idea and I left it disabled.
( I found a bad file in one of my playlists, unchecking that playlist in the Finder/Music settings solved the stalled sync issue for me )
So originally didn't work for me. Would go through the motions, say it syncs, but didn't sync anything to my iPhone. I called Apple support. 45 minutes and 4 techs. I got bored waiting so while I was explaining it all again to tech #4 so I started scrolling through my music library. First thing I noticed was an album duplicated as both a compilation and artist. I usually change the album info while I'm importing CD's that have "featuring artist" as Apple tags them as compilations, but I must have miss this one. Then I start finding some duplicates of albums and albums that are missing songs. After I clean up the library I sync to my iPhone and it finally works. You would think that this would be one of the first questions asked.
Hilary Bowers wrote:
triple zut. This was fixed with Sonoma 14.3 and is broken again with 14.3.1 so it's back to force quitting the MDCrashReportTool in the Activity monitor.
and another bug report too.
Hilary, I doubt it was fixed in Sonoma 14.3. Rather the error comes and goes driven by whether the code can handle the data being synced between devices. Likely 14.3 would have stalled as 14.3.1 did if the same data was being processed.
-R.
Thanks.
Had to open the Activity Monitor, make a search for <MDCrashReportTool> and click the ⓧ to instantly bypass the blockage... 👍
solved with xCowboy's solutions
in iMac Force Quit… quit "Microsoft Error Reporting.app", then connect iPhone to iMac again
Thanks
Solved! Configured McAfee firewall to allow internet exceptions for Apple Music App aka ITunes.
Oops forgot one.
In the Finder select “ Manually Manage Music….. “. Then in the Music app drag and drop songs on your iPhone.
That initiates a ‘Copy’ not a ‘Sync’
I removed the app Music from my iPhone. Then re-downloaded the app Music from the Store and then the synch works. Very easy… but it took a long time to find the solution.
Same issue fixed by suggestion - The solution was to Open the Activity Monitor app and Force Quit "MDCrashReportTool", syncing should proceed just fine after that.
You're a genius. This MDCrashReportTool was certainly hanging my system too. (Sonoma 14.2, iPhone 14 17.2) Force quitting it (on every sync) fixes it straight away.
Incredibly frustrating. Thank so much for the tip.
C'mon Apple: my 2023 MacBook M2 pro and new iPhone 14 "just oughta work"! Fix MDCrashReportTool ASAP!
iPhone 15 Plus stuck in “Preparing To Sync"
