iTunes refuses to sync with iPhone 15 Pro Max

Since I posted two comments in the community on the issue that my iPhone 15 Pro - 512 GB doesn't sync anymore with iTunes on my Windows 10 pc, I get now and than new comments on the subject in my email. I even earned points on my comment. Unfortunately I still have no solution for the problem. Everybody is suggesting all kind of work arounds but no real solution. What happened with the vision of Steve Jobs: "It just works!". I bought myself for € 1.600,00 a state of the art iPhone with 512 GB to load my music and pictures as I please.

Why? Because I'm not a CLOUD kind of guy. What's the use of selling devices like iPhone and iPad with up to 1 TB of memory if you can't sync content to it? So instead of given me points dear Apple, provide us with a solution so that I can say: "My state of the art iPhone 15 Pro, IT JUST WORKS!"

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!

"is Apple still interested in iTunes?" By my reckoning the answer is a hard NO. They want you to spend $120.00 a year on Apple Music. They don't care about iTunes or the troglodytes like my who have iTunes full of music I bought in vinyl digital downloads or uploaded CDs

Same problem with Iphone 15 pro max but the windows PC running windows 10 wont even recognize the Iphone in tunes when plugged in.

I picked up a Pro Max on Sunday and I have yet to get it to sync on any of my computers. It stays stuck on step 2 of 4 "preparing to sync". I've left it for 5, 6 and 8 hours and nothing happens. I may just return it if I can't sync it. No point in having 1TB of space if I can't put anything on it. My 12 Pro Max still works fine.

OK, a little more digging and I found that killing the process "MDCrashReportTool.exe" will let it proceed. I happened upon this thread first but I am on a Mac. It works on either Mac or Windows. Here is the thread I found it on.

Original thread

I'm having this problem on my new iPhone 15 Pro as well. I'm using an iMac desktop running Ventura 13.3.1. Trying to sync to iTunes is just not happening. It stalls before I can even get to the sync button which is whited out.

I have tried to find the "MDCrashReportTool.exe" or Mac equivalent in the Activity monitor without luck. I have years and years of iTunes music in dozens of folders on my iMac with selected ones on my iPhone. Now I can't get into iTunes to change or update my music. I'm really angry.

I’ve found that the cable that comes in the box with my iPhone 15 pro max does not allow syncing with my iTunes (latest version) on windows 11. If I use a USB-A to a USB-C the sync will occur as expected. This is still inconvenient as the speeds are higher with the apple cable but it does work.

I finally got mine to sync today. I switched on ‘sync over WiFi’ and then plugged in my cable and iTunes completed the sync process. Give it a try to see if it will help you.

It is more than infuriating. State of the art phone and nothing (iPhone 15 Pro Max). If I plug in via cable, the session fails to start. If I try over WiFi, I get to step 4 then receive “An unknown error occurred (-42553)”.

The last time I tried this and spoke to apple, I was told it was “something to do with licensing” and how as this cannot be verified, apple are no longer allowing people to sync their music. They did give me another option of paying to add all of the music I have already bought via CD to receive Apple Music instead (or an older version of that with a slightly different name which will also become defunct eventually). What’s the point? Genuinely? I think I will just buy a Sony Walkman to add all of my CDs to.

Are you on a Mac? If so, where do you find 'sync over WiFi'?

I see that Apple has fixed the issue with iOS 17.3. Since that update my iPhone 15 Pro Max now works without any issues. Runs through the sync process from step 1 through 5.

Hmm...not for me.

This unresolved issue will deter me from upgrading to the new coming Iphone pro max 16 (512GB) this fall