iPhone stuck syncing at "syncing step 2 of 6 (backing up)"

This has been a problem for some time, but when I plug my iPhone 11 (iOS up to date) into my 2012 MacBook Pro (still running Sonoma because Finale), the syncing process hangs at the backup. I used to be able to Skip Backup and sync music, etc., but that no longer works either.

I've switched USB cables, ports. Nothing changes.

I've left the phone plugged into the laptop over night. Nothing, although, weirdly, one night I plugged it in to leave and before I could finish last-minute emails, the phone finished its sync. No clue was to what was different. It hasn't happened again.

Every other version of this question on this board is years old, nothing current that I could find.

Makes me long for the days of "It just works." Any suggestions?

FWIW, I am averse to backing up to the cloud.