What does Apple Mobile Sync do for me?

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Level 1

106 points

What does Apple Mobile Sync do for me?

I frequently get a little thing popping up on my screen, saying Apple Mobile Sync wants access to my several e-mail account passwords.

I have never used and am not likely ever to use MobileMe. I do use an iPhone.

Does Apple Mobile Sync participate in keeping my iPhone and Mail accounts synced, such that I should be giving it access to those keychains? Or is it a MobileMe-only, otherwise-useless appendage?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Nov 13, 2010 6:57 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Carolyn Samit

Level 10

165,615 points

Nov 14, 2010 12:28 AM in response to Donot Haveone

HI,

From your Apple menu click System Preferences. If you see an icon like this:

in the System Preferences pane, then you have a MobileMe account. If you choose not sync via MobileMe, click the MobileMe icon in the System Preferences pane. Select the Sync tab.

Deselect: Synchronize with MobileMe

If necessary, you can cancel the MobileMe account. Click here: http://www.apple.com/support/mobileme/

Click: Account and Billing / Cancel

Does Apple Mobile Sync participate in keeping my iPhone and Mail accounts synced, such that I should be giving it access to those keychains?

Only if you have a MobileMe account.

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

106 points

Nov 19, 2010 8:57 AM in response to Donot Haveone

I do not have MobileMe, so why does Apple Mobile Sync keep asking for access to my keychains?

I do not see any option to turn it on or off, only accept their 'offer' of mobile me or decline it.

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Answer 3

garbeth

Level 1

0 points

Nov 19, 2010 8:59 AM in response to Donot Haveone

Isn't Apple sync used for syncing your address book and calender to services such as Gmail?

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Answer 4

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

106 points

Nov 30, 2010 7:34 PM in response to garbeth

The only things I know I sync data with are TimeMachine, which shouldn't be using a program called MOBILESync, being stationary!, and my phone, via iTunes. This sync is important to me and I don't want to screw it up. But does iTunes make use of MobileSync?

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Answer 5

edclange

Level 5

4,374 points

Nov 30, 2010 8:26 PM in response to Donot Haveone

Is iTunes configured to sync your e-mail accounts to your iPhone? If so, it needs to get your permission to access your e-mail passwords in order to sync them.

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Answer 6

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

106 points

Nov 30, 2010 8:57 PM in response to edclange

edclange wrote:
Is iTunes configured to sync your e-mail accounts to your iPhone?

yes

edclange wrote:
If so, it needs to get your permission to access your e-mail passwords

here the 'it' refers to what--iTunes or AppleMobileSync?

Is iTunes using AppleMobileSync????? (this is my primary question that I have been trying to get answered)

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Answer 7

edclange

Level 5

4,374 points

Dec 1, 2010 9:02 AM in response to Donot Haveone

iTunes uses AppleMobileSync to synchronize data with mobile devices. It is not related to MobileMe.

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Answer 8

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

106 points

Dec 3, 2010 10:07 PM in response to edclange

Thank you, that is what I needed to know. Astonishing how hard it has been to get that simple statement out of mac help, googling, and this forum.

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