The iPhone "..." could not be synced because the sync session failed to start

Surprisingly, this simple tip worked for me - I just upgraded to 5.01 wirelessly and then couldn't sync. but after restarting iTunes, everything worked...Weird.

I only read through a few pages of this thread before I worked out an easy fix that worked for me, so apoligies if I'm repeating. I'm running WIndows 7 & the latest version of iTunes, and have a 3-day-old iPhone 3G running ios 5. I just opened Control Panel/Programs & features, highlighted Apple Mobile Device Support, clicked on Repair. When the Repair process completed, all my photos, music & ringtones were automatically synced, just like that. Hope this can save someone the frustration I went through!

Does anyone know what the mac equivalent would be?

Are you responding to the post immediately above yours? If so, do you mean the Mac equivalent to Control Panel? I believe it's System Preferences. Before I went through the steps I described, the iPhone wouldn't sync at all, then after I completed the steps, it did just fine. But after I rote my post above, I noticed that the sync-ing had started to hang just a few short photo files shy of completing. I ejected the iPhone, shut down and restarted iTunes and since then I've done several syncs without problem. Hope this helps!

On the first page of this thread there is a "Correct Answer" listed... It's a load of crap. I haven't ahd any Beta versions installed and there are a lot of users that have posted since iOS 5 dropped since iTunes 10.5 dropped thar are having the same issues...

The problem i Feel is iTunes itself... Perhaps a function with libraries not hosted on the OS Drive, but maybe on external drives?

Maybe, it something completely different, problem is we have gear that's not working and no one is addressing the question.

I am starting to feel like I'm dealing with HP or something... It's a crappy problem that we shouldnt be having... Is apple working on a fix for these issues?

Here here Benny, I've been getting the same sinking feeling you're having. Apple ain't as pretty as she use to be. I hope they are listening, at the very least caring.

Thanks Terry, nothing is happening for me on the macbook pro and 3gs iphone running ios5.01. This is a disaster, a real failure of service.

"The ipod could not be synced because the sync session failed to start".

Getting the same message. I updated itunes after it happened and also deleted my most recent backup. FAIL.

Ran itunes diagnostics and the only test that failed was that "itunes helper" is not running.

After the update "itunes helper" is now running, but I'm still getting same message. Anyway if i don't spot a resolution soon, will re-install intunes....then ipod os

IPOD Touch 4 with IOS5.0.1

Windows Vista 64.

re-installed itunes; FAIL! Then i checked "manually manage music and..." FAIL.

Read on another post that someone had similar issue and she restored from backup, but it failed....😕

any suggestions?

I also recently purchased an iPhone 4S, and successfully sync'd for the past 3 weeks. Today, I started receiving the same message. This solution work immediately. Thanks!

Well, I was able to do a backup. Then I restored to factory and then used backup. SMH. No idea what happened.

This "is" the fix ladies and gentlemen. Terryp33 is correct. Once you repair Apple Mobile Device Support, you will have to unplug your phone, restart itunes, then replug in your phone. I have windows7 and as soon as I plugged in my phone, the device driver install ran. I had to start itunes manually and it immediately synced as normal. No further problems. Thanks Terryp33.

This "is" the fix ladies and gentlemen. Terryp33 is correct. On windows7, go to Control Panel, Programs and Features and highlite Apple Mobile Device Support. Go to the top of the window and select repair. Once you repair Apple Mobile Device Support, you will have to unplug your phone, restart itunes, then replug in your phone. As soon as I plugged in my phone, the device driver install ran. I had to start itunes manually and it immediately synced as normal. No further problems. Thanks Terryp33.

You're welcome, Fathernson. Coincidentally, a friend called me yesterday complaining of the same problem & when he applied the fix I stumbled upon, it worked for him too. Like me, he was running Windows 7. However, it seems that there might be a problem for those with Macs. I'm sure though that there must be a way to repair Apple Mobile Device Support in Mac, even if it means un- & reinstalling iTunes.

Unfortunately, terryp33's fix isn't "THE" fix. Didn't work for me. I'm still unable to sync.