FalakShah

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

I am trying to sync my iPhone 4 with iTunes and I receive this "The iPhone 'XYZ's iPhone' could not be synced because the sync session failed to start." I have synced this phone many times in the past without any issues and this error just started to occur. I have done all the usual: reset my phone settings, restarted my computer etc. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what I could do?

iPhone 4, Mac OS X (10.6.7), Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jun 24, 2011 8:32 PM

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

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  • by chhutchison,

    chhutchison chhutchison Nov 16, 2011 12:21 PM in response to Fathernson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 12:21 PM in response to Fathernson

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

  • by mattLAN,

    mattLAN mattLAN Nov 16, 2011 1:07 PM in response to chhutchison
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 1:07 PM in response to chhutchison

    Are you running mac or Pc?

    I'm running a mac... I just got an update for itunes that fixed my problems... finally.

  • by chhutchison,

    chhutchison chhutchison Nov 16, 2011 1:09 PM in response to mattLAN
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 1:09 PM in response to mattLAN

    I'm running a PC. I just updated iTunes as well. I have literally tried every single fix out there.

  • by mattLAN,

    mattLAN mattLAN Nov 16, 2011 1:15 PM in response to chhutchison
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 1:15 PM in response to chhutchison

    I'm sorry to here that you are still having trouble.

    PC's are a little touchy sometimes, although they are vastly better then they have been. 

    My suggestion is to wait it out.... and not waist your time with goofy fixes that just get you more upset.

     

    I still trust that Apple is out there and they here us... They will come out an update very soon... 2 weeks or so maybe sooner.

     

    You're best off not to chase your tail on this one...

     

    Of course you could go to Geek squad and let them at it, sometimes its good to have someone else fight it out for you.

    Good luck.

  • by JacquelineA,

    JacquelineA JacquelineA Nov 16, 2011 2:21 PM in response to terryp33
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 2:21 PM in response to terryp33

    You are correct @terryp33.  I run a Mac and cannot find anything like the Apple Mobile Device Support.  Like other users here, I've tried EVERYTHING out there.  I've done 3 or 4 different types of resets, numerous times over, I've deleted itunes twice and reloaded. I managed to recover photos, using the little inexpensive app Mobile Sync Browser, and that app shows that all my texts and data are in the backup, but I just can't get it to restore to my replacement iphone 4 after I broke my old one. 

     

    I have years of journaling, years of recipes, business info, inc 34,000 sms's - much of them business.

     

    Annoying.  I think I spent 3+ full days & evenings staight trying to fix. I hope Apple don't take too long to fix this, or I'll have to overwrite too much new data.

  • by mattLAN,

    mattLAN mattLAN Nov 16, 2011 4:42 PM in response to JacquelineA
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 4:42 PM in response to JacquelineA

    Hi Jac,

    Great news... for us mac types... Not saying this is going to work for you... I'm using a 3Gs iphone not the 4G that you have. 

     

    Yesterday I got itunes update 10.5.1      my 3gs phone got an update last week 5.0.1    I'm running my mac book with 10.6.8   do you have these updates? 

  • by sagar98,

    sagar98 sagar98 Nov 17, 2011 6:45 AM in response to Sebastien M.
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 17, 2011 6:45 AM in response to Sebastien M.

    Hey there i really int understand the solution you have given regarding this beta 1 and syncing with beta 2 .

    I jus want you to guide me how can i exactly get rid of this problem.

    I am Having a iPhone 4 16Gb white running iOS 5.0.1

    and version of iTunes is 10.5.1.42

    And having another iphone 4 Black 32GB running 4.3.3 [Jailbroken] [Syncing Smoothly n Properly aving problem only with my other phone [white 16gb iOS5.0.1]

     

    please kindly tell me what do i have to do

     

    Contact : sagar98@gmail.com

  • by melissafromsaint clair,

    melissafromsaint clair melissafromsaint clair Nov 17, 2011 8:46 AM in response to terryp33
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 17, 2011 8:46 AM in response to terryp33

    Thank you, it fixed my problem.

  • by Urban-Nomad,

    Urban-Nomad Urban-Nomad Nov 23, 2011 12:58 AM in response to centerofme
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 23, 2011 12:58 AM in response to centerofme

    thank you for your advice. I started to panic, read your directions and worked for me!

  • by FL_iphone_user,

    FL_iphone_user FL_iphone_user Nov 24, 2011 5:10 AM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Nov 24, 2011 5:10 AM in response to FalakShah

    I believe the issue is related to the backup option (iCloud vs computer).  If you were playing around with the iCloud setting and were not sure which to pick after upgrading to iOS 5.0+, then set it to iCloud backup and complete the sync.  Then if you want to return to the old way of syncing with a computer then select that option AFTER you do the iCloud backup.  Something was coded wrong there or Apple is trying to force people to use the iCloud. 

     

    Also, I recommend:

     

    1.  Emptying your Recycle Bin or Trash.  For some reason iTunes puts some old files in there doing the upgrade process.  I noticed that someone mentioned this in the first couple posts on this thread.

     

    2.  Do a cold reboot of the iPhone before you sync.

     

    For some reason you have to do the Wifi sync to the iCloud first before you can revert back to the old computer sync method.  I did not have to reinstall, repair or restore anything.

  • by nowinNM,

    nowinNM nowinNM Nov 26, 2011 10:00 PM in response to FL_iphone_user
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 26, 2011 10:00 PM in response to FL_iphone_user

    Hi,

     

    I ran into this issue of, "sync session failed to start" this morning. I am using a 15" Mac Book Pro, running 10.6.8, iTunes, version 10.5.1 (42) and a Verizon 4G iPhone (5.0.1). I was able to fix this issue with the following steps:

     

    1. Empty the trash

    2. Disconnect the iPhone

    3. Quit iTunes

    4. Relaunch iTunes

    5. Plug iPhone into iTunes via its USB cable

     

    My phone synced without any problems. Hope this helps.

     

    P.S. I do not use iCloud for back-up. I have not changed any settings for this feature in awhile.

  • by cwballer25,

    cwballer25 cwballer25 Nov 28, 2011 10:39 PM in response to nowinNM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 28, 2011 10:39 PM in response to nowinNM

    Thanks - this worked for me on iPhone4, iPad2 and iPod touch, all on OS 5.0.1 and running iTunes 10.5.1.42.

  • by AndH,

    AndH AndH Nov 29, 2011 11:59 AM in response to nowinNM
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 29, 2011 11:59 AM in response to nowinNM

    I have a PC and a ATT 4Gs.  I just did these steps and it worked.  Thank you all!!!

  • by ChrisHerrmann,

    ChrisHerrmann ChrisHerrmann Nov 29, 2011 3:34 PM in response to FalakShah
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 29, 2011 3:34 PM in response to FalakShah

    If you're running a PC with Outlook on it, then the following may assist:

     

    1. Open Outlook, head to the Addins menu (Tools / options / addins or File / Options / Addins depending on your version)

    2. If the itunes Outlook plugin is inactive, change it to active / enabled.

    3. Restart Outlook, restart itunes

     

    I felt this was a counter intuitive fix because I do not sync my iphone with Outlook - I'm using an exchange server, but it worked. My impression is that this is poor software design - it's relying upon a component operating that shouldn't strictly speaking be used. Fail.

     

    Other things that might assist in the more general case:

    - Itunes, edit, preferences, devices, and reset sync history

     

    I'm running win7 x64 pro / Itunes 10.5.1.42 / iphone 4s ios 5.01

  • by greenhut,

    greenhut greenhut Nov 30, 2011 10:26 AM in response to ChrisHerrmann
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 30, 2011 10:26 AM in response to ChrisHerrmann

    I continue not to be able to resolve this issue on OSX and have tried "Everything" (see below). It is interesting that the same macbook air can no longer sync a 4s and a 4 but can still sync an iPad. I just filed a bug with apple as below:

     

    Summary:

    After working fine for some time, I stopped being able to sync my 4S with iTunes on my Macbook Air. It sits at step 1 of 7 for 5 minutes, and then reports:

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

     

    Interestingly, my wife's iPhone 4 will also no longer sync with the same computer. Both used to work fine. However my ipad 1, also on 5.01 sync's fine. I can come up with nothing to the critical question "What changed". Not that nothing did, I just don't know what did that may be relevant.

     

    Things tried:

    Restarting iTunes

    Restarting iphone.

    Sync over Wifi.

    Sync over USB (multiple cables)

    Disable iTunes Match.

    Delete iCloud account.

    Resetting All settings on iphone.

    Removing iTunes COMPLETELY (all library (both)) and misc settings plus hiding Backup folder.

    Reinstall iTunes 10.5.1.

    Upgrade iphone to 5.1 beta.

     

    All to no avail. iTunes always fails to start the sync and eventually errors out as above.

     

    Steps to Reproduce:

    Attempt to sync iphone via wireless or USB.

     

    Expected Results:

    Should have begun sync.

     

    Actual Results:

    It sits at step 1 of 7 for 5 minutes, and then reports:

    "The iPhone "Jeff Greenhut's iPhone" could not be synced because the sync session failed to start."

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