wi-fi sync not working

I am with holmesmd on this one. As posted previously I am disapointed in Apple not fixing this.

I was having the same problem with an iPhone 4 and Windows XP. I finally fixed the issue! 🙂 I read several posts over the past month telling me to make sure that both the PC and iPhone were on the same network. I thought that both were on the same network; however, I was using my "Guest network" to connect my iPhone to my Airport Base Station. In order for both devices to be on the same network, the first 3 numbers of both IP addresses must match. For example, if the PC's IP address is 199.167.1.X, the iPhone's IP address must be 199.167.1.Y. I signed onto my password-protected network from the phone just to see what IP address it would use. As soon as I logged on, my iPhone started to sync wirelessly. I don't know if this will work for anyone else, but I would suggest comparing the IP addresses of your PC and iPhone before doing anything else. For those posting that the PC and iPhone must be on the same Wireless network, my PC is hard-wired to the Airport Extreme and it still works!

My Setup:

iPhone 4 (running IOS 5.0.1)

Dell PC (running Windows XP SP3) (no wireless network card)

Airport Exteme Base Station (5th Generation & updated firmware)

It seems like everyone has different circumstances for the problem. Like others, I was properly configured with the checkboxes etc but my iPhone said "sync will resume when computer (name) is available." I tried everything from complete reinstalls to changing the wifi router, all the Windows firewall/antivirus rules, UPnP config, checking for conflicting ports, etc. Nearly tore my hair out on this one.

My setup: iPhone 4S, Windows Vista Ultimate, wifi sync, Windows Firewall, AVG antivirus

What worked for me:

The service "Apple Mobile Device" was set to start automatically. I changed it to Automatic (Delayed Start) and all is right with the world. The iPhone does not need to be plugged into power to sync via wifi. It seems that the Windows Firewall (or possibly AVG?) was launching after Apple Mobile Device and killing its TCP/IP port. Setting it to a delayed start ensured that it opened its port after the firewall was active.

How to do it:

Quit iTunes. Then choose Start> Run... > and type "services.msc" and hit Enter. Right-click on "Apple Mobile Device" and choose "Properties". Change Startup Type to "Automatic (Delayed Start)". You can go ahead and hit Stop and then Start to restart the service. Launch iTunes and see if your iPhone is now able to sync. Restart and relaunch iTunes to confirm that this fix worked for you.

Yexter was indeed right. Here's what I did and mine started working (added more detail to Yexter's post):

System: Desktop running Windows XP Home, SP3

Phone: iPhone 4 w/iOS 5.0.1

iTunes: 10.5.0.142

Network: Hardwired Enet cable to wireless router. Desktop and iPhone are on same subnet (192.168.1.x typically). (Don't both have to be on wireless network, as incorrectly stated in documentation.)

Assumptions: You have enabled WiFi and syncing options on iPhone & iTunes

Steps:

1. Disconnect iPhone from power cable
2. In iTunes, select Edit -> Preferences -> Devices
3. In middle of page, deselect Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically
4. Select OK
5. Reconnect power cable to iPhone

Results:

When I reconnected my iPhone to power cable, voila (not wa-la, please) it began syncing immediately, as shown by rotating circle next to WiFi icon in upper left. Also select Settings, General, iTunes WiFi Sync> on the phone to monitor progress.

Sheesh, if you enabled it on the iPhone Devices section in iTunes, you'd think they would be smart enough to cross-reference and disable this checkbox!

Hope this helps, best of luck to you!

Terry

Closing down MS update center made iTunes visible on my network.

Uninstalling everything apple with ccleaner and repairing the registry made it work finally for me after reinstalling.

Mine definitely ended up being a problem multicast on my router. It's a Netgear DG834G V3. The problem was addressed with a later firmware revision, but isn't available for the v3.

When I connect the PC via wireless, everything starts working... Multicast packets won't pass between wireless and hard wired devices.

MacLombie, worked. Thanks. Took all to 5 min. will bookmark this page just in case some one else has the problem.

WinterSunRav and arsalan56:

I also have a D-Link DIR-655 router and have experienced the multitude of issues mentioned on the board. I've also tried a multitude of recommended fixes. Heck, after all the trial and error fixes, I bet I'll need to do a clean install of Win 7 Professional (64-bit) due to all the fumbling with settings. In any event, I could not find LAN>Multicast to IGP v1 on the router's settings. I am using hardware version A3 of the router, firmware version 1.35NA. The only place I see Multicasting is under Advanced/Advanced Network/Multicast Streams. I have had this option clicked for a couple weeks now, but I am experiencing numerous problems with wi-fi sync.

I've installed the latest FW I can find for my router. Please let me know if you know of a different FW for this router or if you are using a different HW version. BTW, did you have to disable your router's firewall? I was running two NATs, which Apple does not recommend, before Comcast switched my modem to bridge only. I was hoping this would solve the problem, but it didn't. At least for me.

Thanks!

BTW, has anyone noticed that iTunes starts much slower than before? When I upgraded to 10.5, the start-up went from about a couple seconds to 10-15 seconds. Given that my Windows Experience score is 7.5, that doesn't sound right. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else is dealing with this issue, in addition to the wi-fi sync issue. Thanks.

I had this same problem. No matter what, my iPhone would not show up in iTunes, wired or wireless; also, my iPad would not even charge. My first-gen Apple TV continued to work just fine.

I tried messing with my AirPort's settings to no avail -- tried disabling 5 GHz, adjusted the multicast rate, etc. Nothing worked.

Eventually, I opened up console and was seeing a lot of errors about usbmuxd not being found. This is the little daemon that handles all iOS and iPod syncing. I opened up /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/MobileDevice.framework/Versions/A/Resources and found it virtually empty.

I just downloaded and reinstalled iTunes, and that put back the tons of missing system files. I'm curious as to how all of those files went missing in the first place, but as soon as I relaunched iTunes afterwards, everything started syncing instantly.

Hope this helps.

MacBook Pro (Mac OS X 10.7.2), iPhone 4S (iOS 5.0.1), iPad (iOS 5.0.1), Time Capsule SDB (7.6).

I was having this problem in a Mac Mini. iOS5, Lion, iPhone 4 and iPad 1. iPhone synced nicely. iPad kept looking for the Mac Mini but finally timed out. What worked for me was to disconnect the mobile devices andd:

1. quit iTunes

2. go to my user Library/preferences/ in the finder

3. move com.apple.itunes.pList and com.apple.itunes.plist.lockfile to the trash. I didn't erase the trash in case.

4. hold the option key down and restart iTunes to ask me to re select my iTunes library

5. select my existing library

6. make sure everything plays and is there

7. connect iPhone and let it sync.

8. in the Summary Tab of the iPhone device on iTunes I checked

a. backup to this computer

b. Open iTunes when this iPhone is connected

c. Sync this iPhone over Wi-Fi

d. Sync only checked songs and videos

9. Click on the Apply button to resync

10. disconnect the cable to the iphone

11. Repeat 7-10 above for the iPad

Both devices remained showing in the Devices bin on the left of the iTunes window. Both synced okay when initiating the sync in the General secion of the Settings app on the device.

The device backup times in the iTunes prefs window under Devices don't match the times shown on the devices themselves. The ones on the devices come up with the exact times I initiated the sync. Not sure what that is about. But at least there are backups there.

This worked for me, thank you!

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

3GS on iOS 5.0.1

I give up. I have tried everything mentioned on various discussion boards, but all I can get, at best, is wi-fi sync to work sporadically. One day it seems to work, the next, nada. Plus iTunes now takes forever to load, unlike prior versions that loaded in a second. I build computers and am usually able to resolve most software issues for friends and family, but this one has me completely stumped. It's tough for an engineer to throw in the towel, but the more I try, the more I'm convinced iTunes 10.5.1 is just crap. Until a sustainable solution comes along, I'm going back to syncing via cable.

Nice try, Apple. Now, would you give us something that works?

I'm listing my config below just in case someone has any suggestions as to a particular configuration with any device in my setup that will allow this to work.

(Strange thing is that iTunes "sees" my devices, but when I hit 'sync', iTunes then advises that it is searching for the device, and then the device disappears from the left bar. Rather odd.)

Thanks.

Windows 7 Pro (64 bit)

D-Link DIR-655 Router (HW Version A3; FW 1.35NA)

D-Link DAP-1522 AP (hard wired to the DIR-655)

Norton Security Suite 5

Windows Experience Index 7.5

Comcast ISP (with Comcast modem in bridge mode)

iPad 2, iPhone 4S, Touch 4th Gen

trclac,

Have you tried connecting the PC via wifi instead of Ethernet?

I am convinced that a lot of these problems are due to problems with some routers replicating multicast packets from hard wired to wifi devices. The fact that you are using a seperate router, and AP could be further complicating the problem.

I tried EVERYTHING and couldnt get anything to work for me, until I connected a USB wifi adapter to my PC, and everything began to work.
For me, connecting my PC via wifi is NOT a solution, but it did help me determine that the problem appears to be with my router (now I am pushing the manufacturer to look into this and possibly fix it through firmware)
Multicast fuctionality was traditionally used on higher end, business grade networks, so it seems to be mostly ignored, and not fully tested on consumer grade stuff.
Apple products (specifically those that use the bonjour service) seem to be among some of the few consumer based devices that attempt to utilize multicast functionality, and it seems to be problematic on many routers.

adessmith-

Thank you for your response. I have not tried connecting the desktop (where iTunes is stored) to WiFi rather than Ethernet through the router. I agree that I may be able to configure this as a solution, but it's temporary at best, since, like you, this is not a permanent solution on my setup.

I also agree that the router may be the cause. I have had many instances where router settings disrupted programs and devices (such as Skype, the AT&T Microcell, etc.). But I was able to find work arounds to these issues (or, in the instance of Skype, a very specific router setting had to be made, and this was posted by Skype on the Net -- nice of them to point out necessary router settings for the more popular routers -- Apple, are you listening?). But here, even if I enable Multicasting in the router, I still can't get WiFi sync to work correctly. I've adjusted nearly every setting I can think of in the router (A LOT of trial and error), but no matter what setting I change, the result is always the same. And it's worse when the router's firewall is turned on; at least when it's off, I have about a 30% success rate with Wi-Fi sync (although I don't like to have it turned off).

I know there is a newer hardware version of my router. I may give that a shot and see if I get a decent result. Other folks here have the same brand and model of router, but I think they have a newer hardware version with more advanced multicasting.

Thanks again.