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iOS 5 Wireless iTunes sync..Not really wireless or what?

So.. I got to my iPhone.. Settings > General > click on "iTunes Wi-Fi Sync" .. and the button "Sync Now" is greyed-out... Something like this:




Automatically sync with iTunes on your computer when your iPhone is plugged in to power and connected to Wi-Fi.

Sync Now

Sync will resume when "USER-PC" is available.




Help me please? My intention was to finish syncing (especially my songs) back on my iPhone WITHOUT connecting it either to a computer or a charger!

iPhone 4, Other OS, iOS 5

Posted on Oct 12, 2011 3:06 PM

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168 replies

Oct 12, 2011 4:32 PM in response to PNGC

I'm having the same problem, and that's with the iPhone 3GS on a charger cable. The button is greyed out and nothing happens.


My only guess is some firewall problem, but I tried it with NO firewall up, not Zonealarm, not even the standard Windows 7 firewall, and still nothing happens.


It's a shame, this was my favorite new feature... my computer has trouble syncing sometimes, I really wanted to un-tether for a change.

Oct 13, 2011 4:50 AM in response to nayr74

I have the same problem over here. The article mentions that you need itunes 10.5 but makes no mention of what version of OSX you must be running. I'm running 10.5.8, have everything installed (ios5), and under summary there is no "enable wifi sync" in the options. In fact, my options look completely different from the screenshot... any answers?

Oct 13, 2011 5:43 AM in response to PNGC

Same here. iPhone 3GS, Windows 7, iTunes 10.5, iOS 5 (obviously). I've checked the "allow wi-fi sync" option in iTunes and performed a full cable sync with my phone. When I removed the phone, my phone icon vanished from iTunes; from what I've read, it should have remained. When I plug my phone into a wall charger and go to the iTunes Wi-Fi Sync area in my phone's settings, I get the message "Sync will resume when [my computer's name] is available."


My phone can otherwise connect to wi-fi, and can even connect to other third-party apps on the same computer via wi-fi (mSecure and Remote).


I've followed Apple's support directions, including restarting iTunes, rebooting my phone, and disabling my Windows firewall. Nothing.


Very disappointing. This was the feature I was looking forward to the most in iOS 5. Between this and the inability to hide the Newsstand folder from my home screen (at least, without jailbreaking), I regret upgrading.

Oct 13, 2011 8:22 AM in response to radiv78

radiv78 wrote:


You need to enable Wi-fi sync in iTunes first.

Connect your iPhone to the computer. Open iTunes. In the summary tab of your iPhone check "Sync over Wi-Fi connection" and then click Sync.

Now you should be able to unplug your phone and sync wireless.

Yes, I did that. When I disconnected my phone, the phone icon in iTunes disappeared, and I couldn't start a sync from my phone, as I wrote in my original post.

Oct 13, 2011 8:30 AM in response to IngredientX

Same thing happening to me! Really need some help with this! I know four other people for whom this is happening too! I selected all the WiFi sync settings in iTunes 10.5, but the minute I unplugged, my device disconnected. Then I tried plugging it into the wall charger but the WiFi sync button was greyed out! It all seems pointless anyway. I thought this would work when connected to any WiFi network. But you essentially have to be in your house and plugged into a charger. You may as well just manually sync it!!

Oct 13, 2011 8:36 AM in response to radiv78

radiv78 wrote:


but was the phone fully syncronized with cable before you unplugged it?

it need to be synced with cable and with the settings mentioned before you can unplug it and use wifi-sync.

Yes. To break it down...


1) I connected the iPhone to my computer with my cable.

2) The phone icon appeared in iTunes.

3) I checked the "Allow Sync over Wi-Fi" option.

4) I performed a cable sync.

5) The sync completed successfully.

6) I unplugged the iPhone from the computer cable.

7) The iPhone icon disappeared from iTunes, when my understanding is it should have stayed.

8) I plugged the iPhone into my wall charger in my bedroom (where I still get Wi-Fi signal, and can connect to iTunes on my computer via iTunes Remote).

9) I went to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync.

10) The Sync Now button remained greyed out, with the message "Sync will resume when [my computer's name] is available" underneath the button.


That pretty much covers it. Again, my stats:


Windows 7

iTunes 10.5

iPhone 3GS

iOS 5 (still very obviously)


Hopefully this makes things crystal-clear.

Oct 13, 2011 8:49 AM in response to IngredientX

IngredientX wrote:


radiv78 wrote:


but was the phone fully syncronized with cable before you unplugged it?

it need to be synced with cable and with the settings mentioned before you can unplug it and use wifi-sync.

Yes. To break it down...


1) I connected the iPhone to my computer with my cable.

2) The phone icon appeared in iTunes.

3) I checked the "Allow Sync over Wi-Fi" option.

4) I performed a cable sync.

5) The sync completed successfully.

6) I unplugged the iPhone from the computer cable.

7) The iPhone icon disappeared from iTunes, when my understanding is it should have stayed.

8) I plugged the iPhone into my wall charger in my bedroom (where I still get Wi-Fi signal, and can connect to iTunes on my computer via iTunes Remote).

9) I went to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync.

10) The Sync Now button remained greyed out, with the message "Sync will resume when [my computer's name] is available" underneath the button.


That pretty much covers it. Again, my stats:


Windows 7

iTunes 10.5

iPhone 3GS

iOS 5 (still very obviously)


Hopefully this makes things crystal-clear.

yeah, seems like you did the same as I did...

my iPhone stayed visibel in iTunes after I disconnected it and it syncs automatically when I plug it in a charger... or I can sync it manually by clicking the sync now-button (without connecting it to a charger).

Sorry that I cannot be of any more help. I'm running an iPhone4 and a Mac, but as far as I know it sould still work in Windows.

iOS 5 Wireless iTunes sync..Not really wireless or what?

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