iOS 5 Wireless Sync

I would assume that it should load iTunes if you have wireless sync enabled and you have selected the option to "Open iTunes when this idevice is connected"

However, I have noticed that wireless sync will not continue if the device is syncing, you leave the wireless area then return. iTunes will kick back an error stating that it cannot find the Hard Drive.

Allan

I find it extremely strange the way iOS 5 calls it wireless syncing. To outline the steps as I see them:

1) Open iTunes of my Mac

2) Plug my iPhone in either to my Mac via the USB cable or to an eletric outlet (the idea being that the iPhone shouldn't run out of battery while syncing, I presume) AND

3) Both Mac and iPhone should be on the same wifi network.

Only if all three of the above are done will wireless sync happen.

Can somebody tell me how VERY different this is to the old "tethered" method of syncing which involved:

1) Opening iTunes on my Mac

2) Plugging in my iPhone via the USB cable.

3) Clicking "Sync"

The ONLY differences I can see with iOS 5 are now:

1) My iPhone may be either plugged in via USB cable OR into an eletric outlet

2) No need to click "Sync" if I've set up the option correctly in iTunes. The syncing will happen automatically thereafter ... once a day, I understand.

Sorry to hi-jack the thread but I wanted to mention this and didn't want to create a new thread.

RS

Here is how it work on both my iphone 4S and Ipad 2.

OSX 10.7 updated, Ipad Update to ISO 5; Iphone 4S on IOS 5

Itunes must be running. Plug in Iphone or Ipad it works the same.

1. Under Devices slect iphone or ipad

2. Under Summary tab; options check on Sync with this Ipad; iphone over wifi.

3. Click apply on the bottom right.

4. Click Sync on the bottom right.

now you are ready to sync wirelessly with out being connected to power. You do have to do

it manually but the following works as long as the devices are on. I have tested with them with

what I call asleep. It does work.

If you are in Itunes on your computer you can select the device you wish to sync and then click on

sync in the bottom right hand corner. It will begin to syn and show it on either device.

In my testing both devices and my Imac are on the same wireless network.

Next; On your iphone or ipad got to settings

Once you have synced you are now set to sync wirelessly. I am not sure yet what gets synced.

I am still testing that.

On your device go to settings/general/Itunes Wi-Fi Sync, select Sync now. In a second or two your device should show that it is syncing right next to the wifi signal indicator.

I have doing it this way for two days.

Let me know if I have missed a step or something.

Hope this helps someone.

should PC be also on a wireless network? The reason is that my PC is connected to a wireless router via ethernet cable and my iphone and ipad are on the wireless network connected via the same wireless router. I could sync my ipad wirelessly just once. now, both my ipad and iphone dont "see" the PC.

A network is a network, whether devices are connected by wifi or ethernet. Instead of everybody guessing, why not look at the User Guide?

The User Guide is available at http://support.apple.com/manuals/ or downloadable from iTunes as an iBook.

I have been trying wireless sync for a few days now and finally got it to work by following the advice above:

I launch iTunes 10.5 on my MBP (running SnowLeopard), then went into the General settings of my iPhone and selected "Sync Now". Without opening iTunes, this would not work. My iPhone 4 was not plugged in, but it still worked.

I haven't tried the automatic sync yet, with the iPhone charging. I don't know if you have to have iTunes open in that case. Kind of defeats the purpose if you have to remember to open iTunes (in my opinion), but let's see if that is really true.

ellen

@tonefox -- I've seen the manual and reproduce relevant portions below:-

Set up wireless iTunes syncing: Connect iPhone to your computer using the Dock Connector to USB Cable. In iTunes, turn on “Sync over Wi-Fi connection” in the device’s Summary pane. When Wi-Fi syncing is turned on, iPhone syncs automatically every day.

iPhone must be

connected to a power source,

both iPhone and your computer must be on

the same wireless network, and

iTunes must be open on your computer. For

more information, see “iTunes Wi-Fi Sync” on page 149.

Here's what page 149 says:-

iTunes Wi-Fi Sync

You can sync iPhone with iTunes on a computer that is connected to the

same Wi-Fi network.

Enable iTunes Wi-Fi Sync: To set up Wi-Fi syncing for the first time, connect iPhone to the computer that you want to sync with. For instructions see “Syncing with iTunes” on page 18

After you configure Wi-Fi Sync, iPhone syncs with iTunes automatically, once a day, when it’s connect to a power source and:

- iPhone and your computer are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

- iTunes on your computer is running.

Pray, how is this different to what I said in my post above? So your statement ...

A network is a network, whether devices are connected by wifi or ethernet.

... doesn't appear to be correct (referring to the "wifi or ethernet" portion.

I suggest ...

Instead of everybody guessing, why not look at the User Guide?

... a bit of your own advice for you? 🙂

RS

I would suggest, yes, they'd need to be _on the same wfi network_ as outlined in the Manual mentioned by @tonefox 🙂

Hope this helps.

RS

Powering down the iphone and turning it on solved the problem. The following works for me reliably:

1. iphone4 and ipad2 are on the same network as my PC. The PC is connected to the wifi router via ethernet cable. i.e. the PC is on the same network but it is NOT on wifi!!!

2. I dont see a need to have the iphone4 or the ipad2 connected to a power source. I can sync both of them reliably even when they are not connected to a power source.

3. iTunes should be running on the PC.

4. i am able to sync both the ipad2 and iphone4 simultaneously (both over wifi).

allz well that ends well!!!

From the user guide for iOS5 on iPhone:

iTunes Wi-Fi Sync

You can sync iPhone with iTunes on a computer that is connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Enable iTunes Wi-Fi Sync: To set up Wi-Fi syncing for the first time, connect iPhone to thecomputer that you want to sync with. For instructions see “Syncing with iTunes” on page 18

After you configure Wi-Fi Sync, iPhone syncs with iTunes automatically, once a day, when it’sconnect to a power source and:

• Â iPhone and your computer are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Â iTunes on your computer is running.

So yeah, iTunes needs to be running. That makes sense to me. When I have the WiFi sync enabled for my phone, it shows up in iTunes regardless of whether or not it's attached by a cable. I imagine when iTunes isn't open, there isn't anything for the iPhone to talk to. Like trying to back up your computer if TimeMachine is turned off--not going to work. Maybe that's not right, but... it looks as if it is.

i am now finding that after about 1 hr, my iphone4 will not sync over wifi - sync now is greyed out. if i power off the phone and turn it back on, wifi sync starts to work again. this is pretty consistent.

Firstly, where did you decide I was responding to you. You must try not to take things so personally.

I have one network in my home. Two devices are connected to it by ethernet. Three others are connected by wifi. It is a network. "Wifi network is any network that happens to have wireless connection capability. It's not exclusively wireless, and the method of connection has no effect on how the equipment behaves, except data transfer speed. A network is a network. Methods of connecting equipment to it may vary.

Launch iTunes first... initiate Sync from there.

Tonefox.... are you lost?