This FINALLY solved it for me on a Windows 7 machine, ios 5 and 6, multiple iTunes versions, after a year or so of frustration:
http://appletoolbox.com/2011/10/wi-fi-sync-problem-how-to-fix/
Don't just read the main text - look at the additional suggestions in the comments in the above.
Key steps for me were enabling UPNP in the wireless router (and for my router, since it has it, enabling NAT-PMP, which is apparently Apple's version of UPNP), adding SyncServer.exe to the WIndows firewall, then stopping iTunes, stopping the SSDP service, stopping the Apple Mobile service, then restarting the SSDP service, restarting the Apple Mobile service, restarting iTunes and it all worked. (Alternatively, after configuring the router, reboot your Windows machine which is the same as restarting iTunes and the services.)
--
Here is the full content, copied from the above link, for convenience:
Several users have reported a problem that their Wi-Fi sync is not working in iOS 5. They further stated that the “Sync Now” (Settings, General, iTunes Wi-Fi Sync) button is grayed out and below it says “Sync will resume when <computer name> is available.”
How to fix
Verify system requirements (iOS 5 or later & iTunes 10.5 or later)
Make sure Wi-Fi Syncing is enabled (Connect your iOS device with your computer using the USB cable > iTunes > Summary > select “Sync with this iOS device over Wi-Fi” option)
If everything is set and still not working:
Connect your Device to iTunes. Disconnect the device after a short while (do not eject the device in iTunes.), then try Wi-Fi sync.
For Windows users
It has been reported that having UPNP disabled in the router may have caused the Wi-Fi sync problem. Enable UPNP in the Router and try again. For this, refer to your router’s manual.
It has also been reported that Windows Firewall may have prevented the Wi-Fi sync. You need to make sure that “SyncServer.exe”, which coordinates the synchronization processes, is allowed. To do this: Control Panel > Windows Firewall > Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall; Look for “SyncServer” in the list, if it is not there, select “Change Settings” then “Allow another program” > Click “Browse…” > Find “C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\SyncServer.exe”. Restart iTunes and your iPod / iPhone / iPad should appear in iTunes.
Further reading: iTunes 10.5 and later: Troubleshooting iTunes Wi-Fi Syncing
2
iOS 5, iPad, iPhone, iPod, sync, won't sync
About ATB
View all posts by ATB →
Enjoyed this Post?
Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates, follow us on Twitter or simply recommend us to friends and colleagues!
Related Posts:
How to save, edit and open Word doc and PDF files on your iPad and iPhone
iCloud: How to reset Photo Stream
Bluetooth not working on iPhone or iPad, fix
Wi-Fi sync not working, fix
Bluetooth settings not working, greyed out, fix
Still issues/problems? Ask questions, share tips and solutions
← Use Your iPhone to Tell What People Are Typing
Siri not working for some iPhone 4S users →
24 Responses to “Wi-Fi sync problem – how to fix”
Trudy Says:
October 26, 2011 at 7:09 PM
I’ve successfully added the syncserver to my list of allowed programs, but my phone and iTunes still aren’t seeing each other despite me having already set up wifi syncing through iTunes and being connected on the same network. It still thinks that my computer still isn’t available. I’m running windows 7 and have all the current updates – am I missing something?
Reply
Trudy Says:
October 27, 2011 at 8:41 AM
I wanted to update on my previous post. I found some help on the apple forum and while I’m not sure which of the 2 steps finally fixed the problem, here they are:
1. Ensure that SSDP is enabled automatically and running.
2. Restart the apple mobile device service.
I believe it was restarting the apple mobile device service that fixed it for me.
Reply
Dennis Says:
November 5, 2011 at 6:29 AM
I spent countless hours trying to figure this out on my pc. I am running a desktop with windows vista 64bit. I tried everything on the web that i could find. I was able to get it working on my wifes iphone and her pc so i knew it wasn’t my router. Thanks to Trudy it is now working. Thanks Trudy. What i did was go into admin tool select services and click apple mobile device service, then clicked restart. Unplugged my iphone and wala it stayed in itunes. Once again Thanks Trudy!
Reply
Nicholas Says:
August 27, 2012 at 11:12 AM
THANK YOU! I did what you did and at first itunes didn’t detect the iPod at all, even when it was plugged in. But i kept my iPod plugged in and closed iTunes and opened it back up. I unplugged the iPod and it stayed! now it’s working perfectly.
Reply
Miguel Says:
March 25, 2012 at 8:43 AM
Finally, a post that actually helped me, it took me a while to restart the apple mobile device server, because i simply couldn’t find it, but i google it and found an answer, thanks a million times
Reply
Chris Woodhouse Says:
August 29, 2012 at 7:21 AM
Thanks Trudy. Changing SSDP to start automatically and restarting it, then restarting the Apple Mobile Device service did the trick for me too.
In’t crowd support brilliant!
Reply
vgaspar Says:
November 1, 2012 at 7:28 AM
After a long stuggle, I found the advice of Trudy. It worked. The only thing I did was the second step, iTunes opened and Iphone plugged into the USB port of the computer (running Windows XP).
I opened admintool, selected services and clicked on Apple mobile device service. I then hit restart. Wait till the action is finishde. Then I nuplugged my iphone. Hahhh, finall the icon for the Iphone stayed in the Itunes.
I wish that this easy solution (that seems to be worked for so many of us) would be better advertised in the Apple knowledge base.
Thanks a lot Trudy.
Reply
vgaspar Says:
November 3, 2012 at 5:30 PM
It is a little disappointment. The solution is good until you did not shut down the computer. After reboting the problem reappears and you have to restart apple mobile device service again.
Reply
Josh Says:
November 15, 2011 at 9:20 PM
Wow. Restarting the apple mobile device worked for me. I used to have wifi sync working after a lot of frustration but one day it just decided to stop. I was pretty much in the same situation as Dennis. I tried everything even turning off my firewall. Thank you so much Trudy. Finally a solution to this problem.
Reply
Karl Says:
December 31, 2011 at 2:12 AM
how to restart mobile device?? help me.. :/
Reply
Neil Says:
November 19, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Trudi……….I love you xxxx
thanks sooooo much.
Reply
Gary Says:
November 27, 2011 at 11:08 PM
Worked for me! Thanks a lot!
Reply
ts Says:
November 29, 2011 at 7:53 PM
thank you! allowing syncserver.exe worked wonders for me (on windows vista)
Reply
Globmmont Says:
December 9, 2011 at 1:25 PM
In case this didn’t work for you, I read on some other website (http://cnx.com/?p=1612) that you uninstall itunes, run ccleaner’s registry cleaner, restart your pc, and reinstall itunes. I had been struggling with this problem for days and I did this and it worked. So if the above didn’t work for you (which it didn’t for me) try this. Happy Wifi Syncing !
Reply
KenV Says:
May 17, 2012 at 11:38 AM
This post is perfectly worked to me. At first, after i did all the process, wifi sync seemed did not work yet, but after i figured out that there is one more firewall in my PC that is from my Antivirus. I disconnect that antivirus fire wall and restart iTune, then wifi sync is now working.
Thank you, and good luck guys.
Reply
Nathanael Says:
June 9, 2012 at 7:07 PM
I gave up – checked router, Windows firewall, stopped and started the service with iTunes open, closed, with iPad connected, not connected, ended the iTunesHelper service … ha, and just while I’m typing this comment, the Sync Now button FINALLY became available. Guess that last combo finally worked:
iTunes closed, iTunesHelper ended, iPad restarted, service stopped, started, iTunes restarted, then wait a few minutes.
Reply
Nathanael Says:
June 9, 2012 at 7:07 PM
Ah, spoke too soon – sync couldn’t complete. Back to the drawing board / brick wall.
Reply
Mizi Says:
June 17, 2012 at 2:54 PM
thanks…work for me…now I can sync my iPad and iPhone via wifi… XD
Reply
MadApple Says:
August 25, 2012 at 7:07 AM
Finally after doing ALL of the above AND restarting mobile device service it is working! Tanks alot everyone!
Reply
Troy Says:
September 3, 2012 at 6:32 AM
This helped, thanks!
Reply
RaaphaH Says:
September 27, 2012 at 4:16 AM
Thank you very much! had looked a lot for any solutions to the problem, but only enabling SyncServer.exe worked, and I only saw something on it on this post (:
Reply
kobi Says:
November 1, 2012 at 11:22 PM
Thanks!!!!!Working great
Reply
vgaspar Says:
December 4, 2012 at 12:11 AM
A Fix that always works for me (Windows XP). I restart (stop and start) AppleMobileDevice form the list of Services – before starting iTunes. When I then open iTunes, iPhone appears just as earlier. It is easy – though few extra clicks.
May be Apple should include this simple trick in the next update of iTune.
