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iPad and iPhone won't sync via iCloud

I have iPad3 and iPhone4 set up on my mac. Both registered to iCloud, same appleID and all iCloud settings and Store settings turned to ON on both devices. When connected to the Mac they will sync with iTunes and I have checked box to allow wi-fi sync. But they won't sync apps over wi-fi.

Anyone got any ideas?

Is there any way to do it manually without connecting to Mac?

Thanks.

iPad, iOS 5.1

Posted on Apr 10, 2012 12:48 PM

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Posted on Apr 10, 2012 1:08 PM

I think you are confusing two different issues - or I am misunderstanding you. Are you trying to sync the devices over WiFi with iTunes? If you are, read theses instructions from Apple's kb article about syncing.


You must select the apps to sync in the Apps Pane of the iTunes window on the right as well in order for the apps to sync.



Wi-Fi syncing

  1. Open iTunes
  2. To set up Wi-Fi syncing, connect your iOS device to your computer with the included USB cable. Select your device under Devices on the left-hand side.
  3. In the Summary tab, select "Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi".
    User uploaded file
  4. Whenever the computer and the iOS device are on the same network, the iOS device will appear in iTunes, and you can sync it. The iOS device will sync automatically when all of the following are true:
    • The iOS device is plugged in to power
    • iTunes is open on the computer
    • The iOS device and the computer are on the same Wi-Fi network
  5. While the iOS device appears in the left-hand column of iTunes, you can select the content tabs and configure sync options.
  6. Click Apply or Sync to sync the iOS device.

If the iOS device does not appear in the Devices section or you are unable to sync, please see this article for troubleshooting.

11 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Apr 10, 2012 1:08 PM in response to sprutch88

I think you are confusing two different issues - or I am misunderstanding you. Are you trying to sync the devices over WiFi with iTunes? If you are, read theses instructions from Apple's kb article about syncing.


You must select the apps to sync in the Apps Pane of the iTunes window on the right as well in order for the apps to sync.



Wi-Fi syncing

  1. Open iTunes
  2. To set up Wi-Fi syncing, connect your iOS device to your computer with the included USB cable. Select your device under Devices on the left-hand side.
  3. In the Summary tab, select "Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi".
    User uploaded file
  4. Whenever the computer and the iOS device are on the same network, the iOS device will appear in iTunes, and you can sync it. The iOS device will sync automatically when all of the following are true:
    • The iOS device is plugged in to power
    • iTunes is open on the computer
    • The iOS device and the computer are on the same Wi-Fi network
  5. While the iOS device appears in the left-hand column of iTunes, you can select the content tabs and configure sync options.
  6. Click Apply or Sync to sync the iOS device.

If the iOS device does not appear in the Devices section or you are unable to sync, please see this article for troubleshooting.

Apr 10, 2012 1:59 PM in response to sprutch88

You can't sync to iTunes without the computer being turned on and without iTunes running as well. Those two requirements must be met if you want to sync over WiFi with iTunes.


If you mean that you want both devices to be in sync for notes, bookmarks, calendars, some app data (only certain apps work with iCloud right now) and that type of thing - that's a different story.


Explain exactly what you want to achieve and we will go from there. If you do not want to use iTunes at all - you can just rely on iCloud.

Apr 10, 2012 2:07 PM in response to Demo

I would prefer to just rely on iCloud. The Mac is my husbands and he uses it a lot so it is predominantly logged into his account. For me to access my iTunes, I have to log into my account. So it would be better for me to not use iTunes and just rely on iCloud. I have all iCloud settings ON on both devices but just doesn't seem to be working.

Thanks.

Maybe I just need to turn the wifi sync in iTunes off?

Apr 10, 2012 2:24 PM in response to sprutch88

I'm not sure what you mean by you don't think it is working? What are you expecting to achieve????


If you have music and photos in the iTunes library on the computer - the only way to get them to your iDevices is to sync with iTunes.


If you just want to use iCloud and you have it all set up - I'm not sure what you are looking for and that is why I ask what you are hoping to achieve.


If you want to use iCloud only - you have to set up an account which you have already done. Then you go into the iPad settings>iCloud>and turn on everything that you want to sync to all of your devices in there, Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders, Bookmarks, Notes, Photos Stream, Documents and Data - and Find my iPad if you use that. You also want to tap on iCloud backup>On so that your iPad will backup to iCloud.


Also tap on Documents and Data and turn that on as well.


The tap on Storage and backup and in the next window tap - Manage Storage - then tap on your iPad name - then turn on every app in the list to enable them for iCloud.


I dont know much about using Photo Stream, but you can find answers here.

iCloud: Photo Stream FAQ


I don't use iTunes Match for my music either. I still keep all of my music on my computer and I dont need Apple to store it for me at this time. You can read about that here.

Apple - iTunes - Match

Apr 10, 2012 2:36 PM in response to Demo

My needs are very simple. All I want is to use my iphone to download apps, make notes, update calendars etc and for that to be automatically pushed onto my ipad via icloud, or vice versa. This is not happening, despite the fact that I have already done everything that you suggest.

Photostream also doesn't seem to work but I thought I would sort out the basics first before I work that out as lots of people seem to be struggling with Photostream.

Thanks.

Apr 10, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Demo

Thanks, I didn't have music switched on for automatic downloads and that seems to have fixed the notes and calendar issue. Apps don't seem to be pushed on, even purchased ones, which is disappointing but not really too much effort to install on other device. Camera Roll and Photo Stream don't seem to sync but I'll leave that for another day. Thank you for your help.

Aug 10, 2012 5:54 AM in response to sprutch88

I discovered that even if all of your automatic downloads are switched to 'on' on all of your devices, if your apple id password, that you may have chosen long before the current minimum requirements were made, does not meet the minimum requirements (3/4: one lowercase, one uppercase, one number, one symbol), the automatic downloads may not occur on all of your associated devices. I had to log into iTunes and change my password to meet the requirements and have no problems with the automatic downloads with my iCloud device since. Hope this helps!

iPad and iPhone won't sync via iCloud

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