iPhone Syncing Problem

This seems to be a much posted problem. I have had this problem with Windows 7 and iTunes updates for some time. Each time it takes hours to solve but with the over the air upgrade to IOS6 on my iPhone and iPad, I was determined to solve and remember what I did, So here it is:

http://www.care4pcs.co.uk/2012/09/pear-shaped-apple-ios-6-for-iphone-ipad.html

I hope this helps you and any other users.

Thanks BigNavy505 for sharing your solution. Ever since upgrading to iTunes 10.7 (Win7 32-bit), I've had the same problem in backing up/upgrading to iOS6 (2 diff laptops, 2 diff iPhone 4S', same problem--funny though didn't have any problem backing up/updating iPad (3rd gen) to iOS6).

For one of my iPhones, your exact solution worked (right click properties/compatibility/Windows 7) but I did have to "run as administrator" to get it to work (tried it first without "run as administrator" and had same problem).

For other iPhone (the 1st 1 I updated), I used a different method offered by neko101and that one worked for that iPhone 4S but did not work for my other iPhone 4S (hence I found BigNavy505's solution above). Here is a link to that other solution: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4299469?start=0&tstart=0.I was able to get it to sync wirelessly (for backup) and then was able to plug in the cable for iOS6 update. All went well.

Definitely seems like something funky wiht iTunes 10.7, interesting that diff solutions would make it work from iPhone to iPhone.

You're welcome Z1Customer. Sadly I'm still having intermintent sync issue when cabled via USB. I can backup / snyc several times and the process is flawless and then I'll get a session error and the next time the process works.

So my recommendation isn't a complete fix for me anyway but it's a placeholder until a real fix arrives.

Thanks to everyone for the input. I have found a process that works for me and thought I'd share in case it helps anyone. To clarify, the issue I was having was the inability to backup, receiving the "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because a session could not be started" issue.

Config: Win7 Pro x64, iTunes 10.7.0.21, ipHone 4s w/ iOS 6 (NIS firewall + AV were both running during this process)

1. Disconnect phone from PC and shut down the phone

2. Follow the instructions to delete the lockdown folder: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2529

3. Restart PC

4. Manually start iTunes (do not plug in phone and allow it to start itunes)

5. Plug in phone.

At this point, my phone automatically turned on (not sure if that is normal or if you may need to manually turn your phone on). i had to enter my passcode as my phone is protected. the sync/backup process started. the backup process worked fine at this point. I have not retried since, so I do not know how 'permanent' a solution this is, but i am somewhat relieved at this point to have a good, recent backup. hope it helps someone.

I am having similar problems to the ones mentioned in this thread. Ever since I upgraded to the latest version of iTunes, I cannot sync my iPhone or iPad consitently. It only works once in a while. It does not matter whether I plug it in or use WiFi. I was having problems with the backup. Upgrading both devices to iOS 6 seemed to fix that for me, but now, I can't sync at all. It seems to be unable to connect to the devices. I haven't tried disabling my firewall (Norton 360). I'll try that tonight. I hope Apple fixes this quickly. It's a huge problem.

Hi. My last post might help. It does take you back to starting from scratch, but I know how frustrating unable to sync can be.

I'm having the same problems as everyone else here. Ever since the last version of iTunes I am having a tough time backing up and syncing my 2 iPhone 4s's and my 3 iPad 2's. I don't use Norton (I use MS security Essentials and the MS firewall) with Win 7 (x64). For me, if I reboot my computer, I am able to sync and backup for a short period of time, but then it will simply stop working and the only thing I've been able to do to get it working again is reboot my computer. I've tried all the suggestions in this thread and nothing has worked. From the looks of it, I guess I'm at least a bit luckier than most as I at least can get things backed up and synced, it's just really frustrating to have to reboot constantly to get it done. I was hoping updating to IOS 6 would fix the problem but no go there. I really hope apple gets this fixed asap.

I must admit to being flummoxed and a bit obsessed with this issue. I gave up the ghost and am having my backups done to the cloud rather than the PC. That piece is going ok (at least I think so!). I continue to have the probems of syncing informaiton (I've figured out that this only refers to outlook information) during approximately 90% of backups. The 10% that work seem totally random - I've not found a condition that I can replicate success, firewall off, run as administrator, compatibility mode, reboot, restarting apple mobile, disabling device in control panel have all been the last thing I've done on both successful and unsuccessful trials. I've had success with my Iphone, immediately plugged in my Ipad and had failure - and vice versa. AAARRRGGGGHHHH! I have noted that I have hundreds if not thousands of errors with the bonjour service in my admin logs but I'm not sure if that is a piece of this puzzle. And I keep checking for iTunes updates like a rat pressing a bar in a psych experiment.....

Same problem here. Every once in a while it works and then it doesn't. Very frustrating to diagnose.

Thanks, GrahamE. Basically the process of removing all the old Apple stuff from my Win7 PC and then re-installing using the process you described has managed to cure my ills. Although ... for how long these Wi-Fi Synch ills are "cured" is anyone's guess! 😉

I think the next there is an update to iTunes or IOS, we may have to do it all over again.

It seems to me like Apple is doing it's best to get back to its old ways of making Apple products a niche.

iPhones, iPads and very other iDevice used to work effortlessly with every other PC platform and if there had been a problem it was fixed ASAP.

It's a pity!

I am too facing the same problem as posted above but instead of thinking about making the transition to an iMac and the sorts or starting to use only iCloud for backup I'm starting to think maybe my iDevices time is coming to a near end.

Maybe the days of the late Steve Jobs are over and it's time to move on.

Maybe.

Same problems here. Cannot sync reliably on Windows. I can if I delete the "Lockdown" folder, but it wont sync the next time. I get the "session could not be started" followed by the "connection cannot be established" message. Worked like a charm before.

By the way this is happening on my Win 7 PC with my old iPhone 3GS and my new iPhone5 and now my wife is seeing it on her computer for her iPhone 4S and her original iPad series one. Different computers and different devices tell me that the only common thing between the two is iTunes 10.7. She had zero problems with iTunes 10.6.

Well, this thread has now had about 2,000 views. The only people who have any reason to view this thread are those who are having this same problem. So, clearly, at least 2,000 people have this problem and it all started with the iTunes upgrade to 10.7. (And that's only the 2,000 who happend to come upon this thread, so there are obviously thousands more with the same problem.)

Given that this web site is owned and run by Apple, is there any hope that Apple people actually read this thread and actually fix the problem?

Just got the problem again. Unable to sync my iPhone 5 except over wifi. I had initially gotten the problem, then it went away once I got the iPhone 5 (I had the problem with my 4s), not it's come back a week later.

NIS used here also, Win 7 64bit.

Clearly a bug. Is Apple listening?