itunes stuck on "preparing to update" when I try to transfer music?

Thank you, this worked for me too. I had deleted a bunch of songs and added a bunch of albums, and then it was stuck on preparing to update. The files on my iTunes were the way I had fixed them, the phone was still as it was before, I ejected it and left it be overnight, found this thread this morning, plugged back in, hit sync, and it was done in about two minutes. Thanks again 🙂

Use Copy Trans 😁

Here is my solution:

First add the songs to the iTunes Music Library.

Then drag the songs from the library to the device.

I am using iTunes version 12.0.1.26 and the device is iPhone 4s.

I had the same issue and I found that doing it like this, is working.

Love.

I am having a similar issue. My playlists went missing and a good chunk of my music. Now it is taking forever and it's taking some space on my phone as "other" that should not be anything else. Not sure how to add my music back without having to re-format. UGH

I'm currently experiencing the same issue with my iPod touch (5th Gen iOS: 8.1.3 , itunes version: 12.1.0.50).

About 9 hours ago, I tried to simply add some music only to find that the "preparing to update" message appeared. While trying to correct the issue, I noticed that itunes somehow managed to delete about 20GB's worth of music. The music that was deleted remained present under "On my device > Music", but when I selected any of the deleted songs, an exclamation mark would appear next to them.At this point, I tried adding more music and my ipod would never update. I then restored my iPod and began the process of adding music again. Halfway through re adding music, iTunes decided to delete the music once again. I'm trying to add music for the third time, and im now back at the same "preparing to update" issue. This is really discouraging and its making me reconsider purchasing an iPhone 6 (Or anything for that matter). Note: I have a 2nd Gen iPod touch that works flawlessly when it comes to adding music however, I'm now hesitant in connecting it with iTunes. Not a good look...

It just happened again for the 4th Time! .. I added about 13GB of music (which took a long time to gather from back up cd's etc.). When I attempted to drag in more music, I noticed the "preparing to update" message appeared briefly and then disappeared. When I clicked on the summary page and noticed all my music deleted. When I ejected and the re connect the iPod, these messages are seen in the following sequence ; "Backing up", "preparing to sync", "waiting for changes to be applied".

Now, when I attempt to add new music, 'Preparing to update' is seen briefly and then the display is blank. This is frustrating.

so it seems as though my issue is related to the link below.

Encountered just about every issue possible trying to sync music to iPod Touch after 8.1

I am using iOS version 8.1.3. I have had this problem for a while now. I am 100% sure it has to do with the iTunes software on the computer. Make sure your using the most recent version by clicking on iTunes and selecting about from the dropdown menu on a mac. If there is a software update available for your system, download it and then restart your computer. I found that this worked 100% for me.

Depending on how your iOS device is connected, it may take more or less time to download songs from iTunes. Ex. direct USB as to a wireless connection.

Guys listen up if you have this syncing problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unmei's strategy works!!!! try it if you have the syncing problem. my phone is an iPhone 4 on iOS 7.1.2 so it works on that iOS version too!!! thank you so much Unmei!!!

I think Lilium is onto something about the cover art, whether or not the other fixes work for you. I stumbled on this thread while looking for a fix for this same problem and when I checked the folder of the music I was trying to transfer, there were TWO cover jpgs. I deleted one of them and tried the transfer again... problem solved. Def check your folders for conflicts with album art.

How dare you tell them to fix something! Who do you think you are? A "paying customer"? They'll fix it only when, and only when, they feel like it. And they don't feel like it!

I'm totally over iTunes and IOS.

It's pretty annoying if you have a lot of songs to add, but I've been running into this same issue for the past couple days. I found that converting one of the problem albums to aac through iTunes allowed it to sync without issue.

Still not sure why it started in the first place, but it's worth a shot if nothing else is working.

Its because ios and itunes is utter crap. Get an Android and you wont have any of this grief. It just works on Android.

I have to agree. My iTunes doesn't even register what media is on the iPad or iPhone any more - you have to manually reconcile what you've deleted from the device with what it says is still in it in iTunes. WiFi sync is useless - iTunes will detect the iPad and iPhone and you can browse the devices but if you go to add something it suddenly can't see them. It used to work. And this is using different a PCs on different networks too - networks that have no other issues.

I had the same problem and I came to this forum to find answers. Unfortunately I didn't find any. Here is what i did to bypass Apple's ******** system (devices look great but their system is ****) Google n Microsoft are so easy to use. Just delete the files you were trying to send to Iphone when you see the preparing to update error. Unplug your phone from computer, Re- attach through usb and try transferring one song at a time. some might still not go in so just delete them from the queue and try again. I sent 24 songs from computer to Iphone doing this 😟

I hope your bed is nice and toasty down in **** Mr Steve Jobs