IOS 8 won't sync music with itunes

Afterthought - if you don't feel like spending a day setting up your iPhone from scratch, you could just try a restore, then the iTunes library file by file integrity check, would take a lot less time if it does work. I'd be curious if anyone has done this or plans on doing it, might be a lot simpler than my route.

In my case the errors only appeared during the conversion->sync process. The source files themselves showed no problems, with no indication anything was wrong with them in the library view. This was a major source of frustration as the only way to determine good from bad was to run a sync, wait for it to fail then write down the track names (the only information provided in the error report) manually.

It wouldn't have been such a big deal but every failure caused a slew of other problems that required restoring the phone every time...

Afterthought to my afterthought...

I'm wondering if those eight problem files on my end were mp3s that I converted to AAC or something along those lines?

Like you, I didn't get the information about the bad track information until AFTER I synced. You might be correct that a review of the library beforehand would do nothing, I just thought it would be a good first step. If there was an erroneous file BEFORE you synced, you would definitely want to fix that first, then fix whatever errors iTunes provided AFTER a sync before the NEXT sync.

FYI, I used Printscreen on an expanded view of the error note I got with the eight erroneous files. Beats writing that info down 🙂

Check that iTunes is syncing to your phone and not iCloud (new default). That can be changed back. If the music was downloaded without purchase, it won't sync.

Backups are sync'd from the phone either to iCloud or to the PC. I'm not using iTunes match so iCloud isn't involved as music doesn't get backed up regardless. Backups consist of user data, like apps, app data, address book, photos, messages and so on. Your music is stored on the computer (with a counterpart on iTunes Match if you subscribe to that service.)

My music was not downloaded from iTunes, it's mostly CD rips. It now syncs just fine without AAC conversion.

For anyone still having issues, I feel for you, and I may have found your solution (if this sequence hasn't already been posted). I was just able to get all my checked music back onto my iphone 5 after WEEKS of reading others solutions and having no music aside from free music I obtained here and there (which I didn't care for, really) in iCloud.

Here's what I did:

~Select Songs From iTunes Library

~Turn Off iTunes Match

~Un-Select "Show All Music" in iPhone Settings

~Select Music From Library on Mac

~Under "Summary" in iTunes, Check "Sync Only Selected Songs and Videos

~Under "Music" in iTunes, Check Sync Music

~Select Entire Music Library

~Check Include Music Videos (Optional, I believe)

*drumroll*

~Click "Sync"

Hello again, music.

Not promising this will work for everyone but it worked for me, and I'm fncking STOKED.

Cheers!

" 1) the first thing you want to do is completely delete the original music database. Go to settings, usage, manage storage and delete all the songs."

I've seen this recommendation before. Doesn't work for me because I don't find any songs when I go into settings ... etc. I only see apps, and one of them is not the Music app. That's where the songs are supposed to be found, right?

My phone is a 5S with 64 gb, running iOS 8.1.2. Dell PC w/ Win 8.1, iTunes v. 12.0.1.26.

I sync specific artists and albums to my phone, since my library is too large to contain it all on the phone. I had noticed a while back that new songs weren't being added; or if they were unchecked in iTunes, they stayed on the phone anyway.

Yesterday I did a factory re-set and restore from backup. Now the only music on the phone is about 10 songs, which I had gotten as free downloads from iTunes via Starbucks. Those seem to be considered purchases. Attempting to sync my music back on to my phone is futile.

I've tried various iterations of the suggestions in this and other threads.

I am checking in with this great community that helped solve my problems, here is my update...

I am two weeks and many, many syncs across a variety of iOS devices removed from my last post, without any issues whatsoever. Still knocking on wood. Still having heart palpitations every time the sync process spends an extra second or two on that last step "preparing items to copy". But no issues whatsoever. Everything is as it was before "the issue" took over my life last fall. iTunes and all of the iOS devices connected to it are working perfectly, maybe even a little better/faster than before. Continuing to knock on wood...it's like coming out of the other end of a really bad medical situation, you know you're clean, but you can't really believe it, and you know you'll always be looking over your shoulder. Such is my life with Apple from here on in.

Bottom line - clean up your iTunes library. Go through it with a fine tooth comb. Pay attention to any and all error messages that you get regarding tracks before during or after a sync, write them down or do a PrintScreen. Then fix those issues. Get rid of anything remotely related to a corrupt or questionable file or anything with a warning. Reload it back to your iTunes library from scratch if need be. Be prepared to wipe out your iOS device(s), start from scratch, no backups, do not restore from an unhealthy backup, sync as a new device to a healthy library instead. And hopefully you will be as lucky as me.

Good luck everyone. Still subscribed to this group, still getting updates from everyone, still more than happy to help anyone out, but I think I'm fixed.

Knock on wood, Watch Sync. Look over my shoulder. Ad nauseum

I bought the 64GB 5S way back when to store my entire music library of roughly 6300 tracks plus 200 apps, and I still had about 10GB left over. Not sure why you are struggling with getting your whole library on your phone, should be more than enough room unless you've got more apps or media or something else.

In any case, my personal opinion is that you will never get ahead of these issues if you keep restoring from a backup that may or may not be corrupt. You need to clean up your iTunes library first, pay attention to any error messages, etc., then be prepared to set up your phone as a completely new device (no restore from backup), then sync whatever media you'd like. I sync everything versus just playlists, artists, songs, etc. so I cannot say for certain whether my method will help you with your issue if you are getting more specific in your syncs. Maybe you can do a first time sync of everything, then pair down to whatever you want/need in subsequent syncs?

I'm two weeks plus into no issues whatsoever knock on wood after three months of nothing but music sync issues. I wish you the best and hope that what I did helps you fix your issues.

mlb32704,

Thanks for all of your input over the last few months. It's all been very helpful

A question though.

When you WERE having issues, did you have "Convert Higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps AAC" Checked?

Now that you're no longer having issues, do you have this checked?

I'm starting to think that this option, which is critical for me to have checked, is my culprit.

Thanks!

I had it checked by request of Apple during their turn at not resolving my issues. I did not have it checked before they told me to check it, I did not have it checked as part of my ultimate resolution, and it is not checked now.

Hope that helps.

This has happened to me and several friends.

1. I made sure iTunes Match was turned off on iPhone.

2. I connected via USB to iTunes.

3. Select phone and UNCHECK sync music.

4. Hit apply.

5. Optionally eject iPhone and plug back in.

6. Go back to iPhone settings in iTunes and turn music sync back on.

7. This should reset and start syncing your music as desired.

Marcos Duran

Nope. Tried that before. What the heck, tried it again.

This is really funky of Apple.

Yosemite and iOS updates yesterday. Anyone having problems have the ******* to attempt a sync?

Hey mlb32704!

It even got worse! This past week it was taking forever to charge the phone, never completely charging, and battery would run down in an hour or two. When charging, the phone would get really hot. Scary.

Finally bit the bullet and did a restore to factory settings again, but not the back-up. As you and others have suggested, that's probably an exercise in futility, since it's just restoring whatever it is that's screwed up.

Did the restore this morning. The phone charged up fast and stayed cool. Plus, all the music sync'd.

Incidentally, the 8.1.3 iOS upgrade was available, so that upgrade happened this morning as well. I can't imagine that has anything to do with it.

[knock on wood] I think this problem is fixed. I'll check back in if it ain't.

Anyway, I think the cure is starting from scratch.