IOS 8 won't sync music with itunes

This popped up again as I'm syncing...makes no sense as it's all Apple - iPhone, cable, and computer

I had same problem. In iTunes, Go to your device menu when connected to iTunes. Click on the music tab (menu item). Click the radio button to Sync Entire Music Library. Then press Sync.

This worked for me.

I think the issue is many people were already doing this, and something broke for some of us...many variations of syncing seems to have been tried.

I'm almost done re-syncing from a new iTunes library - I've been doing batches of albums, and testing playback in between syncs...I don't consider it fixed yet, but so far, the music is there...I would need to do several dozen syncs with perfect stability for me to consider it fixed...

This problem is indeed EXTREMELY frustrating. I have a 5c using 10.6.8 and iOS 8. My solution was an easy one. I spoke with someone in Apple Chat and they gave me a "special" version of iTunes that fixed my problem. I thought I could link it here but I can't so I suggest you all try that. Hope that helps.

Well, cleaning up my Music folder seems to have helped (until now). Even checked 'Convert to 256 AAC' again, cause that's what I really want. It converted the 40 plus GB of songs on the iPhone just fine, but of course took a few hours. Disconnected and everything was copied, including the art work, and playable. Connected again, checked some 15 extra playlists and it started copying it immediatly. No delays, no hanging, nothing.

My reasoning was:

It isn't a hardware problem, because this also occurs on older phones that worked fine untill recently.

It isn't really a bug cause only a few people have this problem (otherwise the media would have picked this up eagerly).

It isn't about settings like iTunes Match, iCloud back up en Wifi syncing, because a lot of people tried that without succes.

So there must be something corrupt in the files.

But I'm not expert.

I'll have to check my folders, tonight.

As an aside, bugs can affect small populations of users. 😉

Spoke too soon. Have tried syncing whole library and also tried syncying individual playlists and albums. iTunes says my iPhone 5 has all 9939 songs but on the iPhone, it has only 1910. I’ve always had my whole music library on my iPhone or before that, on my iPod. But since iOS 8.02, I can’t get it to move my library onto the phone. All are legal songs and albums. I’ve tried everything suggested in this string of discussions with no luck. Haven’t called Apple yet.

Also getting the same problem after getting an iPhone 6 and syncing my music across for some unknown it's only synced two thirds of my music collection, the ones not synced seem to be very random. I'm also getting problems with my iPhone 6 (8.0.2) crashing iTunes and/or hanging - 'waiting for changes to be applied'. There is something not right here!

Already 40,67 GB of music on my iPhone, or 5526 songs converted from Lossless to 256 AAC. Did in in four sessions. During the third session added a load of playlists, then hit 'Apply' and then 'Sync'. Last week thursday everything crashed when I did that. Now iTunes had to think for a minute or two, but then went on. Just started the last session: adding another 6600 plus songs. It will take the night (and probably more) to get it converted en synced, I guess. I'll give an update once it is finished (or goes wrong).

My kludge seems to be working. Windows 7, high-powered Dell PC, iTunes 11.4.0.18, iPhone 6 with 8.0.2.

1) For the iPhone 6, when I connect to the computer the "Manually Manage music and videos" check box is ON typically when I first connect it (because that was how it was set when I last disconnected... see step 3 below). Sync sends across some information about completed / played songs back to iTunes. Apps update to the iPhone 6. Typically nothing from Audio or Podcasts goes to the iPhone on this first sync, although I have not done a thorough check. The playlists I know should change on the iPhone 6, do not.

2) While the iPhone 6 is still connected, I then click the same "Manually Manage music and videos" to OFF, and then re-sync. This doesn't do anything, Well, it runs through the sync, but nothing seems to transfer. However, my operating theory is, this shakes up something in the communication between the iPhone and iTunes, probably similar to rebuilding the entire library.

3) While the iPhone 6 is still connected in the same session, I then check the same "Manually Manage music and videos" back to ON, and then re-sync. Now the updated playlists come across, I see updated songs and audiobooks I expected, and most artwork seems to be stabilizing, available on the iPhone.

I didn't go through any rebuild of the iTunes library, although that sounds like just a blast 😉

I'm still not convinced that playback on the iPhone works consistently, I'm still gunshy about that.

I'm also syncing my iPhone 5S (8.0.2) to the same library, and that continues to work like a champ.

Two lightning cables connected to the PC, one with a powered USB, the other regular USB, I think they are both USB 3.0. Doesn't seem to make a difference which of those cables is connected to the 6, but I haven't scientifically tested each.

Check your pictures/camera roll. There may be videos there that it's counting.

I think you're right - thanks.

That's a bit of a relief. I was afraid something in my library was corrupted.

Still might be; who knows.

As promised an update. Woke up and everything is fine. iPhone completely synced: 88,73 GB of music, 12.156 songs converted from Lossless to 256 AAC. Three small things happened, though they didn't ruin the update:

1. iTunes says its 12.152 songs, so 4 songs less (but it think there is always a small difference)

2. one song couldn't be converted, iTunes and the iPhone said. That song had a bitrate that wasn't correct, I couldn't convert in iTunes either, so I removed it

3. disconnected the iPhone, connected again, hit sync again, and it synced another ten songs that apparently weren't synced before. This didn't happenerd again a second time.

All songs seem to be converted, there is nothing greyed out, all the songs I tried are playing just fine, all the artwork is there.

So again my suggestion: look if you're library is corrupted one way or the other.

For me there is only one problem left (for now): I don't have enough playlists to fill my 128 GB phone. Bummer 😁

Afterthought: and if this is the solution, we're all looking in the wrong direction: the problem wouldn't be iOS8, but the iTunes update.

And if iTunes is the problem, a fresh install can help. Maybe that's all that srohlehr got, not a special version of iTunes, but a fresh one. It won't hurt.