marcusmt8

Q: want to synnc iphone 6 with itunes on my new computer using the iphone library. itunes wants to erase it when i try to sync, is there a way around this asnd i dont have access to my old computer it died

want to synnc iphone 6 with itunes on my new windows 10 computer using the iphone library. itunes wants to erase it when i try to sync, is there a way around this and i dont have access to my old computer it died

iPhone 6, iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Aug 23, 2015 3:52 AM

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Q: want to synnc iphone 6 with itunes on my new computer using the iphone library. itunes wants to erase it when i try to sync, is th ... more

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  • by Brett L,

    Brett L Brett L Aug 24, 2015 8:07 AM in response to marcusmt8
    Community Specialists
    Aug 24, 2015 8:07 AM in response to marcusmt8

    Hello marcusmt8,

     

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

     

    I understand that you have content already on your iPhone 6 and would like to start syncing to your Windows computer. When you attempt to sync, you receive an alert that the content on your iPhone will be erased and of course you do not want that. 

     

    This alert is in place because even though you can authorize up to five computers to play/sync content, the iPhone can only sync to one computer at a time without changing the data that is on the iPhone. Essentially what is happening during a sync, the iPhone wants to match what is in the iTunes library. This is why the content on the phone gets erased and replaced with the content that is in the computer’s iTunes library.

     

    That being said, there may still be a solution where you don’t lose any content. First, I would recommend downloading your entire purchase history to your Windows computer before connecting your iPhone. The attached article below will explain the process to download all of your purchased music, movies, TV shows, music videos, apps, and books to the iTunes library on your computer. 

     

    Download past purchases from iTunes - Apple Support

     

    The next attached article explains how to recover purchased Ringtones or Tones.

     

    Restore missing tones on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 8.1.1 or later - Apple Support

     

    If you are not already using iCloud to sync Contacts, Calendars, etc. I would suggest doing so. This will make sure all of your data is safe and will not be erased when performing the sync to iTunes. 

     

    Apple - iCloud - Learn how to set up iCloud on all your devices.

     

    The next content I would like to make sure is safe is your Photos. If you do not use iCloud Photo Library, please make sure to import all of your pictures to your computer using the attached article below. 

     

    Import photos and videos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your Mac or Windows PC - Apple Support

     

    If you are using iCloud Photo Library, please log into the iCloud website to verify all of your pictures and videos are safely stored on iCloud. 

     

    iCloud Photo Library FAQ - Apple Support

     

    If all of the content on your iPhone currently was purchased from iTunes, once everything is downloaded to your iTunes library as described in the above two links, you can sync your iPhone to the computer. This will still erase the content from the phone, but it will essentially replace it with the same information from the computer. 

     

    If you have content on your iPhone that came from CDs or other sources other than iTunes, this content will be erased during the sync if you are not able to add it back to your iTunes library manually. I understand that you do not have access to your old computer any longer so using Home Sharing to transfer the content is not an option. If you have the original CDs or the ability to import this content into the iTunes library of your new computer prior to syncing, I would highly suggest doing that. 

     

    The attached articles below explain how to import songs from CDs into iTunes and how to import music and video from a computer into iTunes.

     

    Import songs from CDs in iTunes

     

    Import music and video from a computer into iTunes

     

    Have a great day