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mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Windows 10 and iTunes sync problem

I've been following the forum here for 2 months waiting for a solution to pop up that will solve my issue, and none have as yet unfortunately, so I figured it's time for me to ask specifically.

I upgraded to Windows 10 in August, and since that day have never been able to sync my iPhone 5 to iTunes since. The phone shows up in iTunes, I can browse the music and videos on the phone and play them through iTunes, but the 'Sync' button Is grayed out, unavailable. The phone also will not sync over WiFi (that option is grayed out as well.) I'm running iTunes 12.3 now, and have tried several different fixes. Updating the Apple iPhone driver in the Device Manager didn't help (it comes up as MTP USB Device every time I go to update it, saying it is the most up to date driver. The Apple Mobile Device driver also shows as the most up to date.) A full tear down and reinstall of iTunes has not fixed it, and I've tried several times. These seem to be the two most common suggestions, and neither have worked. It seems like most people were having trouble with iTunes even recognizing their phones/iPads, and these fixed that. That isn't exactly the problem I'm having, so I'm not sure what else to do. Anyone else have this issue and find a fix?

iPhone 5, iOS 9.0.2

Posted on Oct 17, 2015 8:37 AM

64 replies

mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 24, 2015 7:00 PM in response to mjdolan1770

I just upgraded to iOS9.1 and iTunes 12.3.1 hoping that something might change, but it didn't. Is anyone else still having this issue like I am, or are all the fixes that have shown up on the forums here worked for you guys/gals?

Stsrc03

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2015 1:42 AM in response to mjdolan1770

Stsrc03 Oct 19, 2015 12:34 PM

Right all

This worked for we tonight

1st off delete everything in programs relating to apple,everything including Bonjour as this worked for me saw this in thread earlier and just do it step by step

th3r1dd1ck Oct 14, 2015 7:14 PM
Re: iTunes problem on Windows 10 in response to Muhab Abu Zeid

OK - Here is the answer, lol, I know sounds arrogant, but I just did this. I have also had to do this for windows 8.1.

Step one - download the icloud control panel (do not install yet)

Step two - Run the installer as an administrator by right clicking the installer and running as administrator

Step three - after the install finishes, DO NOT reboot

Step four - run the apple software update program and install iTunes from there.

Step five - Reboot, and enjoy

they key to this method working is the fact that when the iTunes installer runs it never installs "Apple Application Support". this also affects the ability for iTunes to load drivers, if somehow the iTunes installer actually "works".

also downloaded in Internet explorer not anything else and worked just fine connected all my devices without issue not sure if makes a difference hope this works for the rest as well

WORKED YESTERDAY FOR MY DAUGHTER

d019420

Level 1

4 points

Oct 25, 2015 4:16 AM in response to mjdolan1770

For me everything worked fine. Syncing was never a problem with iTunes on WIndows 10 and my iPhones - now an iPhone 6. But then I did the upgrades to iOS9 and iTunes 12.3.1. Now syncing does not work via USB and WiFi, Sync button is greyed out and backup also does not work. Reinstalled USB driver, installed iCloud for Windows: no change.

What's wrong with these upgrades?

mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 25, 2015 6:02 PM in response to Stsrc03

This was a fix I hadn't seen yet. And unfortunately didn't help. I downloaded iCloud (which I have no intention of using unless it's the only way for this to work), but I can't even sign in to it. "There was an error connecting to the Apple ID server." Has anyone else had *this* problem? I seem to be racking them up...

turingtest2

Level 10

274,430 points

Oct 26, 2015 6:35 AM in response to mjdolan1770

Try http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9779673 which is a Windows 10 compatible version of the Microsoft Program Installer and Uninstaller Fix-It tool. See if you can use it to tear down each of the Apple components and then drive through a new install.

tt2

d019420

Level 1

4 points

Oct 26, 2015 8:21 AM in response to d019420

I forgot to mention: I have the sync problem after upgrading the iPhone to iOS 9.1 and upgrading iTunes to 12.3.1 on two PCs - one is Windows 10, the other WIndows7.

mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 26, 2015 3:32 PM in response to turingtest2

Even THAT program won't run. It says it had trouble contacting the server, so it can't run. I'm using my laptop right now, so it's obviously connecting online, and I don't have any firewall set up, neither does my ISP.

turingtest2

Level 10

274,430 points

Oct 26, 2015 5:22 PM in response to mjdolan1770

I've accessed the download several times from several different machines. Even the Mac I'm typing at now will attempt to download the file, not that it would know what to do with it. I can only suggest you try again. I'm all out of other ideas.

tt2

mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 26, 2015 5:55 PM in response to turingtest2

Sorry, I wasn't clear I think. I was able to download the program and I have the file. It's when I try to run it that I get this communication error.

My laptop is around 6 years old, so it's close to time (or past time) to lay it to rest, but I don't know that I'm ready to drop the $ just yet. If I knew that doing so would solve this I'd be much more inclined to do it. But I just don't know that my computer is the issue - it very well may be, but how to know?

Oct 27, 2015 2:19 AM in response to mjdolan1770

To those who were unable to resolve this issue, please follow the steps suggested on this article.

Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 - Apple Support

Don't get confused if the article subject does not include Windows 10. This was created way back before when Vista was first launched but this is applicable to Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 OS.

Please be reminded to read the article very clearly since the uninstallation of iTunes and its related components should be "in order". Failure to do so will lead to possible errors and/or issues. 🙂

turingtest2

Level 10

274,430 points

Oct 27, 2015 4:52 AM in response to mjdolan1770

What version of Windows are you running?

Is it fully up to date with Windows Update?

What antivirus package do you have?

Is the Windows Firewall enabled?

tt2

mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 27, 2015 8:15 AM in response to notyouraveragetroubleshooter

I'd actually done this exact thing multiple times (I'd say 10 in the last week.) I just tried it again, and there was no difference.

mjdolan1770 Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 27, 2015 8:25 AM in response to turingtest2

Windows 10 Home, free upgrade from Windows 7 back in August. Fully updated. I don't use any extra antivirus, just the Windows Defender that comes with the system, and it is fully up to date. I tried everything with the firewall on and with it off. The default is 'on.'

An interesting thing happened this time I totally uninstalled and reinstalled. This may have been happening all along, and I don't know if it matters, but I'd never noticed it before. After the reinstall, I started iTunes without the phone plugged in. After a moment from startup, iTunes showed my phone as if it were plugged in, which I couldn't understand since it wasn't. I ejected the phone in iTunes, and that worked fine. Plugging the phone in works as it has (shows up in iTunes, able to navigate and listen to music/watch videos from it, just not able to sync.)

turingtest2

Level 10

274,430 points

Oct 27, 2015 9:32 AM in response to mjdolan1770

Try the following:

Open Control Panel > Device Manager
Plug in your device
Locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers > Apple Mobile Device USB Driver
Right-click and select Update Driver Software...
Click Browse my computer for driver software
Browse to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers or
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers
Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
Click Apple Mobile Device USB Driver
Click Next, then Close and exit Device Manager

tt2

d019420

Level 1

4 points

Oct 27, 2015 9:40 AM in response to d019420

I had the sync problem since I upgraded to iTunes 12.3.1 on both a Windows 7 and a Windows 10 PC. Today when I connected the iPhone to one of the PCs it worked again! Tried on the other one: same. I did not change anything. So I think it's a problem with the iCloud, because since days iTunes asked me for the iCould password. And this does happen since this morning.

Windows 10 and iTunes sync problem