I connected my new iPhone to my desktop for the first time hoping to download pictures from my phone to the desktop. iTunes said it was going to sync my phone. I stopped and disconnected my phone because I didn't want to sync music. My question is, does iTunes give me the option of what I want to sync, or does it sync without input from me? Note that my desktop is running El Capitan ( OS 10.11.4).
Mac Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)
You can open iTunes (without the iPhone connected to the Mac) and go to iTunes Preferences, click Devices in the bar at the top of the Preferences window and then put a checkmark in front of "Prevent iPods, iPads and iPhones from syncing automatically" to prevent the sync from automatically starting. You can then attach the iPhone and make selections in iTunes of what you want to sync before manually starting a sync.
Note that iTunes is not involved in downloading photos from an iPhone to a computer. iTunes photo syncing will transfer photos from a computer to an iPhone but not the other direction.
Any idea why my phone doesn't show up in Photos, iPhoto, or even Image Capture?
The following may have something that will help: If you can't import photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer - Apple Support
Syncing iPhone
