iTunes sync is not finishing

Question

Level 1

8 points

iTunes sync is not finishing

Hey guys,

I've been experiencing this problem for quite a while now and can't seem to get rid of it. When I'm connecting my iPhone via the usb cable to my Mac, iTunes will start the sync procedure, but it will always stall at Step 8 of 8 (waiting for items to copy) no matter how long will I leave my phone connected. The sync will just not finish.

Also when I'm unplugging the iPhone, the sync wheel symbol on the iPhone will keep "turning" for ever and will not disappear. This will only go away when I reboot the iPhone.

This is getting pretty annoying and I'd like some help to solve this somehow. Both iPhone and iTunes are up to date. Actually, from what I remember, this issue appeared when I did the last major IOS upgrade. Before that it worked flawlessly.

Mac is 10.11.6 and iPhone 6 is iOS 9.3.4.

Thanks,

Calin

MacBook Pro (17-inch Early 2011), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), iPhone 6 w./iOS 9.3.4

Posted on Aug 26, 2016 4:52 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 13, 2017 9:35 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

I was having this problem too. I just now had to set my iPhone 6 as a new phone (clear off all the old stuff) and then sync with iTunes to get all my music, apps, etc. back. Sync was hanging up on step 7.

A double restart (restarting both the iPhone and the computer) was the magic pill. All works fine now. Thanks.

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Answer 2

stuckboss

Community Specialist

Aug 26, 2016 5:11 PM in response to calin.vama

Hello calin.vama!

It's absolutely nice when I'm able to use iTunes to get things on my iPhone. We can certainly check things out and see what's happening.

You may want to update the iPhone's software to iOS 9.3.5 as it's the latest now and just recently came out. Since it's been going on for a while, though, there's other things to do, too.

Let's start off with safe mode and seeing if the sync completes there: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up - Apple Support

Then restart it normally and try the sync again.

If things are the same, let's reinstall iTunes. Download it from this page and it will install on top of your existing iTunes: iTunes - Download iTunes Now - Apple

Let us know how those go.

Cheers!

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Answer 3

Aug 27, 2016 2:01 AM in response to calin.vama

If you have not since noticing this problem, restart the Mac and iPhone. Then try again. For the iPhone

Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

If that's not helpful, I would set the iPhone to not sync anything. For example, it's set to sync music automatically, go to the iPhone's Music settings screen and uncheck Sync Music (and Apply). Do the same for any other iTunes media types that you sync from your iTunes library. Using the iPhone, confirm all songs (and other media items) that you previously synced have been removed. Then, set up syncing for the iPhone again to see if "stall" issue recurs.

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Answer 4

calin.vama Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 27, 2016 2:05 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Well, the restart did nothing. The iOS upgrade didn't work either. However, setting the iPhone not to sync music, removing the iCloud library and then restoring everything seem to have solved my problem. Syncing now works super fast and it's over in seconds. No stalling whatsoever.

So basically I'd say that it was an apple music/cloud/library problem that stalled the sync process. I do thank you for your help and for taking the time to reply my questions. Much appreciated. All the best to you!

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Answer 5

Neuro2k

Level 1

4 points

May 2, 2017 11:58 AM in response to calin.vama

This same technique worked for me setting iTunes to not sync music and shutting off iCloud library.

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Answer 6

mmish84

Level 1

13 points

Jul 12, 2017 1:31 PM in response to Neuro2k

How do you shut off the iCloud library

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