Is Bonjour required for Wifi sync?

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Is Bonjour required for Wifi sync?

Bonjour is no longer included in iTunes 12.7 for Windows (it was until latest 12.6 version). I thought that Bonjour was required for wifi sync and it was a mistake from Apple but now I am wondering if I am mistaken. Does anybody with a clean install of iTunes 12.7 in Windows could please confirm if wifi sync is working?. It is important that it is a clean iTunes install since an update from a previous iTunes version will keep the Bonjour from the previous version.

Thanks

Windows 10

Posted on Sep 21, 2017 12:39 PM

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Answer 1

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turingtest2

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Sep 22, 2017 6:10 AM in response to rvalca

Having completely failed to get iTunes to notice my iPhone wirelessly after uninstalling Bonjour I've reinstalled it and iTunes is managing a wireless sync now. See the Install missing components section of Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates and grab Bonjour64.msi from the 12.6.2.20 installer to see if that works for you too.

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

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Sep 21, 2017 7:42 PM in response to rvalca

I've asked the question and been assured that Bonjour has been intentionally removed from the iTunes installer. It is no longer a required component. I've removed it and so far nothing has broken.

tt2

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Answer 3

rvalca Author

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Sep 22, 2017 7:25 AM in response to javaliga

I have no problem doing a sync with the cable with my iPad/iPhone and iTunes 12.7 but even after successfully doing a cable sync the wifi sync doesn't work. The iPad/iPhone connected to the local network just never show in iTunes (like they did with iTunes 12.6.2). I noticed that when doing a complete uninstall of 12.6.2 and a new install of 12.7 you no longer have Bonjour (not included in 12.7) and I was under the impression that Bonjour was required for wifi sync. That's why I started this dicussion.

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Answer 4

rvalca Author

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Sep 22, 2017 6:24 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for your tests results tt2

Windows Firewall configuration missing from the iTunes 12.7 install (but not 12.6.2.20 Bonjour install) may be the reason. If that is the case then temporarily disabling the Window Firewall should restablish the wifi sync. Other possibility is that Bonjour is used only so that they find each other, but once they do is no longer required. If that is so then restarting the PC and IOS device after disabling Bonjour would make the wifi sync not work again.

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Answer 5

javaliga

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Sep 22, 2017 7:13 AM in response to turingtest2

I don't know whether to believe the reply to this question:

Wifi sync broken since new version

or not but rvacla said that "After updating your iphone or iTunes you need first successfully sync using the cable at least once before syncing with wifi." Could that explain your above post about stopping Bonjour?

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Answer 6

turingtest2

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Sep 22, 2017 8:41 AM in response to javaliga

I was definitely able to stop the Bonjour service, close iTunes, start iTunes, and have the device connect. But as rvalca implies perhaps the iPhone was remembering how to contact iTunes in a way that doesn't survive say a reboot of the device.

tt2

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Answer 7

turingtest2

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Sep 22, 2017 6:10 AM in response to turingtest2

I've removed it and so far nothing has broken.

Hold that thought! I've set up Wi-Fi syncing again but my iPhone isn't appearing in iTunes unless I connect to USB. 😕

tt2

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Answer 8

turingtest2

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Sep 22, 2017 3:25 AM in response to turingtest2

OK, this gets weirder. If I stop the Bonjour service I still have Wi-Fi connectivity. 😕

I'm going to try uninstalling again. I noticed during the install that it configures the Windows Firewall. I wonder if uninstalling it pulls out some settings that should be left in place?

tt2

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Answer 9

turingtest2

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Sep 22, 2017 6:46 AM in response to rvalca

Yep. I ran out of time but I'll try some more experiments and file a bug report once I've nailed down what does and doesn't work.

tt2

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Answer 10

rvalca Author

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Sep 22, 2017 2:38 AM in response to rvalca

That's what happened in my case. iTunes 12.7 would work fine except for wifi sync. My iPhone an iPad would not appear in iTunes when connected thru wifi only when using the cable.

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