can not sync photos with ios 11.3 and itunes 12.7.4

Here is my sync report that I sent to my apple technican who is working with me.

JThis is the documentation for my sync of 05/03/2018. I added no pictures so the sync should have been just a backup. IT WAS NOT!!!! Total time from start to finish was 3.52 hours!

8:30 AM backup. No pictures added.

8:35 AM backup finished. Reading photos from Photos (step 5 of 6)

9:06 AM Reading photos from Photos (step 5 of 6)

9:33 AM Reading photos from Photos (step 5 of 6)

10:19 AM Reading photos from Photos (step 5 of 6)

10:31 AM Reading photos from Photos (step 5 of 6)

12:01 PM finished

Just so you know, my Windows 10 updated to build 1803 on May 1, 2018 after my last sync on that date. Other than that nothing unusual to report except the very long sync time which will adversely affect my backup routine.

Can you tell me whether it is safe or not to stop the sync after the backup is written? I would much rather have the backup in a 5-10 minute period as opposed to the 3.5 hours! If so, how would I do this safely??

I am assuming (which can be dangerous) but why are the archive bits not used to tell iTunes that files are already present? Why so long to read???

Just so everyone knows, I have about 8240 photos on the 8 Plus which likely includes the camera roll.

turingtest2 wrote:

Rolling back to 12.7.3.46 seems to be the only surefire workaround.

tt2

Not on the iPad mini 4 (and probably the other iPads as well.) The photo syncs keep crashing the iPad, even using iTunes 11.7.3. I think iOS 11.3 is part of the problem, at least on the iPad mini 4. There appears to be a major memory leak during photo syncs that causes the OS to crash. Rebooting is the only work-around.

The problem seems to be with an early April update to ITunes. I have just spent several hours on the phone with a an Apple Senior Agent going through various tests etc. The problem seems to lie with the Ipod Photo Cache and the way ITunes is now checking with it to determine what changes should be passed between your phone and PC. It was failing miserably to do anything but eventually load new photos but without putting them into their proper folders. The problem was the same on my new IPhone and my much older Ipad (different versions of OS). A new version of ITunes arrived yesterday but it is still not working correctly. It does not seem to transfer videos anymore either. I agree with others that Apples pre release testing regime is appalling.

I think it goes beyond that or clearing the photo cache itself might be enough. For me, when it starts doing this I can leave the photo cache alone and manually use something like iFunbox to delete the albums from the filesystem, the thumbs, the sqlite databases and then it will sync fine..

I agree it's iTunes but it seems to be doing something to also mess up the iPhone itself, that or it's more than just the photo cache issue.. when you clear the photos from your phone with the latest itunes / ios it doesn't even remove them physically from the device and I think that causes even more problems because it's trying to compare your photos on the pc with photos it can see are physically on the device, even though YOU can't see them in the photos app..

Either way, they screwed the pooch big time on this one.. either with itunes, ios or both.

I did downgrade my iTunes, but I still have sync issues, I think it times out with large libraries.. if I try to sync 5-6 times it will eventually go through.

I won't be upgrading personally until I see someone on here say they have and had success lol .. I don't have time to mess with being the tester, I already spent far too many hours wrestling with it.

just delete ipod cache on windows (version 10 latest update) pictures where all my albums and videos are stored,deleted photos on iphone x through iTunes sync and re-synced (using itunes 11.3.1. on I.O.S.12.7.4). and it worked,all 18k photos and videos loaded.

So for me it was iPod cache but also concur that there is still something very wrong,we never had these issues before these updates.

Went to upload new pics from PC and same nonsense again "reading pictures...... "and hanging,so have all my old pics and will just have to wait like all other frustrated users 🙂

I had to sync 20-30 times over three days. Two times almost bricking my iPad, this was after downgrading.

Support couldn't help much since they needed my to be on the last iTunes version, but I explained to them that this won't synchronize at all. They also seemed baffled that someone had 13k pictures and that this was an crazy amount and that it would be too much for the computer to handle 🙂.

I don't think that apple will fix this 😟, I'm still on iCloud version 3.1 since it's the only version that works with photostream.

surely we entitled to keep as many pics as we want on iphone,why bother making a 256GB iphone if we not supposed to use the memory,this is not right and Apple need to sort this out OR tell us there will be NO FIX.

The method I used to get this working again involved clearing iPod photo cache, attaching phone and removing all photos with the first synch, disconnect phone and re-boot it, then re-synch photos to the phone. That has been working for me on iPhone 7plus, iPad Pro 9.7" for most of April. I only have max of 3000 photos on there and currently when a standard synch reaches the photos it takes longer than normal but never more than 10 minutes (but some times I'm either adding no photos or just one or two).

To stop synching photos and get them removed from the phone, once attached to computer click on the iPhone icon so the summary screen appears, select photos from the menu and untick the 'synched photos' box, you will be asked if you are sure you want to remove the photos and once you confirm that the synch continues. Then detach the phone from the computer and re-boot it. Re-attach, re-tick the synch photos button and have a little patience for the first synch as it may take a while.

I have done that working with the apple guy. Actually, have done it twice. Not the solution for someone with 8200 photos to be synced. If you un-check the photos, all photos will be removed. Been there done that twice. Long grind to get them back. Sync times seem to be short at first with few photos but once one hits the 3000 mark, they really take a long time. My sync time for the last two days was 3.5 hours. Of that 5 minutes to backup to my PC and the balance for the photos even though I have added NONE.

Hello All,

yes, I faced the same problem and answer philipp273 provided is correct. just wanted to add as most of the users are not tech savvy. I have windows 10.

1- Uninstall and install 12.7.3 version

2- when you 'll open, it 'll give error "The file “iTunes Library.itl” cannot be read because it was created by a newer version of iTunes." which Philip has mentioned but he has just described what to do, where to do, i was confused so writing it.

or you can find this link

https://www.technipages.com/itunes-the-file-itunes-library-itl-cannot-be-read-fi x

follow the steps and you are all set

cheers

If it is an e-book you want to drag and drop then in file manager copy the specific book (or books). Device must be connected to iTunes - open the device in iTunes (i.e. click on the device icon). Click Edit, paste and the books will go on to the device.

If it is music or a film already in your iTunes library, when the device is connected to iTunes click your mouse on the relevant song(s) or film(s) and literally drag the mouse over to the device name and drop the file on to the device.

(I manually manage, I presume this can also be done if the device is not manually managed).

Hi Philipp273,

i did the same. now sync process is getting complete with itune 12.7.3 but my all photos from my phone is gone. 😟

i am trying to sync again and again, but no use. if i see space occupied by photos, its showing 5. 61 gb which is total space of all my photos. Help..!!!!

Same problem here.... can not put albums from my computer into my phone . The photos are there but in a jumbled mess. I’m a photographer and I have these folders for ease of finding photos ... over 22,000 of them... I’ve tried all the fixes listed here. None has worked... had to resort to gooogle drive and pay per month for it just to help in operating my business.... this needs fixed .... I bought a 256 gig X for over a grand ... and all previous iPhones, iPads, because Apple advertises this feature, has it in their iTunes software.... but we can’t use it.... and when I talk to Apple , they seem clueless about it... next trip to the Apple store is to demand my money back.. and they are forcing me back to Android ... and I hate it

totally agree,this is not on Apple!!!!!!!

.Also bought iPhone X 256GB and was told by store"why do you keep so many photos on your phone?" then why make and sell a 256GB phone if we not supposed to use so much storage.

Anyway spoke to a senior tech and he made me rest all settings(wipe phone clean and reset as a new phone) and then download pics in small batches,worked but now when adding pictures to albums on P.C. cannot sync them back to phone so fix was not really a solution.

Very concerning as chats on this subject indicate that Apple may not fix this error.

Good idea if we,the loyal customers, go back to iStore and demand our money back.