Unable to sync iPod Touch with iTunes

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Level 1

7 points

Unable to sync iPod Touch with iTunes

I've been unable to sync my iPod Touch for a couple of weeks now.

I'm on 12.7.4 of iTunes on my Windows 10 lap top and iOS 11.3 on my iPod Touch.

I can sync an old Gen 5 Classic iPod happily enough but when I connect the iPod Touch I'm getting a message on the screen asking if I want this device to access photos and videos. It doesn't matter if I allow or Don't allow, the sync doesn't start.

Just for the record, I'm NOT trying to do anything with my photos or videos, all I want to do is sync my iPod with iTunes so that it loads adds some new music I've downloaded.

I've raised a query on one of the communities here but not had much response so far. I've tried the Reset All Settings option but that didn't help so my next step is going to be to the nuclear option of Erase All Content and Settings and take the iPod back to basics.

If that doesn't work, I'm wondering about de-installing then re-installing iTunes on my laptop. I've never done this and I'm not particularly geeky or tecchie so just wondering how easy (or not) this is?

If anyone has any suggestions about what I might be able to try about the above message too, that'd be much appreciated. I have had a couple of suggestions from people on these communities, but nothing has help so far. I'm worried that "something" has happened during one of the upgrades to corrupt either my iPod or laptop.

Thanks in advance

Martin

iPhone 6s, iOS 11.0.3, Phone is 2 years old

Posted on Apr 22, 2018 7:06 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

turingtest2

Level 10

272,743 points

Apr 29, 2018 6:44 AM in response to cheshireman

Check what build of iTunes you are running via Help > About iTunes. The current build is 12.7.4.80 which might not be suggested to you if you're running 12.7.4.76. See iTunes - Download iTunes Now - Apple to download it. See the second box in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for tips on a full tear down and rebuild. I'd try both of these first before going down the erase and restore route with the device. It would be worth giving it a reboot, but you've probably done that already.

tt2

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

272,743 points

Apr 22, 2018 7:41 AM in response to cheshireman

Allow would be the usual choice.

You may have an issue where iTunes cannot save its own preferences properly. In the past this might have been fixed by resetting the iTunesPrefs.xml file. iTunes 12.5.1.21 introduced a change with the way preferences are saved. It seems that what used to be stored in:

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunesPrefs.xml

is now stored in a number of files spread amongst these folders:

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\Cookies

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Preferences

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Preferences\ByHost

If preferences aren't being saved then try right-clicking the iTunes shortcut and using Run as administrator. Doing this once may resolve things. Otherwise try holding down Ctrl+Shift as you start iTunes to launch it in its own safe mode which again may sometimes help. Or if these three folders don't exist on your system creating them may allow iTunes to save its preferences properly. Alternatively deleting those that you do have may allow them to be recreated with the right permissions so that changes are stored in future.

Type %appdata%<return> in Windows Explorer's address bar to reach the Roaming folder without having to display hidden folders.

tt2

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Answer 3

cheshireman Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 22, 2018 7:55 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks tt2.

I know you've responded to my previous questions about this issue, as you can see, I'm no further forward.

I'll look into the options you've suggested above, I'm not very confident when I start messing about like this and I actually find Apple very scary sometimes.

Would there be any point in waiting until the next iTunes/iOS upgrades? See if it fixes it? Would going to a store and talking to the guys at the Genius Bar help or don't they help with these sorts of issues?

If your suggestion doesn't work I'll try erasing my iPod and starting again. If that doesn't work I'll try deleting/re-installing iTunes.

It's so bloody annoying - why do Apple have to make everything so bloody complicated?

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Answer 4

cheshireman Author

Level 1

7 points

Apr 29, 2018 6:44 AM in response to turingtest2

turingtest2,

It's fixed! Rather than go for the nuclear option of erasing my iPod and deleting/re-installing iTunes, I waited until the next version of iTunes became available.

About an hour ago I received one of those Apple Update notifications for a new version of iTunes so I crossed my fingers, downloaded it and plugged my iPod it.

I was so relieved when the sync page came up and I was able to successfully sync my iPod for the first time in weeks.

Thank you SO much for your time and patience with me - I don't know where in the world you are, male or female but I'm very grateful to people like you who help people like me who have very limited technical knowledge and freak out when our devices decide to throw a hissy fit.

Martin

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Answer 5

Apr 29, 2018 6:55 PM in response to cheshireman

I sort of have this same issue. I tried to make post about it, but for some reason I'm unable to...getting the message "You are not allowed to create or update this content" when I try to create a thread...so here I am...

The last time I had to update my iPod Touch, I tried to update it and it took something like 40-50 tries before it finally (somehow) updated. After sitting through the download now, I'm getting this message at the very end:

"The software for the iPod "name" was corrupted during download. Disconnect and reconnect, then try again. Make sure your network settings are correct and your network connection is active, or try against later."

What causes this? Because it happened last time I had to update my iPod as well and I did everything I could find and nothing worked. I re-installed iTunes, restored my iPod, etc. In the end, I ended up just clicking update over and over and somehow it updated successfully.

Anybody have any tips/advice so I can just do these updates in one go instead of having to turn it into a massive ordeal everytime an update becomes available? Because I've honestly come to dread iPod updates now.

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