"Automatically sync" in itunes for Windows is greyed out

I'm not entirely sure how the Microsoft Store version differs, but I suspect it hides the complication of separate components that you get with the standard installation. If you cannot see things like Apple Application Support to remove then uninstalling through the Microsoft Store is probably sufficient on that side of things, although you could look for the installation folders that I've mentioned in the second box of the user tip. You could then try installing the standard Apple download, using the Run as administrator option.

tt2

What I am asking is, is your computer awake with iTunes running. As far as I know, the computer has to be awake and iTunes has to be running in order to sync automatically with iTunes. I don’t auto sync and never did, but I do sync over WiFi (I initiate the sync myself) and unless my Mac is awake, and iTunes is running on the Mac, the WiFi sync option in the settings is grayed out. When I wake the Mac and launch iTunes, the WiFi sync setting is blue and I can start the sync.

Sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes using Wi-Fi - Apple Support

When the computer and the iOS device are on the same Wi-Fi network, the iOS device appears in iTunes. The iOS device syncs automatically whenever it charges and iTunes is open on the computer. Learn more about what you can sync and how to sync specific items

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Indeed. Did you install iTunes via the Microsoft Store or by downloading from https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/? See the second box of Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates. You might consider a full strip download of the current installation, then reinstall using the version direct from Apple's website, run as administrator.

tt2

I edited before I saw your reply, sorry. This is what I would do. Start all over again.

Go into the iTunes preferences and uncheck the auto sync preferences. Launch iTunes and go to Edit>Preferences>Device>Prevent iPods, iPhone, etc ..from syncing automatically. Check that box. That will prevent your phone from syncing when iTunes is launched.

Quit iTunes, Reboot your PC, restart your phone, launch iTunes again and uncheck the box that prevents devices from auto syncing, so the phone will auto sync.

Quit iTunes again, relaunch iTunes.

Then try to sync while the phone is plugged in and locked.

Qubits wrote:

Yes it is, and it was working for my iPhone 7 right before i switched to the XS. Manual sync works, but the porblem is that the option (even the option) to activate automatic sync is greyed out.

The option to sync automatically that you are talking about, where is that option? Do you mean in iTunes on your PC?

I’m sorry that I took so long to get back to you. I have been experimenting with my iPhone and iPad on my Mac.

If I uncheck the box that says Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically, then the Auto Sync option can be selected. If I check that box, then the Auto Sync option is grayed out like you are seeing on your PC.

I am stumped now. I’m going to ask for help. I am going to shout out to the community expert in iTunes. His username is turingtest2

I’m sorry I could not be of more help. Please be patient because sometimes it can a while before a person sees the shoutout especially on a weekend. I will be keeping an eye on this discussion and will check back later.

Close iTunes. Try right-clicking its shortcut and using Run as administrator. That might help if iTunes somehow knows that it cannot save a particular setting, although that seems unlikely. You could try actively setting the Prevent... option, then clear it again. It might also help to turn off that Warn... option. I'm using iCloud Music Library so I cannot really test at my end.

tt2

I've managed to dig out an old iPhone 4 for testing but I cannot seem to make that option go grey other than by using the Prevent... option. Other things you could try would be the various reset buttons; Edit > Preferences > Devices > Reset sync history, Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Reset warnings, and the Reset Warnings button on the device summary page.

tt2

I had the same issue on Windows 10 with the version installed from Microsoft Store. Everything is normal after I uninstalled the version from the Microsoft Store and installed directly from Apple.

In addition, the software launches a lot faster and immediately launches when my IOS device is connected.

Thanks for the suggestion / solution.