iTunes automatic sync with iPhone not working on new PC

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Level 1

4 points

iTunes automatic sync with iPhone not working on new PC

I just got a new PC, and iTunes doesn't seem to want to automatically sync with my iPhone. I really just use the sync to back the phone up to the computer every day (not to sync files or anything), and, on my old computer, I can just plug the phone in, open iTunes, and it syncs.

As far as I can tell, I have all the correct settings. "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected" is checked. "This Computer" is selected under "Automatically Back Up". "Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically" is not checked.

Both PCs have the same version of iTunes (12.13.7.1). The old one was Windows 10, and the new one is Windows 11. Manually backing up and syncing work just fine. I just can't coax it to do it automatically. Any ideas what might be causing it?

Thanks.

Posted on Jun 5, 2025 11:18 AM

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Answer 1

the fiend

Level 7

23,274 points

Jun 6, 2025 2:39 AM in response to tsnix

I'm going to hazard a guess; if you attempt to synchronise an iPhone with another iTunes Library, iTunes will give you an alert to let you know that if you Sync it will delete all the media (music, videos etc.) from the iPhone and replace it with only what is in the replacement library. I wonder then if the automatic Sync doesn't take place because of this, but there is no message telling you why.

I suggest that you try selecting the Sync option yourself and see whether you get any error messages. If you do, don't ignore them. If you perform a Sync in spite of iTunes telling you that all previous content will be removed (deleted) from the iPhone and content from the current library will be added in its place, it will do exactly what it says. It will not copy music on the iPhone back to iTunes.

If you need any further help or information, please ask.

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Answer 2

tsnix Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 6, 2025 10:43 AM in response to the fiend

Thanks, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. When I manually click the Sync button, it just syncs without any error message or warning or anything. I don't know exactly how Apple Music works, but I have the music filed downloaded on my phone (so I'm not streaming over phone data), but I don't have them downloaded on my PC, so I don't think there's actually anything *to* sync.

I don't know if it's worth noting that, when I manually sync, it doesn't do a backup. The auto-sync always included a backup, but right now I can only get it to back up if I click "Back Up Now". Maybe that's an intended difference between manual and automatic syncs, though.

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