Wireless syncing and backup is one of the best features of iOS. You can transfer everything you need such as apps, music, books, contacts, calendars, movies, and photos – without the need for any wires or cables. However, you need to set it up and enable the Wi-Fi sync feature. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up and using Wi-Fi sync for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch with iOS.
Setting Up Wireless Syncing in iTunes and iOS
Before enabling Wi-Fi syncing, make sure that you have updated versions of iOS, iPadOS, iTunes, and MacOS. If you don’t have the latest versions of these, the option for enabling Wi-Fi syncing will not appear. The installation process is the same for both Mac OS X and Windows, and is fully compatible with both if you sync across platforms.
Step 1: Enable Wi-Fi Sync on Your Computer with iTunes
- Connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable.
- Open iTunes and click on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch on the left side of the window.
- Click the iTunes Summary tab.
- Scroll down and select the “Sync with this iPhone” checkbox next to Wi-Fi (or iPad or iPod touch).
With iTunes enabled, you can now remove the iOS device to complete the process.
Step 2: Enable Wi-Fi Sync on iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
- Launch the Settings app on your device and tap on General.
- Tap on iTunes Wi-Fi Sync.
- Select the computer that you set up for Wi-Fi syncing in iTunes.
- Tap the “Sync” button to start wireless syncing.
Now that Wi-Fi syncing is enabled, your iOS device will automatically sync whenever it’s plugged in or connected to a Wi-Fi network. It will also automatically and wirelessly back up your device to iTunes (assuming you selected iTunes as the backup destination).
Using Wi-Fi Sync with iOS
To start a manual backup or sync from your iOS device or iTunes on your Mac or PC, follow these steps:
Manually Starting Wireless Syncing from Your iOS Device
- Go to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync and tap “Sync”.
You can cancel this at any time by tapping the “Cancel Sync” button.
Starting Wireless Syncing from iTunes on Your Mac or PC
If you want to start a manual sync from your Mac or Windows, click on that button in iTunes.
If you really want to take advantage of the Wi-Fi syncing and a PC-free experience, sign up for iCloud. Follow our easy-to-use guide for iCloud configuration. The first 5GB of cloud storage with Apple is free.
Troubleshooting Wireless Sync Issues
If you’re having issues with wireless syncing, there are several potential problems and fixes:
- Make sure your iOS device has a modern software version.
- Make sure you have iTunes 10.5 or later on your Windows PC or Mac.
- Close and restart iTunes.
- Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
- Reset the wireless router.
- Make sure your iOS device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac/PC.
- Check for cordless phones, metal obstacles, interfering Wi-Fi signals, microwaves, etc. Network interference
- Check your firewall settings and make sure that TCP ports 123 and 3689 are open and available in addition to UDP ports 123 and 5353 (these ports are used by iTunes).
There’s no limit to the number of iPads, iPhones, or iPod touches you can use with this feature, although you may have a traditional Mac or PC limit to which your iOS device can be connected. This feature was first introduced in iOS 5 or later and iTunes 10.5 or later, and it still exists in the latest iOS, iPadOS, iTunes, macOS, and modern system software.
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FAQs
What devices are supported for this guide?
This guide supports only Apple devices.
What operating systems are supported?
This guide supports both macOS and iOS.
Final Note
If you have any queries regarding this guide, please ask us through the comment section below or directly contact us. Please note that this guide is for educational purposes only, and you should contact us if you want to correct any misinformation or add more methods to the guide.