Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Rob9874

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 19, 2010
406
121
If your iPhone has to be plugged into electricity, and iTunes has to be open on your PC, what's the benefit to wifi sync? If you have to plug the cable into your iPhone, how is it better that the other end is plugged into an electrical outlet vs your PC's USB?
 
Yes, iTunes has to be opened. But you don't have to plug in your iPhone. I'm syncing it without it being plugged.

Just make sure that both your computer and iPhone are on the same wifi network, and make sure you check "sync with this iPhone over wifi" on the Summary page in iTunes. That will let your iPhone show up under "devices".

To start syncing from iTunes, just click on sync like u normally would.
To start syncing from your iPhone, just go to Settings->General->iTunes Wi-Fi Sync->Sync Now.

and voila ;)

p.s. mine has been working like a charm!
 
Oh, I thought it had to be plugged in, as the text at the top of the WiFi Sync page on the iPhone says, "Automatically sync with iTunes on your computer when your iPhone is plugged into power and connected to WiFi."

So you just keep iTunes open all the time?
 
It will Automatically Sync when plugged in. A lot of people like myself like to leave my iPad on my Nightstand in the bedroom away from the Computer. I rarely sit at my computer much anymore.

You can Sync manually while operating on the battery.
 
Anyone able to get this to work with Windows? I have checked the options to allow Wifi syncing but it won't work.

**Never mind, had to restart iTunes.
 
Last edited:
Oh, I thought it had to be plugged in, as the text at the top of the WiFi Sync page on the iPhone says, "Automatically sync with iTunes on your computer when your iPhone is plugged into power and connected to WiFi."

So you just keep iTunes open all the time?

you HAVE to plug it in if you want it to be automatic, but you can freely manually sync it unplugged.

and yeah, I have iTunes opened, but you can hide it, minimize it, or just throw it away in a different space than the one you're currently using ;)
 
Yes, iTunes has to be opened. But you don't have to plug in your iPhone. I'm syncing it without it being plugged.

Just make sure that both your computer and iPhone are on the same wifi network, and make sure you check "sync with this iPhone over wifi" on the Summary page in iTunes. That will let your iPhone show up under "devices".

To start syncing from iTunes, just click on sync like u normally would.
To start syncing from your iPhone, just go to Settings->General->iTunes Wi-Fi Sync->Sync Now.

and voila ;)

p.s. mine has been working like a charm!

My iPad will not sync by WiFi. I go to Settings->General->iTunes Wi-F and my laptop is recognized but the Sync Now is greyed out.

What settings do you need under System Preferences for Sharing that are necessary for the iPad to communicate with the computer over WiFi?
 
Last edited:
Wi-Fi Sync over Ad-Hoc

I'm at a university and devices cannot see each other over the campus wireless network. Is it possible to use Wi-Fi Sync over Ad-Hoc?

On my Mac I went to "Create Network..." and I connected to it on my iPhone but the Wi-Fi symbol never showed up, it just stayed on the 3G symbol. Any ideas?
 
I can manually sync with Wifi and Icloud Backup, but the automatic feature is not working. Yes, I am on wifi and have the power charging cable plugged in. I suspect it's a bug that Apple will need to fix.
 
I'm at a university and devices cannot see each other over the campus wireless network. Is it possible to use Wi-Fi Sync over Ad-Hoc?

On my Mac I went to "Create Network..." and I connected to it on my iPhone but the Wi-Fi symbol never showed up, it just stayed on the 3G symbol. Any ideas?

I have a similar issue was also wondering if there are any work arounds to allow wifi syncing on seperate networks?

Thoughts on if we will ever see that as a feature? (i.e. Traveling and leaving a pc or mac with your library on at home and having wifi sync while away etc. . )
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.