[SOLVED] Can't get iTunes to backup or Sync my iPhone XR

[andrewlen]

Tired of having unsynchronised contact lists on Outlook, my iPhone, and Gmail (free), I deleted the lot and cleaned up Outlook's contact list so that it's just as I want it. That's when my nightmare began.

I've been fighting with iTunes for days and am frustrated beyond belief. Many suggestions were found on the web and tried to resolve the problem, but nothing has worked. Here's what happens.

iTunes sees my phone just fine, but when I try to back it up to iCloud or a local folder on my computer, it consistently fails with the following error.

iPhone Disconnects Problem - (34 sec video)

I am, of course, logged into my iCloud account online, and my local iCloud settings are as follows:



Things I've tried (many times) to resolve the problem:

• Turned off all Windows 10 security AV and AntiMalware apps
• Tried different USB cables between phone and computer
• Changed the local Backup folder
• Tried using different USB ports
• Removed USB hubs and connected the phone directly to a computer USB port
• Restarted the computer dozens of times
• Rebooted (shut down and turned back on) my iPhone dozens of times
• Turned off the Background App Refresh setting on my iPhone
• Turned on Airplane Mode on my iPhone
• Uninstalled and reinstalled iTunes several times
• Probably a couple of other things I've forgotten to list

Published Speccy report of my system specs

• OS is Windows 10 Version 21H2 (OS Build 19044.1526)
• iPhone is running on the latest available iOS.

I have been able to successfully back up my phone using registered third party utilities I own such as Wondershare Dr Phone, iMobie Anytrans, Wondershare MobileTrans, Macroplant iExplorer, and Fonepaw iPhone Backup with zero iPhone disconnection or any other issues whatsoever, so to me, that tells me the problem "must" be related to iTunes itself. Agreed?

Any ideas before I tear out the little hair that I have left?

I'm ready to try just about anything now.

Please help!!

Regards, Andrew

 

[xrobwx71]

I'm ready to try just about anything now.

Android? Just kidding.

Anything in the event viewer? Itunes logs?

 

[andrewlen]

Hi @xrobwx71

Thanks for responding. I didn't look at either, to be honest. (Doh!)

I did do my maintenance process without any errors showing up, but after I posted my query here, I decided to uninstall all traces of iTunes again using Revo Uninstaller yet again, download a fresh Windows 10 ISO and have just completed a non-destructive Windows 10 install.

Have yet to reinstall iTunes and post back if the reinstall happened to help. I'm also going to double-check that all of my drivers are up to date.

Fingers crossed, but given that DISM, SFC, etc., found no errors, I'm not that optimistic but figured I may as well try the non-destructive repair/reinstall as it's the only thing I hadn't tried yet.

Assuming the problem is still there, where would I find the iTunes logs to check? I know how to check event viewer but am not that familiar with iTunes, so if you could point me to some instructions, that would be great.

I will update again soon.

Many thanks, Andrew

 

[andrewlen]

I suspect it wouldn't help, and unfortunately, I was right.

The problem is exactly the same as it was before. A couple of pics in case they help.








The second pic happened when the iPhone disconnected.

Any ideas anyone?

Regards, Andrew

 

[xrobwx71]

I don't use anything Apple so I won't be much help looking for logs except through Google.

If you suspect something in Defender. Check its logs in Event Viewer.



Also, if I recall, iTunes used a service called Bonjour. Make sure it's on and not blocked locally.

The Apple Mobile Device service terminate… - Apple Community

 

[Tekno Venus]

Oh how I hate itunes - it was a happy day when iOS no longer needed iTunes to set up and use. Every time I've used iTunes it's been a lot of pain.

I'm not sure how to fix the iTunes sync error - but is there a reason you have to go through iTunes in the first place?

For backup to iCloud, you can perform that from the Settings menu on the phone.

For contacts sync, iOS can natively sync from cloud contacts services. That's how I do things nowadays - all my contacts are on one cloud service (in my case Google Contacts), and then I just link all my devices (android, iOS, windows) to use Google Contacts as the "source of truth" for all contacts.

My point being, is there something you have to sync with iTunes for that you can't just achieve without?

Could you also try WiFi sync? Sync iTunes content on PC with devices on Wi-Fi I doubt it'd behave differently, but when it comes to iTunes you never know...

 

[andrewlen]

Thanks anyway, guys.

Well, that turned out to be a colossal waste of my time, with the only helpful thing to come from it is to convince me that Apple is about useful as teats on a bull when problems occur.

I've found Apple's support to be non-existent (or next to useless at best), only offering suggestions I'd already found and tried from questions asked back in 2017 and earlier. Seems that's how long this problem has existed, with a definite cause yet to be identified

The Apple Mobile Device service terminate… - Apple Community

Thanks, @xrobwx71 but I'd tried the suggestions in that article several times. I found a dozen different suggestions, yet not one of them worked. I know the problem is related to the Apple Mobile Device Service refusing to start or terminate unexpectedly, but how to resolve it is anyone's guess.

Oh how I hate itunes - it was a happy day when iOS no longer needed iTunes to set up and use. Every time I've used iTunes it's been a lot of pain.

I rarely even opened iTunes up on a Windows or Apple machine before I wanted to sync my Outlook contacts and calendars, so I really only started with it when I did my big clean up of all contacts and calendar items in Outlook, iCloud, and Gmail.

In fact, the reason I own so many licenses for iPhone and Android mobile phone tools is because it was always just easier to purchase a licence for tools that worked when I would charge for repairs to clients like transferring of data from one phone to another (Apple > Apple or Apple > Android or Android > Apple) as well as recovering damaged OSs on both phones. The tools never failed me.

My point being, is there something you have to sync with iTunes for that you can't just achieve without?

Not really. It's more my stubbornness to not be beaten by a problem.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit I spent a minimum of 12 hands-on hours on this problem because I was determined to fix it, and that's before I posted here for help. Now it's closer to 16 hours, but even I have my limits. lol.

Could you also try WiFi sync? Sync iTunes content on PC with devices on Wi-Fi I doubt it'd behave differently, but when it comes to iTunes you never know...

Thank you for the suggestion, but I eventually settled on this little package of tools.

CopyTrans Contacts - I purchased the 7 pack for $29.99 to get the lot of their different modules. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, but I won't be returning it because CopyTrans Contacts does everything I need and a whole lot more.

Syncs my Outlook, iPhone, iCloud, and Gmail contacts and calendars effortlessly and SO much easier to use than iTunes that only syncs with the Outlook, iPhone and iCloud and not everything in Outlook like CopyTrans does either. Well worth the money for that feature.

I've not even looked at the other modules that came with the pack yet. I just purchased them because getting the lot for an extra $10 was a deal too good to refuse and who knows when or if I'll ever need them. A couple of pics of it in action.







I'm marking this question as solved because so far as I'm concerned, it now is, but I'd still like to nut out the iTunes issue if anyone else has any ideas, if only for my own satisfaction.

Best regards,

Andrew