The basic steps to sync your iPhone with iTunes
To sync your iPhone to iTunes on a computer, connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable, open iTunes, and click the device icon that appears in the top left of the iTunes window. From there you can choose what content—music, photos, apps, contacts—you want to sync, then click the Sync button to transfer it.
The process works the same on Windows and Mac computers, though Mac users running macOS Catalina or later will use the Finder app instead of iTunes. The steps below cover both routes.
Before you start, make sure your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network if you plan to set up wireless syncing later. You will also need a USB cable that works with your iPhone model—newer iPhones use USB-C, while older models use the Lightning connector.
Key Takeaways
- Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable, then open iTunes (or Finder on Mac) and click the device icon to begin syncing.
- You can choose which types of content to sync—music, photos, apps, contacts, calendars—by clicking the category tabs in the device window.
- Syncing transfers content from your computer to your iPhone; it does not automatically back up your iPhone data unless you turn on backup in the device settings.
- After your first sync, you can set up Wi-Fi syncing so your iPhone syncs wirelessly whenever it is plugged in and on the same network.
- If iTunes does not recognize your iPhone, try restarting both devices, updating iTunes, and checking that your USB cable is working.
How to sync on a Windows computer
Open iTunes on your Windows computer and plug your iPhone into a USB port using a compatible cable. iTunes will launch automatically on some computers; if it does not, click the iTunes icon in your taskbar or Start menu to open it.
When your iPhone appears in iTunes, a popup may ask if you trust this computer. On your iPhone, tap Trust, then enter your passcode if prompted. This step is required the first time you connect to a new computer.
Once your iPhone is trusted, click the small device icon (shaped like an iPhone) in the top left corner of the iTunes window. This opens your device settings. You will see tabs across the top for Music, Photos, Apps, Info, and other content types. Click each tab to choose what you want to sync. For example, click Music and check the box next to "Sync Music" to transfer songs from your iTunes library to your phone.
After you have selected what to sync, click the blue Sync button in the bottom right corner. iTunes will begin transferring your chosen content. Do not unplug your iPhone until the sync is complete—iTunes will show a progress bar and tell you when it is safe to disconnect.
How to sync on a Mac running Catalina or later
On Mac computers running macOS Catalina (released in 2019) or later, Apple replaced iTunes with the Finder app. Plug your iPhone into your Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder and look for your iPhone in the sidebar on the left under Locations. Click your iPhone's name to open its settings window.
The first time you connect, your iPhone will ask if you trust this computer. On your iPhone, tap Trust and enter your passcode. Once trusted, you will see tabs in the Finder window for Music, Photos, Files, Info, and other content. Click each tab to choose what to sync, just as you would in iTunes on Windows.
After selecting your content, click the blue Sync button in the bottom right. Finder will transfer your chosen items to your iPhone. Wait for the sync to finish before unplugging your iPhone—Finder will notify you when it is safe to disconnect.
What content types can you sync
iTunes and Finder let you sync several types of content from your computer to your iPhone. Music transfers songs from your iTunes library. Photos copies photo albums and folders from your computer's photo library. Apps installs apps you have purchased through the App Store (though most people now read apps directly on their phone). Info syncs contacts, calendars, reminders, and notes from your computer to your phone.
You do not have to sync everything at once. You can choose to sync only music, or only photos, or any combination. Each time you click Sync, iTunes or Finder will update only the content types you have checked. If you uncheck a category before syncing, any content of that type already on your iPhone will be removed during the next sync—iTunes will warn you before this happens.
One important note: syncing is not the same as backing up. Syncing transfers content from your computer to your phone. To back up your iPhone data (so you can restore it if your phone is lost or damaged), you need to turn on backup in the device settings. You can do this in the same window where you choose what to sync—look for a Backup section and check "This computer" or "iCloud".
Setting up Wi-Fi syncing so you do not need a cable
After you have synced your iPhone to your computer at least once using a USB cable, you can set up wireless syncing. This lets your iPhone sync automatically whenever it is plugged in to power and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
To turn on Wi-Fi syncing, connect your iPhone with a USB cable and open iTunes or Finder. Click the device icon, then look for a checkbox that says "Sync over Wi-Fi" or "Sync this iPhone over Wi-Fi connection". Check this box and click Sync. From now on, your iPhone will sync wirelessly whenever the conditions are met—it is plugged in, your computer is on, and both devices are on the same network.
You can turn off Wi-Fi syncing at any time by unchecking that same box. If you want to force a sync without waiting for your iPhone to be plugged in, you can still connect it with a USB cable and click Sync manually.
Troubleshooting when iTunes does not recognize your iPhone
If iTunes or Finder does not show your iPhone when you plug it in, start by restarting both devices. Unplug your iPhone, shut down your computer completely, wait 30 seconds, then turn everything back on and try again. Many connection problems clear up after a restart.
Next, check your USB cable. Try a different cable if you have one available—cables wear out and can stop working. Make sure you are using a cable designed for your iPhone model; newer iPhones use USB-C, while older models use Lightning. If you are using a third-party cable, try an official Apple cable if possible.
On Windows, make sure iTunes is fully updated. Open iTunes, click Help in the menu bar, and select "Check for Updates". Install any updates and restart your computer. On Mac, make sure your macOS is up to date by going to System Settings > General > Software Update.
If your iPhone still does not appear, try plugging it into a different USB port on your computer—some ports may not work properly. If you have access to another computer, try connecting your iPhone there to see if the problem is with your phone or your computer. If your iPhone works on another computer, the issue is likely with your USB port or cable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will syncing delete content that is already on my iPhone?
Syncing only removes content if you have unchecked that category. For example, if you sync music but uncheck the Music tab, iTunes will delete all music from your iPhone during the next sync. Before syncing, iTunes will show you a warning if any content will be removed. You can cancel the sync if you change your mind.
Can I sync my iPhone to more than one computer?
iTunes is designed to sync with one computer at a time. If you try to sync your iPhone to a second computer, iTunes will ask if you want to replace all content on your phone with content from the new computer. To sync to multiple computers safely, use iCloud instead—it syncs your content across all your devices without requiring a cable or iTunes.
What is the difference between syncing and backing up?
Syncing transfers specific content (music, photos, apps) from your computer to your iPhone. Backing up creates a complete copy of your iPhone's data, including settings, messages, and app data, so you can restore everything if your phone is lost or damaged. You can do both at the same time in iTunes or Finder.
Why does my iPhone say "Trust This Computer" every time I plug it in?
This usually means your iPhone did not save the trust setting from the last time you connected. Make sure you tap Trust on your iPhone and wait for the connection to complete before unplugging. If this keeps happening, try restarting both devices and using a different USB cable.
Can I sync if my iPhone is locked with a passcode?
Yes. Your iPhone can be locked, but you will need to unlock it the first time you connect to a new computer so you can tap Trust. After that, you can leave it locked during future syncs.