iTunes could not back up the iphone because a session could not be started with the

[budapester]

Go into iTunes, preferences, Devices, delete all the backups.
Go into Finder, user, Library, Application Support, Mobilesync, backups, delete all the folders in there.
Empty trash can.
Restart computer.
Hard reset iPhone (hold down home button and sleep/wake button for 10-15 seconds)

You shouldn't lose any data at all with this method. When everything booted up, it backed up with no issues at all.

This worked for me; without losing any data, my iPod touch syncs fine now.

 

[aldejesus]

Found this solution from Apple:

1) Go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices
2) In the "Device Backups" window select your last backup on that device. If you have other iPhones they will show up as well...so choose the device your having issues with.
3) When you've selected the correct device and the last backup the button that says "Delete Backup" will darken. Click it.
4) Go thru and say "OK" when prompted.
5) Go back into your iTunes app window and **right click** on your device that is having back up issues.
6) In the pop up window choose "Backup".

If you really don't want to lose your backup in case the above doesn't work, you can make a copy of your backup folder found in /Users/USERNAME/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup and put it in a safe place.

Another solution is to uninstall and reinstall iTunes.

Thanks, I was having the same problem, and finally I backup my iPhone

 

[smoker68x]

Or bump.


Found this solution from Apple:

1) Go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices
2) In the "Device Backups" window select your last backup on that device. If you have other iPhones they will show up as well...so choose the device your having issues with.
3) When you've selected the correct device and the last backup the button that says "Delete Backup" will darken. Click it.
4) Go thru and say "OK" when prompted.
5) Go back into your iTunes app window and **right click** on your device that is having back up issues.
6) In the pop up window choose "Backup".

If you really don't want to lose your backup in case the above doesn't work, you can make a copy of your backup folder found in /Users/USERNAME/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup and put it in a safe place.

Another solution is to uninstall and reinstall iTunes.

Thank you so much! Apparently iTunes had my last backup listed as 7/12/11 and the folder showed last modified on 7/14/11, so I'm guessing since the two didn't match up, iTunes rejected it...

 

[Shoe18]

I had the same issue. Deleting the backups in iTunes wasn't enough for me. Here's everything I did that worked.

Go into iTunes, preferences, Devices, delete all the backups.
Go into Finder, user, Library, Application Support, Mobilesync, backups, delete all the folders in there.
Empty trash can.
Restart computer.
Hard reset iPhone (hold down home button and sleep/wake button for 10-15 seconds)

You shouldn't lose any data at all with this method. When everything booted up, it backed up with no issues at all.

Thanks, this worked perfectly! I was on a 3GS running 4.3.4 software, my iTunes froze whilst packing up then this problem started emerging, but following dwood's method worked wonders.

Thanks again!

 

[dentomac]

I had the same issue. Deleting the backups in iTunes wasn't enough for me. Here's everything I did that worked.

Go into iTunes, preferences, Devices, delete all the backups.
Go into Finder, user, Library, Application Support, Mobilesync, backups, delete all the folders in there.
Empty trash can.
Restart computer.
Hard reset iPhone (hold down home button and sleep/wake button for 10-15 seconds)

You shouldn't lose any data at all with this method. When everything booted up, it backed up with no issues at all.

Freakin Brilliant! Worked like a charm.

I even registered to be able to post this!!!

dwood - thank you!

 

[awer25]

you just have to change time zone in your computer ... i did mine and i changed in to central america. and back up works perfectly.

I started having the same problem today. Since I just arrived in Rome from the US, and since your solution was the easiest by far, I gave it a try. I just opened the Time & Date options, unchecked to automatically find time zone, clicked the time zone next to Rome then back to Rome - my iPhone syncs! What an easy solution - thanks!

 

[DirtySocks85]

I've noticed that I get this error from time to time while or shortly after using MyWi, anyone have any ideas why that might be the case?

 

[alihuta2002]

Also make sure you didn't connect with proxy

You gotta make sure that your iPhone or PC isn't connected with any kind of sniff url, or proxy since the iTunes will detect that and will end the session of the iPhone sync process

 

[Roy G Biv]

I was having this problem with my iPad 2, and of all things, it was the usb cable. Like so many Apple cables, the rubber covering had disconnected where the cable meets with the dock connector. I hooked up a new cable from an iPod box, and--Shazaam!

 

[djaveragejoe]

Anyone else having an issue locating the mobilesync folder?

This is as far as I can get.

Go into Finder, user, Library, Application Support,

 

[djaveragejoe]

btw, I've unhidden all folders and still cannot find it

 

[totus]

This fixed my syncing/backup!!

just want to say i've been having this issue out of nowhere, each time i plugged my iphone or ipad to my macbook pro itunes error message popped up saying "itunes could not backup because session with iphone could not be started" or sth like that, i reinstalled itunes, restart the computer, unchecked wifi sync as many threads mentioned, HOWEVER! i realized that itunes was not the issue, actually i had the application WI-FI Sync installed (which was a previous version before apple allowed wifi syncing) so what i did was the following given the fact it couldnt be erased from applications because there was no uninstall nor any icon in applications folder i went to:

hard drive>Library> Application Support>Wi-Fi Sync

erase that folder and then pop up the activity monitor and stop the process called wifisync once you've done that you are ready to go, sync and backup had no issue whatsoever..

what i would recommend if you have this issue is check which application is creating a conflict with iTunes and first of all try killing its activity from activity monitor! if no fix try uninstalling that specific app!

hope it helps, I didnt find an answer anywhere and saw lots of people with this issue, i created a user here to let people know how i fixed!