Multiple errors synching with iTunes after upgrade to iOS 11 and MacOS High Sierra

[Gmouse]

Getting multiple messages about iTunes not being able to sync with iPad, even though I continue to re-enter the passcode, and it's setup to allow my fingerprint to work. Only happened after the iTunes/MacOS/iOS updates...

"iTunes could not connect to the iPad “Bill's iPad Pro” because it is locked with a passcode. You must enter your passcode on the iPad before it can be used with iTunes."

Only getting this on iPad, not on iPhone. Even after I user my fingerprint or passcode (seems it wants it all the time, way more than in past), it stops for a while, less than a day, then starts up all over again...

 

[eneisch]

I am having the same issue with my iPad mini 2. I do not have the issue with my iPhone or iPad Pro 10.5. I have deleted the iPad mini from my iCloud account and restored the software, setting it up as a new device. It is still happening. Not sure what else to do at this point except hope that it is fixed in either a iTunes update or iOS update. Very annoying!

 

[mcgroarty]

Did you ever find a solution? I'm getting this as well with iTunes 12.7 and iOS 11 devices. It's maddening. I have to routinely run around the house to unlock random iOS devices in order to make the dialogs stop popping up repeatedly.

When these dialogs are up, they also interfere with the ability to stream to an Apple TV or sync iOS devices over wifi. They also periodically trigger an iTunes bug that causes iTunes to stop updating podcasts until you try quitting iTunes. I've had to learn to VNC back to the iMac in order to dismiss stacks of these dialogs and/or restart iTunes if I want to enjoy a show without hopping out of bed.

If memory serves, this message used to only come up when a device was first powered on after restart. Now it seems to come on if a device has been left alone for most of a day. Each time it comes up, I'm able to unlock the related device with a fingerprint. No passcode required.

 

[eneisch]

I have not found a solution yet. As a temporary work around I have disabled WiFi syncing on my iPad mini 2. Problem is, as of this morning, my iPhone 7+ is now giving me the same message. Arrgghhhhhh!!!!!

I am going to report this in Apple's bug reporting system, and hopefully they will getting around to sorting it out...

 

[LincolnsiPod]

I had this problem as well with the iPad. I just tried something now and it seems to work:

Connect the iPad directly to the Mac or MacBook to sync by cable. Disable "Sync this iPad via Wifi". Sync while it's connected. Then reenable "Sync this iPad via Wifi" and sync again while it's connected. Then disconnect the cable, shut down iTunes, then restart it. This stopped the passcode error for me and my iPad could connect via wifi as usual. Will continue to test though just to make sure.

 

[rkuo]

I had to disable wifi sync. Whoever is resposible for wifi sync on iTunes should be fired. It has never worked reliably. Ever.

 

[bglark15]

I had this problem as well with the iPad. I just tried something now and it seems to work:

Connect the iPad directly to the Mac or MacBook to sync by cable. Disable "Sync this iPad via Wifi". Sync while it's connected. Then reenable "Sync this iPad via Wifi" and sync again while it's connected. Then disconnect the cable, shut down iTunes, then restart it. This stopped the passcode error for me and my iPad could connect via wifi as usual. Will continue to test though just to make sure.

This seems to have worked for me. thanks much, LincolnsiPod!

 

[bglark15]

I had this problem as well with the iPad. I just tried something now and it seems to work:

Connect the iPad directly to the Mac or MacBook to sync by cable. Disable "Sync this iPad via Wifi". Sync while it's connected. Then reenable "Sync this iPad via Wifi" and sync again while it's connected. Then disconnect the cable, shut down iTunes, then restart it. This stopped the passcode error for me and my iPad could connect via wifi as usual. Will continue to test though just to make sure.

Nope, after a couple of days, the same error message reappeared. I also tried to "reset warnings" on the iPad in the iTunes sync options. I also deselected "open iTunes when iPad is connected." This didn't help either. For now, I think I have to disable iTunes WiFi sync. It had worked perfectly for years before upgrading to iOS 11.

 

[eneisch]

Nope, after a couple of days, the same error message reappeared. I also tried to "reset warnings" on the iPad in the iTunes sync options. I also deselected "open iTunes when iPad is connected." This didn't help either. For now, I think I have to disable iTunes WiFi sync. It had worked perfectly for years before upgrading to iOS 11.

Same for me...that was only a temporary solution.

I wonder if the need to sync the iPhone/iPad to a PC is really necessary anymore?

 

[bglark15]

Same for me...that was only a temporary solution.

I wonder if the need to sync the iPhone/iPad to a PC is really necessary anymore?

You make a good point, eneisch. Much less necessary and it isn't a big deal to disable WiFi sync. I do manage a few iPads for my staff, so it is occasionally nice to sync app updates to them without having to go to their office and get their iPad. But of course now apps aren't handled in iTunes anymore. Mostly I just sync to keep music and photos current on phones and iPads in my family.

 

[LauraJean]

You make a good point, eneisch. Much less necessary and it isn't a big deal to disable WiFi sync. I do manage a few iPads for my staff, so it is occasionally nice to sync app updates to them without having to go to their office and get their iPad. But of course now apps aren't handled in iTunes anymore. Mostly I just sync to keep music and photos current on phones and iPads in my family.

I like the way I sync since I started with Apple in 2010: download purchases to OS, upload new photos to OS, and whenever it's convenient and router/wifi not on, cable connect device and then sync. Rigid old-school, perhaps, but I would dislike being pushed to get with it and change.

 

[LincolnsiPod]

Nope, after a couple of days, the same error message reappeared. I also tried to "reset warnings" on the iPad in the iTunes sync options. I also deselected "open iTunes when iPad is connected." This didn't help either. For now, I think I have to disable iTunes WiFi sync. It had worked perfectly for years before upgrading to iOS 11.

Same for me...that was only a temporary solution.

I wonder if the need to sync the iPhone/iPad to a PC is really necessary anymore?

I noticed it popped up once again afterward, I was about to toss my MacBook out the window because of it but then it continued to work fine and I hadn't the error again for about a week.

Note: the only new thing I did since then, was turn every single one of my Apple devices off, waited a minute, then turned back on again. I was doing that to clear up issues with notifications, but I did notice since then the iTunes error stopped as well. I'm wondering if all the devices had to have a fresh new connection to my wifi network to clear up the issues?

 

[colodane]

I'm having similar issues on my iPad and iPod Touch. I've had them before over the years. They come and go without any discernible pattern. For what its worth, the iPad is on iOS 11, the iPod Touch on iOS 10 and my iMac on Sierra. Focusing on iOS 11 and High Sierra as the culprits may not be a productive strategy.

 

[djeeyore25]

None of my devices on iOS 11 beta are connecting to iTunes via wifi. The only devices that are connecting are an iPad Mini with iOS 9 and an iPhone 5s with iOS 11 (not beta). My iPad Pro was giving me the unlock error message a while back, but now it's not connecting at all. All of this started with High Sierra.

 

[eneisch]

New iOS, MacOS and iTunes updates today! I will turn WiFi syncing on again in hopes that one of these updates has resolved the issue. Will report back later...

 

[eneisch]

Reconnected my devices to wirelessly sync over iTunes on Saturday. As of this morning i have not had any instances of requests to unlock my devices from iTunes (other than an initial unlock of my iPhone X when first connected to iTunes). Fingers crossed that this has been fixed by Apple in the latest updates.