Top EIGHT Ways to Fix iTunes Error “Sync Session Failed to Start”

Are you aware of the reasons why the error “sync session failed to start” appears? If you’re not wary of its cause, then you’re in the right place. Fixing this problem is not that complicated. This article will tell you how to fix the problem with different solutions. Now, let’s remove that headache of yours and get started with a dose of useful information to solve your problem.

Reasons for The Error “Sync Session Failed to Start”Top 8 Ways to Fix The Error “Sync Session Failed to Start”To Wrap It All Up

Reasons for The Error “Sync Session Failed to Start”

There are a lot of reasons why this problem occurs. And this happens when you fail to sync iTunes with your iOS device may it be an iPhone, an iPad, or an iPod Touch. Typically, there are several reasons for the occurrence of this problem.

First, iTunes might be installed incompletely or improperly. Sometimes, its components are not properly installed as well. Another reason would be sudden crashes of the iTunes software on the computer.

If iTunes and its associated components aren’t up-to-date, you might experience this problem as well. A counterfeit USB cable that is usually purchased from third-party stores can lead to this issue. Finally, if the sync option of iTunes isn’t set up, then the error “sync session failed to start” might come up.

Now that you know the reasons for the problem, let’s get on with how to fix it with the various solutions below.

Top 7 Ways to Fix The Error “Sync Session Failed to Start”

You’ll notice that there are different ways to fix the said error. Let’s begin with the easiest method first.

Solution 01: Shut Down Open Applications

Here are the steps on how applications are closed by force:

Step 01 - Go to the home screen of your iPhone.

Step 02 - Press the Home button twice. Wait until all opened apps are displayed.

Step 03 - Close all apps that are running.

Here are the steps on how to do it on iPhones that do not have their own Home button (e.g., iPhone X):

Step 01 - Start at the bottom part of the screen while moving your fingers in an upward motion.

Step 02 - Stop swiping in the middle part of the screen. Pause your hold on the screen while waiting for the apps to appear.

Step 03 - Close all open applications.

Solution 02: Check The Cables, Ports, And Connections

The problem “Sync Session Failed To Start” might be caused by a faulty USB cable. Make sure the USB port is working properly as well. If you have a faulty port and cable, then the sync won’t work properly.

Solution 03: Make Sure iTunes is Up-To-Date

Here are the steps on how to do it:

Step 01 - Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network.

Step 02 - Launch iTunes. Click Help and then press “Check For Update.”

Step 03 - Follow the on-screen instructions to update iTunes.

Solution 04: Remove Previous Backups Located in iTunes

Another problem why “Sync Session Failed To Start” is because of old backups. Thus, you must remove old backups in order to create a new, updated one. Here are the steps on how to do it:

Step 01 - Choose the appropriate iOS device. To do this on Windows PCs, press Edit > Preferences > choose appropriate device. To do this on Mac, open iTunes. Press Command + press Preferences and then choose the device.

Step 02 - Press “Delete Backup.” Then, choose “Reset Sync History.”

Step 03 - Shut down iTunes. Restart the iOS device and the Mac computer or a Windows PC.

Step 04 - Launch iTunes one more time. Try if the syncing process will now start.

Solution 05: Use Up-To-Date Driver Versions

If your drivers are outdated, iTunes won’t work. Thus, you must update your drivers within your Windows PC. To do this, type Device Manager on the Windows Start Menu. Then, open the Device Manager. Right-click on the iOS device, in this case, the iPhone. And then, choose the option to update it is towards that of the most recent version of drivers. Simply follow the instructions that will appear.

Solution 06: Wirelessly Sync iTunes And iPhone

Aside from utilizing the USB cable, you can also sync your iTunes (on your computer) and your iOS device wirelessly. This is done through a Wi-Fi network. To do it, you have to open iTunes within the computer.

After this, press “Summary.” Then, visit the tab labeled “Options.” Activate the feature that says “Sync With This iPhone Over Wi-Fi” and then save the modifications you have made.

Solution 07: Using Factory Reset

If all the methods above didn’t work, you should use this method as a last resort. In this way, you can solve the problem easily. However, the downside to this method is it leads to data loss. That’s why it’s important to back up your data first using data recovery tools before resetting your iOS device.

It is recommended that you do not try this method unless all other methods above didn’t work. Here are the steps on how you can factory reset your iPhone:

Step 01 - Launch Settings and then press General.

Step 02 - Choose Reset. After this, select “Erase All Content And Settings.”

Step 03 - Finally, click Erase iPhone.

Step 04 - Wait until the entire process is complete. After this, set your iPhone up again.

Once you have finished doing a factory reset, try to wait for the iPhone to reboot. Then, connect it to iTunes once again. Check if the method solved the problem.

To Wrap It All Up

In this guide, we’ve given you various ways on how to fix the issue “Sync Session Failed To Start.” You will find that there are several methods on how to solve the problem. We began with the easiest route and placed the last resort method in the final recommendation.

How about you? What’s your go-to method for fixing this error? Did you experience data loss or did you retain your data when you applied your method? We’d love to hear what you have to say. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.