An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer

When I start iTunes and select my iPhone device, I get the message: "An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer". It's the same phone that I have used on the same computer since I bought it. ITunes is giving me two options, neither of which is acceptable. One is to erase the whole thing and set up the phone as new and the other is to restore the phone from a backup. I don't want to lose all of the data I have acquired since the last backup. Please help. Using Mac Book Air iTunes 10.6.3.

praxxis wrote:
Thank you for your response will2b but I am looking for a solution for the problem that I cannot sync the same phone with the same computer I have been for a couple of months now. It shouldn't matter that I did not sync my phone for a couple of weeks. I should still be able to sync the same phone to the same computer. This is obviously some kind of software glitch and I am looking for a solution.
some advice from blacksheepia:
I had been having issues with having good reception in a suburb within close proximity to Los Angeles. Called ATT and they were able to synchronize my phone while I am at home to a closer cell site and that has improved things a great deal. Also I was told that you should turn the phone off at a minimum of once a week and if possible more times to reset it and give it time to rest and cool off. The other thing I have discovered may be the actual way that the phone is constructed. Today I was using it at home in the same room and noticed the bars go down and come up when I changed how I held it. I thought their was no possible way that it could be that simple, but after changing the way I held it 5 times alternating from gripping my whole hand around the back with my palm and just finger gripping from the sides and making sure I was not blocking the back of the phone, well as much as possible, the results were that I had 4 to 5 bars of reception. Now this may seem crazy, but there is a possibility that this could be the cause of bad reception if the antenna is in the back shell of the phone and by blocking it with your palm you could interfere with the reception. Crazy I know, but I have heard of much crazier things with new phones and technology.

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"An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer" error on sync

I recently resurrected an old original iPhone to use as an iPod touch (no phone contract) and started syncing it to my home Mac Mini, which is where I sync nearly all of my iPhone 3G data from. I can't honestly say which was the last iPhone to successfully sync, but I just docked my iPhone 3G for the first time in a few weeks and got an error, "An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer". It's only allowing me to either set it up as a new phone, or to restore from either my 2G or 3G iPhone backup.
I don't want to restore; I've added a load of apps, notes, photos, etc since the last archive on that Mac Mini.
NOTE: This home Mac Mini syncs all the iPod content to my 3G. My MacBook Pro syncs the Pictures to the 3G. And all calendar/contact data is synced OTA (over the air).
(I have been regularly syncing/backing up to my MacBook Pro while I've been on the road. So I do have a valid archive on that system.)
I don't understand why I'm getting this error. It's almost as if I can't sync multiple iPhones to the same computer, but AFAIK that's not correct.
I suppose I could move an archive from the MBP over to the Mini and restore from a valid archive, but that seems obtuse.
What would cause this error? I can't update my music/tv/podcasts on here until I get this sorted out… bugger!
thanks
-Joseph

praxxis wrote:
Thank you for your response will2b but I am looking for a solution for the problem that I cannot sync the same phone with the same computer I have been for a couple of months now. It shouldn't matter that I did not sync my phone for a couple of weeks. I should still be able to sync the same phone to the same computer. This is obviously some kind of software glitch and I am looking for a solution.
some advice from blacksheepia:
I had been having issues with having good reception in a suburb within close proximity to Los Angeles. Called ATT and they were able to synchronize my phone while I am at home to a closer cell site and that has improved things a great deal. Also I was told that you should turn the phone off at a minimum of once a week and if possible more times to reset it and give it time to rest and cool off. The other thing I have discovered may be the actual way that the phone is constructed. Today I was using it at home in the same room and noticed the bars go down and come up when I changed how I held it. I thought their was no possible way that it could be that simple, but after changing the way I held it 5 times alternating from gripping my whole hand around the back with my palm and just finger gripping from the sides and making sure I was not blocking the back of the phone, well as much as possible, the results were that I had 4 to 5 bars of reception. Now this may seem crazy, but there is a possibility that this could be the cause of bad reception if the antenna is in the back shell of the phone and by blocking it with your palm you could interfere with the reception. Crazy I know, but I have heard of much crazier things with new phones and technology.

I have a ipod, and 2 ipod touch's on my itunes account, my husband just bought a used itouch from his friend. My question is, m adding it to my account I am stuck at "Set Up Your ipod" when it states, "This Computer has been previously synced with an iPod

or another iOs device, which option do I choose? *Set up as a new iPod or *Restore from the backup of (myself or son's itouch) I have done this before but cannot remember what I did and I do not want to lose what I have.

Thanks, I want his to be his own so I can manually put what apps and songs on it without all the ones I have. So I chose the 2nd option you said. I Know that when I open itunes i hold down the shift key and choose which ipod I want to use. Thank-you for your help!

How can I back up my contacts and apps to Windows 7 if my iPhone has been previously sync'd to a Mac?

I have always used my iBook G4 to sync and backup my iPhone 3GS, until the screen went wrong on my Mac.
I managed to salvage the songs off the mac by turning it into a mass storage device (holding T on startup), and I'm currnetly using a Windows 7 laptop whilst saving up for a new Mac.
I'm trying to back up all my contacts and apps to iTunes but as it was initially sync'd to a mac, it is saying that all my apps, contacts etc etc will be lost!
Is there any way to download my apps and contacts (all contents of my iPhone really) to iTunes on Windows if it was originally run via a Mac?
I'm due for an upgrade to the iPhone 4 on Friday and I'd like to get all my stuff backed up before then please!
Can anyone help?

Before you connect to a new PC, make sure that autosync is disabled in Edit/Preferences/Devices, otherwise your phone will be wiped during the following sync.
Then back up manually:
Disable autosync in iTunes, connect your phone to the new computer and right click on it in the device list and choose backup. iTunes will backup your phone without syncing.
Transfer the purchases the same way, choosing "transfer purchases" this time.
When you connect your phone for the first time, all media content will be erased. But you can restore your settings and app data from your manual backup afterwards.
Don't forget to set up at least one contact and event on your new computer to be able to merge calendars and contacts when you sync the phone for the first time.
About backups and what's saved:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
How to back up and restore:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
How to download apps for free again:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
Transferring data is also covered here:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4137

Itunes says this computer has been previously synced

I am running Snow Leopard and have Itunes 10.6.3 and IOS 5.1.1 Iphone 4, yesterday I plugged in my phone and itunes poped up and says" this computer has been previously synced with an Iphone or other iOS device" this is my personal computer and no one has synced it and I lasted syned my phone August 23th.
Its now asking me to setup a new phone or restore from the August 23rd , I tried restarting but nothing happened so I resorted to clicking restore from last back up and after 20 min of restoring it still shows setup as new phone or restore ( I tried it twice) after I plug in my phone
any idea guys and any help is appreciated

I just updated to 10.7 and its still showing restore or set up as new...
any idea?

"An iPhone has previously been synced with this computer ..."

Hi
I synced my iPhone 3GS on my PC (running Vista) yesterday, and it dropped a couple of error messages (-46 being one). No problems, I thought, I'll try again. Still failed. Unplugged everything, try again - now says "An iPhone has previously been synced with this computer, set up as new iPhone or Restore from backup".
This is a huge problem - my PC and IPhone combo don't like each other, and the last time I tried to upgrade the firmware it failed and forced me to restore which also failed. The only way I could get my iPhone back was to use another PC which was running XP. Consequently there is no way I am restoring my phone off my main PC (as it won't work), and I don't want to set up as new phone, as I'll presumably lose all my data (messages, notes, voice memos, etc). I plan to back up the phone on my laptop, just in case, and I've made copies of the backups on my main PC, but any ideas how I can make my PC realise that it actually already knows my phone?
We do have two iphones which we sync on this PC, and it's never played up like this before. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
---

Hi Allan, thanks for your reply! Thanks also for the link.
I did look to do what you suggested, but unfortunately the only option it gives me now on right-click is "eject" (both on PC, which is what I sync with and also my laptop, which has met this phone once before). My phone seems to be telling the computers that it's a virgin new phone, rather than one I've been using for several months.
I'm just hoping that the last backup on iTunes for my phone is complete - ie not corrupted during the last sync that appears to have corrupted my phone. At some point I will have to bite the bullet and let it restore from backup. Can I copy the backup files from my PC to my laptop ?
Cheers,
Bernie

" 3 items could not be synced. See iTunes for more information" I have searched and I have tried the solutions on the forum. My iPhone has been successfully synced without error and I am trying to sync with new laptop.

" 3 items could not be synced. See iTunes for more information" I have searched and I have tried the solutions on the forum. My iPhone has been successfully synced previously on my mac mini without error. I am trying to sync my iPhone with new MacBook Pro.

Modular77: With respect the dialog on the iPhone 'XX items could not be synced. See iTunes for more information.' , would you happen to know where to look in iTunes? I looked in all the places that seemed logical to me.
I am, however, asking only for future reverence, as the initial sync which generated the error dialog was done via USB, and almost immediately after the USB sync, I ran a WiFi Sync—two in a row in fact—both initiated from the iPhone. Both WiFi syncs completed successfully with no error dialog.
I then ran another USB sync initiated from iTunes on the Macintosh, as was the first sync which gave the error. This second USB sync also completed successfully with no errors.
I think someone in this thread mentioned non-AppleStore products or DMR issues which I think could not have been an issue in my case, as I was running the sync to install updated Apps from the AppStore, and additionally had deleted some music and movie items to make sure there was room for the App updates. Nothing was added other than the recently downloaded App updates from the AppStore.
iPhone3GS iOS 5.1.1 build 9B206.
          Developer Profile enabled. iCloud enabled.
          32 GB “disk.” About 1.5 GB free after sync.
          iPhone NOT jailbroken
MacBook 13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008 (NOT Macbook Pro)
     Lion 10.4.7 build 11E53. 2 GB RAM.
Thanks for any info or advice. Problem IS now solved, but it absorbed a lot of time to reach that point.

I just bought a new computer, how can I start syncing with this computer without erasing everything already on my iphone?

I just bought a new computer, how can I start syncing with this computer without erasing everything already on my iphone?
Everytime I try to use the option sync manual it wants me to erase everything.
Please help

The iPhone can be synced to one and only one computer at a time. Before you "marry" it to your new computer, be sure your new computer contains all the old computer's information. When you sync the iPhone to a new computer, it will be erased first. Then, whatever is on your iTunes Library will be synced to the iPhone.
Read: iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
You can also copy its previous backup from the old computer to the new one, then "restore from backup".
From iTunes: About iOS backups
Where iTunes backups are stored on your computer
The folder where your backup data are stored varies depending on the computer's operating system. Make sure the backup folder is included in your periodic data-backup routine.
iTunes places the backup files in the following places:
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Note: To quickly access the Application Data folder, click Start, and choose Run. Type %appdata% and click OK.
Windows Vista and Windows 7: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Note: To quickly access the AppData folder, click Start. In the search bar, type %appdata% and press the Return key.

I have a problem with my itunes. I cannot transfer apps from the itunes to my iphone 4s. Any time I try to snyc itunes tells me "The iphone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iphone. HELP

I have a problem with my itunes. I cannot transfer apps from the itunes to my iphone 4s. Any time I try to snyc itunes tells me "The iphone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iphone. To authorize this computer for items purchased from the itunes store, choose, Store > Authorize This Computer. But anytime I authorize it tells me you have authorized including this computer 2 out 5 computers. And if I try again the same story over and over again. But I have many apps on my itunes which I want to transfer. Please someone help me.

Well Authorize the Computer...........

Adobe reader will not download my files that it has been previously downloading with no trouble.

Adobe reader will not download my files that it has been previously downloading with no trouble.

Your statement is so vague that I have no idea what you are trying to do, or what goes wrong. Please provide some details!

I lost my phone 6 weeks ago, today I got an email saying "iPhone has been locked." does this mean someone has tried to power up my device. I had put the remote lock on the phone when I lost it. Today I sent 2 messages to the phone asking to call my phone

I lost my phone 6 weeks ago, today I got an email saying "iPhone has been locked." does this mean someone has tried to power up my device. I had put the remote lock on the phone when I lost it. Today I sent 2 messages to the phone asking to call my phone

Welcome to the Apple community.
dlondon629 wrote:
I lost my phone 6 weeks ago, today I got an email saying "iPhone has been locked." does this mean someone has tried to power up my device......
Yes, this would seem the most likely reason to me.

I accidentally deleted my whole i tune library. I was able to retrieve the entire library, but all my play lists have dissapeared and iTunes says that my ipod is not synced with this computer. Can i sync my playlists from my ipod to my itunes?

i accadentally deleted my entire library (over 10,000 song) when i was trying to delete an old back up file off an external hard drive. Now when i open I Tunes and connect my ipod, a message says tht my ipod is not synced with this computer. This is the only computer this ipod has ever been synced to, so i don't know how to reconnect the two. I was able to restore all my music to the itunes library, but I lost all my playlists. I spent considerable time creating the playlists and they are stll on my ipod. Can I somehow sync in a way that my ipod can give the computer my play lists?

With your iPod connected to iTunes right->click on it's device name in the left hand pane of iTunes under devices and select Export Playlists.
B-rock

The iPhone could not be synced because this computer is no longer...

This is not about wanting to manage music, etc. It's about my work. I have an app in development and need to load the latest IPA for testing, a process performed through iTunes, like syncing anything else. When I try and sync I get the message, "The iPhone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iPhone.
I did the research on the internet and haven't found an adequate answer. I've tried:
— Being sure I'm logged into the same iTunes account as the iPhone.
— Deauthorizing then Authorizing the computer, after which I get an alert saying the computer has been successfully authorized, resulting in the same error message again when I again try and sync.
— Removing the SC Info folder, as found in this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1389 . I guess I have the only Mac that has no trace af any such "SC Info" folder anywhere in the system (OS 10.6.8).
— Logged in under every conceivable account configuration (computer admin, device account, etc...) to no avail.
I have to get this IPA imported into the iPhone. It's the same process as syncing anything else. If anyone has a solution, please send it along. Clock is loudly ticking.
Many thanks.
Cayce

Same problem. Did you guys find the solution?

HT1727 iphone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iphone

why is itunes saying "iphone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iphone"

I first called apple and they patched me to a technician who ran a test and determined that I had a virus. He gave me some price quotes and who to call. After my conversation with him, which I knew was BS btw, I immediatley called Geek Squad with whom my computer has a warranty through after they installed virus software on my new laptop (4 months old). I had a VERY long online session where they ran several virus test and found nothing. Although I was VERY happy that my computer didn't have a virus, I still had the problem of my itunes not working. After several hours, he made sure that all of my apps were down loaded, and then restored my iphone to factory settings, and sync my device. It worked perfectly and all and I mean ALL 240 apps were downloaded back onto my iphone along with my music and all of my tones. When asked why my itunes was acting in that manner the answer that I got was,"...apparently you had a correct file some where in itunes and everything had to be reset". Regardless, everything is back to normal and I don't have to get a new phone or delete itunes from my computer. Hope this helps!

I go to sync my phone and it says,"The iphone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iphone". When I go to authorize it says it's already authorized.

Getting frustarted with itunes. I had to recently do a hard reboot ny iphone and attempted to sync my phone to get m apps back. When I go to sync my phone and it says,"The iphone could not be synced because this computer is no longer authorized for purchased items that are on this iphone". When I go to authorize it says it's already authorized. Help!!!!

I first called apple and they patched me to a technician who ran a test and determined that I had a virus. He gave me some price quotes and who to call. After my conversation with him, which I knew was BS btw, I immediatley called Geek Squad with whom my computer has a warranty through after they installed virus software on my new laptop (4 months old). I had a VERY long online session where they ran several virus test and found nothing. Although I was VERY happy that my computer didn't have a virus, I still had the problem of my itunes not working. After several hours, he made sure that all of my apps were down loaded, and then restored my iphone to factory settings, and sync my device. It worked perfectly and all and I mean ALL 240 apps were downloaded back onto my iphone along with my music and all of my tones. When asked why my itunes was acting in that manner the answer that I got was,"...apparently you had a correct file some where in itunes and everything had to be reset". Regardless, everything is back to normal and I don't have to get a new phone or delete itunes from my computer. Hope this helps!

An iPhone has been previously synced with this computer

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