Failed iPhone sync as iTunes states random song files "could not be read". I politely ask for your help!

Hello
Been having this problem for awhile now:
When I attempt to sync my iPhone, iTunes will start syncing but after every few songs it syncs, iTunes interrupts the sync with a message saying the file could not be imported since it could not be read. I can go to that song iTunes can't import in my list of music and play it in iTunes and verify that it isn't corrupted.
Does anyone know what the issue is? Here is what I have tried so far:
* Restore entire iPhone
* Remove iTunes and all preferences, re install and re import music library
* Change file import settings to iTunes Plus AAC conversion (Not sure this even does anything)
* Manually converting EVERY song (Shift+Clicking) to AAC
* Attempt to sync music manually (e.g. only checked items)
The message is as follows: iTunes could not copy "such and such song" to the iPhone because the file could not be read. This error happens with a different song each time I remove the previous one indefinitely, I have over 3000 songs, and it would take me days before I could manually remove each song iTunes deems unworthy of syncing (if at all). And this ONLY happens if I am fortunate enough for iTunes to even attempt to sync the tracks, usually it just skips that step entirely saying it's been completed, with no music actually transferred...
I am leaving on an international trip soon and I very much want to have hard copies of my music with me, I've been wracking my brain for ages now and haven't been this frustrated since freshmen year of highschool.
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
* iPhone 5S - iOS 7.1.1
* Windows 8.1
* iTunes 11.2.2
TL;DR: Everytime I try to sync my songs onto my iPhone, I get an error message that says "iTunes could not copy "(song name)" to the iPhone because the file could not be read or written." and then it stops syncing completely, so the rest of the songs after that don't get put on my iPhone. File is playable and not corrupt.

Hi skyvandyk,
It sounds like one of your music files may have been corrupted at some point and when trying to sync that song the iPhone is unable to do so. I know this must be a frustrating issue for you.
What I would suggest is that you first attempt to sync your iPhone without that particular song. To do this you will need to manually manage the music that goes to your iPhone. This article will tell you how -
Managing content manually on iPhone, iPad, and iPod
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1535
If the song was purchased from the iTunes store you can delete it and download again at no cost, if it is still available. See this article -
Download past purchases
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
If the song came from a CD or another source you may have to get it again from that source.
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Brett L

Similar Messages

  • My daughter was playing on my iphone 3gs and now it wont sync on itunes, it says a file could not be found.........please helppp!!!!!!

    i dont know what to do

    Did you delete the files from your computer?
    BTW, you've posted in the iTunes Match forum. Is your question related to that service?

  • I have the 20gb iPod that I need to put music back onto with my new computer. It starts to sync then it says "ITunes could not copy the song to the iPod because the file could not be read or written. ????

    I have a 20gb iPod that needs music from ITunes. On my new computer I am trying to sync but I get error message "could not copy to iPod because file could not be read or written. Attempting to copy to the disk failed. The disk could not be read from or written to." I have tried several times and have reset to factory settings.

    Is the new PC running XP as well, Chalotte?
    If so, I might start with the following document (your error message is a possible symptom of the issue too):
    iTunes displays -50 error message when syncing iPod on Windows XP

  • ITunes could not copy "insert song" to the iphone "insert name of iphone" because the file could not be read

    It's about time i posted something about my problem because i've searched everywhere and I did not get the answer i wanted.
    When i try to put a song (Drag and Drop) from my Library to my Iphone, the message "iTunes could not copy "insert song" to the iphone "insert name of iphone" because the file could not be read" shows up. I have no idea how to fix this, I haven't seen apple answer to a single one of these threads either.
    I've only seen users try to answer this question.
    Anyways, when i put the songs on my Iphone, it is also grayed out. There is also a dotted circle (symbol) beside the checkmark of the song.
    I've tried creating a AAC version of all the songs already. No luck
    Please help
    meetobin

    Two possibilities come to mind.
    Check your source hard drive for errors, right-click on the drive holding the library, click Properties, tools, check for errors, scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors...
    Or...
    Repair Security Permissions
    Right-click on your main iTunes folder and click Properties, then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. If necessary grant your account and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to replace permissions on child objects which will repair permissions throughout the library. This is the XP dialog but Windows 7 shouldn't be too different.
    If it won't let you change the permissions use the Owner tab to take ownership from an account with administrator privileges.
    tt2

  • ITunes sync problem: file could not be read or written

    I am running itunes 10.5.2 on OSX 10.7.2 on a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Macbook
    A week ago i did a so called "clean install" on my Mac, making sure to back everything up on one external drive, and clone the disk on another before beggining. I started with snow leopard and then installed the upgrade from the app store.  I then reinstalled all of my software, loaded my photos, setup my preferences and devices, and finally directed itunes to the media folder on my external drive.
    I had been using the external drive for itunes for a couple of years: on the previous system and even my previous desktop, with no problems whatsoever.
    All my songs apps etc. showed up and there seemed to be no issue.
    Then I tried to sync my iphone 4s and it started off okay, but about halfway through the message "could not sync ___ song to iphone because the file could not be read or written". When i located the song in question it was where it should be and even played properly in itunes. The second try would bring about the same error only with a different song. This went on several times before I realized something was really wrong.
    I made sure to change the permissions for all itunes folders, music folders, even the external drive itself to have read & write permissions for all fields, and checked the box to include all internal files. I also tried resetting my iphone, syncing through another usb port, and running permissions checks on the main drive.
    Thinking it could be a broken hard drive, I tried moving my aperture folder to the internal drive and all 30 GB transfered no problem. But when I tried to move the itunes folder to another drive, it stopped midway through and the finder gave me "error -36" saying that some song could not be transfered because "the file could not be read or written".
    In case it helps I have included the Console log from on of my attempts to syc.
    Any ideas? Thanks for your time and effort in helping.
    Jan  9 16:49:23 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:49:53: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 16:49:57 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:55:03 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: 0        0 AppleUSBCDC: start - initDevice failed
    Jan  9 16:55:03 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 57442D574D41565530363531313730 0x1058 0x1003 0x175
    Jan  9 16:55:23 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:55:53: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 16:55:56 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:56:26: --- last message repeated 2 times ---
    Jan  9 16:56:52 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:57:26 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:57:56: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 16:57:56 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:59:07 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 16:59:15 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
    Jan  9 16:59:39: --- last message repeated 4 times ---
    Jan  9 16:59:39 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:00:23 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:00:53: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:01:23 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:06:40 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
    Jan  9 17:14:34 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
    Jan  9 17:17:18: --- last message repeated 3 times ---
    Jan  9 17:17:18 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
    Jan  9 17:21:46 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:22:16: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:22:44 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:23:14: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:23:14 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:23:48 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:24:18: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:24:22 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:24:52: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:28:04 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:28:34: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:28:37 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:29:07: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:29:07 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero
    Jan  9 17:29:12 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: disk1s3: I/O error.
    Jan  9 17:29:42: --- last message repeated 1 time ---
    Jan  9 17:30:06 Rolf-Lufts-MacBook-Pro kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

    I had this same message appear today when i was putting new music on my ipod touch 4th gen. The only difference is that I wasnt using an external drive. I was using the one on my computer. This is the first time i have had this problem

  • ITunes could not copy to the iPhone because the file could not be read

    So here we go again, just put some newly imported from CD songs on my iPhone the other night no problem. Updated iTunes and now I get iTunes could not copy "whatever" to the iPhone "myphone" because the file could not be read. just for fun i removed one of the songs already on the phone and received the error trying to put it back on. I also just updated to iOS 8.3. is it the phone or itunes?

    Two possibilities come to mind.
    Check your source hard drive for errors, right-click on the drive holding the library, click Properties, tools, check for errors, scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors...
    Or...
    Repair Security Permissions
    Right-click on your main iTunes folder and click Properties, then go to the Security tab and click Advanced. If necessary grant your account and SYSTEM full control of this folder, subfolders and files, then tick the option to replace permissions on child objects which will repair permissions throughout the library. This is the XP dialog but Windows 7 shouldn't be too different.
    If it won't let you change the permissions use the Owner tab to take ownership from an account with administrator privileges.
    tt2

  • HT203180 I have bought several tv seasons from the itunes store. Recently some episodes will not sync with my ipad. The error message is that the file "could not be read or written". Previous episodes of the same series synced successfully.

    I have bought several tv seasons from the itunes store. Recently some episodes will not sync with my ipad. The error message is that the file "could not be read or written". Previous episodes of the same series synced successfully. Also while watching the same episode on my laptop (Mac Book Pro) it freezes.

    I had this same message appear today when i was putting new music on my ipod touch 4th gen. The only difference is that I wasnt using an external drive. I was using the one on my computer. This is the first time i have had this problem

  • ITunes could not copy "Beethoven's Symphony No 9 (from "A Clockwork Orange")" to iPhone "Heywood Floyd's iPhone" because the file could not be read or written

    Hello, i am having the following problem...
    "iTunes could not copy "Beethoven's Symphony No 9 (from "A Clockwork Orange")" to iPhone "Heywood Floyd's iPhone" because the file could not be read or written" [ ... and yes, Heywood Floyd is an avatar name..]
    With this...
    a. it occurs when I try to synch my iphone with iTunes.
    b. I have tested the "Beethoven's Symphony No 9" files that I have found on my iTunes, and my iPhone, as there is a copy of "Beethoven_ Symphony No. 9, _Choral_" folder that is the concert from Bernard Haitink & London Symphony Orchestra;
    c. This is where is get weird, a sort of Jack Torrance moment, they only file related to "A clock work orange" is 06 A Clockwork Orange - Ode to Joy.m4p...
    So what is happening, and how can I resolve this, as I am not able to synch between my mac and my iPhone....

    Check the media source drive for errors.
    See also Repair security permissions for iTunes for Windows. Not sure it is relevant but can't hurt.
    If iTunes is confused about what media is and is not on the device take these steps:
    Backup the device.
    Restore as a new device.
    Restore from the earlier backup.
    tt2

  • I have moved my file from my old computer.  Now that I am trying to play songs and movies iTunes says the original file could not be found.  How do I reverse this problem?

    I have moved my file from my old computer.  Now that I am trying to play songs and movies iTunes says the original file could not be found.  How do I reverse this problem?

    Put the files back where iTunes expects them to be.

  • When restoring and updating my iPhone I am getting the following message " iTunes could not update to the carrier settings for your iPhone.an unknown error occurred (1630)

    When restoring and updating my iPhone I am getting the following message " iTunes could not update to the carrier settings for your iPhone.an unknown error occurred (1630).can anyone please with a knowledge tell me what I should do please. Thank you

    The search bar can be very valuable...........
    In using it, I found out other's have had this issue and it likely means you have a 3G iPad?  If you do, go into settings and turn off cellular data, then try to update again and you should be OK........

  • When i want delete music in my ipad i make sync in itunes without music but the music not remove from ipad i get problim please help me my email

    when i want delete music in my ipad i make sync in itunes without music but the music not remove from ipad i get problim please help me my email

    hi i think you can used itools is very esye for add and delete eny thing that is link http://www.itools.cn/multi_lang_pc_download.htm

  • Download Error with iTunes 10.2.1 "source file could not be read"

    I recently had to restore my iPod due to some issues I was having. After it was done wiping the iPod, a message on my computer told me that after my computer restarted (automatically), I needed to keep my ipod connected so it could re-sync with my backup file. When it restarted, I waited awhile for my ipod to show up in itunes, but unfortunately it never did. I then went to the support page for this, which I have had to do in the past, and I learned that I had to completely reinstall itunes. This is the second time in the past month I have had to do this. I deleted all of the necessary files mentioned on the support page and then restarted my computer. I then went to the itunes download page and clicked download iTunes 10.2.1, the latest version, which is the same version I had before I uninstalled it.
    _*THE ERROR:*_
    About 30 seconds into the download, I get an error message that reads:
    "Download Error
    /Users/Berry/Downloads/iTunes10.2.1.dmg could not be saved, because the source file could not be read"
    This did not happen last time I had to do this re-installation process.
    Thanks in advance for any help and sorry for the long post.

    Whats the problem with this thing?
    One thing i can tell is that i changed some settings in Micromedia Flash, because i learned that they where spying on US, then boom no more download. It stops and tell me it could not be read from the server. Dont remember if it started right after i changed the settings, but its driving me nuts
    dang

  • When I try to sync i get the message "original file could not be found.  What does that mean?

    When I try to sync i get the message "original file could not be found.  What does that mean?
    Have i lost all the music on my computer?

    iTunes' library keeps track of where your tracks are located. If you move a track, or keep your music on an external drive and don't turn it on before starting iTunes, or your computer's file system becomes corrupted, or iTunes' library gets corrupted, or..., then iTunes goes to where it thinks the file is located, can't find it, and you get !

  • I've tried to d/l itunes 3 times and every time I get this message: .....Downloads\iTunesSetup.exe.part could not be saved, because the source file could not be read.  I have no idea what I'm doing. Does anyone have any ideas to help? Cheers.

    I've tried to d/l itunes 3 times and every time I get this message: .....Downloads\iTunesSetup.exe.part could not be saved, because the source file could not be read.  I have no idea what I'm doing. Does anyone have any ideas to help? Cheers.

    I've tried to d/l itunes 3 times and every time I get this message: .....Downloads\iTunesSetup.exe.part could not be saved, because the source file could not be read.  I have no idea what I'm doing. Does anyone have any ideas to help? Cheers.

  • Attempting to copy to the disk failed. The disk could not be read from or written to", and "itunes could not copy to the ipod because the file could not be read or written" WTH?

    I recently bought my son who is special needs an iPod shuffle gen 4 and nothing but complications.  I kept getting error message saying it could not be read from or written to.  Then it would not even charge up.  I let ig charge on computer for 6 hours it turned green.  Then I went to check it out and it went to orange then nothing.  So, I took it back to the storea and got another.  I am home excited for my son and nothing it is doing the same thing!  Someone please help me I am ready to swear off iPod period!

    I had this issue and couldn't figure out what it was for the life of me. I am running windows 7 and the latest version of itunes. I tried multiple reinstalls of itunes and restores of the ipod. I finally got it fixed by following this guide.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1539
    Apparently there was an issue with my .dll files. Hope this helps.

Maybe you are looking for