ITunes could not back the ipad

because a session could not be started with the ipad
This is a new error since I upgraded iTunes to the latest version a couple of days ago.
I've searched the forums and see results that seem to implicate iPhoto but since I'm using a Windows computer (and NOT syncing photos anyway), that's irrelevant here.
So what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Using iPad2
Windows 7 computer
iTunes is 10.4.1.10

Hi Rachel,
Thanks for visiting Apple Support Communities!
You can use this article to help troubleshoot your iPad:
iPad: Basic troubleshooting
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3274
Here are some steps that relate to sync issues:
If iPad doesn't appear in iTunes or you can't sync iPad
Follow these steps, testing after each:
Disconnect other USB devices from your computer and connect iPad to a different USB 2.0 port on your computer (not on your keyboard).
Turn iPad off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPad for a few seconds, until a red slider appears. Then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
Restart your computer. Then reconnect iPad to your computer.
Download and install (or reinstall) the latest version of iTunes.
For additional troubleshooting steps, refer to:
Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
How to restart the Apple Mobile Device Service (AMDS) on Windows
Best,
Jeremy

Similar Messages

TS3683 I have not been able to successfully back up my iPad to my MAC computer since 07/21/2013. I keep getting the error message "iTunes could not back up iPad "" because an error have occurred." Any suggestions on what I can do to resolve this error?

I have not been able to successfully back up my iPad to my MAC computer since 07/21/2013. I keep getting the error message "iTunes could not back up iPad "" because an error have occurred." Any suggestions on what I can do to resolve this error?

Hi there BuffaloSailor!
I have an article here with some troubleshooting suggestions for this issue:
iOS: Troubleshooting backup issues in iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2529
Take care, and thanks for visiting the Apple Support Communities.
-Braden

ITunes could not backup the ipad .. because not enough freespace is available on this computer

I have been using ITunes for years and reliably backing up my iPad 3 to it under ios 5 without a problem, on an iMac running OSX 10.6.8
After updating to ios 6 all attempts to sync (backup) my iPad to iTunes cause iTunes to fail with 'iTunes could not backup the ipad <name> because not enough freespace is available on this computer'
There is approx 25Gb used on my 64Gb iPad. There is 125Gb free on my iMac hard disc. My iPhone (ios6) and iPod Touch both back up successfully.
I have tried deleting old backup files, repairing permissions, rebooting iMac and IPad, syncing over wifi and USB, encrypted and unencrypted but in all cases the back seems to run fine, then gets to the 'applying...; stage and fails with the above message. It has to be a bug doesn't it :-)

OK I managed to free up more space on my iMac HD to 148Gb. The sync and backup then ran OK! Afterwards there was still about 144Gb free. So it would seem that in order to create an about 5Gb backup file there needs to be about 30 times as much free space on the mac. This can't be right surely?

HT1766 My Iphone5 wont back up , it gives me an error message Itunes could not back the Iphone5 beacuse an error occurred. What can I do

it gives me an error message Itunes could not back the Iphone5 beacuse an error occurred. What can I do

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3221

Itunes could not backup the ipad because the ipad disconnected error message on USB3 port

Does anyone know why I would get "itunes could not backup the ipad because the ipad disconnected" when syncing with USB3 port, but not with USB2 port?

OK I managed to free up more space on my iMac HD to 148Gb. The sync and backup then ran OK! Afterwards there was still about 144Gb free. So it would seem that in order to create an about 5Gb backup file there needs to be about 30 times as much free space on the mac. This can't be right surely?

IPad won't sync: iTunes could not backup the iPad because a session-

I can no longer sync an iPad with iTunes. Each time I try, I get the following error dialog from iTunes:
iTunes could not back up the iPad "Name of iPad" because a session could not be started with the iPad.
I'm using iTunes 10.1 (54) on Mac OS X 10.6.5 Build 10H574, iPad WiFi + 3G running iOS 4.2.1 (8C148). iPad sync settings: Manually manage music and videos, address book/iCal/email/bookmarks all done via MobileMe, Sync Apps yes, Sync Music no, Sync Movies no, Sync TV Shows no, Sync Podcasts no, Sync iTunes U no, Sync Books no, Sync photos from iPhoto no.
I'm looking for a fix that will respect the app sync settings and not force all the unchecked apps from my computer back to the iPad. Suggestions appreciated!

So typically I don't reply, or post comments on forums but seeing as how the 4.3 update has screwed up syncing with the iPad, I thought i'd share what I just went through for the last 4.5 hrs!!!
So finally did the update on 5/24/11...everything was great, until I tried to add movies to my iPad... had the same error about not backing up the iPad beacause a session...so I went and deleted the photo cache....did nothing.
Then I found another post stating to try and "close" any apps running in the background (double clicking on the home button and pressing the minus) that apparently worked for some....NOT ME
SO THEN, I saw another post about turning the iPad off and the back on...guess what happened when I did that?!?!?! Ohh it got STUCK in the little thinking mode..you know after you swipe to power off...the little circle icon...stayed like that for 30 min...so I found another post saying that I needed to restore my iPad...umm lil prob COULDN'T CONNECT W IT LIKE THAT!!! So then i decided to hard reboot it (hold down the home button and the lock button on top) that at least stopped the thinking thing and brought my iPad back up
So I tried to sync again...NOW i was getting the error message of this iPad is already synced to another iTunes library...only given option of cancel or erase and sync?!?!? ***?? NO IT ISN'T LAST BACK UP WAS LAST WEEK AFTER I DID THE STUPID 4.3 UPDATE!!!!
FINALLY-I unchecked syncing movies...and synced my iPad...finally worked with no errors....double checked the backupdate(edit>iTunes preferences>devices and had today!!! So i thought well whatever it was backed up today if it erases and syncs all the info will be the same...will prob take an hour to re-sync all my apps, music, and movies...but at least it will be done.
AND VIOLA!!! IT WORKED...AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT DID ERASE BC WATCHING THE STATUS BAR IN ITUNES IT ONLY SHOWED THAT IT ADDED MY MOVIES!!!
I really hope this posts helps some people!!! AND APPLE IF YOU SEE THIS....FIX THE 4.3 UPDATE FOR THE IPAD!!!!!!!!!

ITunes could not backup the iPad because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPad

Hello everyone. I recently got this problem which prevented me from updating to the latest version of iOS (4.3.5 at the present time). It basically does not allo me to backup my iPad and therefore update the iOS. I have tried deleting previous backups ( Edit>Preferences>Devices) but I have found none in the little window over there. I then searched for a folder called "MobileSync"(C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync) in the iTunes folder but I couldn't find it. I rebooted my iPad but the problem is still there.
Has anyone found a solution to my problem? Does anyone has this too?
Looking forward to you reply. Thank you, Stathis.

I solved it! I ended up doing a backup on another computer and then manually putting the backup directory from the \MobileSync\Backup\ directory on to a flash drive and then replacing the correpted one on my computer. Now it does the backup in seconds and everything syncs normally!
I hope this helps someone else that wasn't able to fix their iTunes device backup.

Unable to sync or backup my iPad2 with the new iTunes. I keep getting the error ""iTunes could not back up the iPad because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPad.". I've deleted all the old backups but still get this.

I'm totally frustrated by iTunes and don't know how to solve my problem. Like a lot of people on here I'm not able to sync or back up my iPad2 with my iTunes (version 10.4.1.10). I'm running Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit. My iTunes worked just fine until the 10.4.xx updates came out and since June I've not been able to back up or sync the iPad2.
When I connect and try to sync I get the error message, “iTunes could not back up the iPad because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPad.”
I've deleted all the old backups so there are none on my system. I've deleted iTunes and re-installed the 64bit version several times but it has not made any difference. I've read and followed several suggestions on these boards about how to remove and reinstall everything but none have worked yet. I'm stumped here.

I had the exact same thing with my shuffle - same error message saying that it was corrupt so I restored it (wiping everything in the process) and the same message came up as soon as it reloaded. Thank god I didn't try it with my iPod or iPhone first. So many issues with this new version of iTunes!!!!!!!!

"iTunes could not back up the iPad because the iPad disconnected" error message after upgrading to 8.3

Yesterday I upgraded my iPad Air from 7.1.2 to 8.3 after holding off upgrading until now. Before the upgrade I backed up the iPad without any problems but since the upgrade I can't back up the iPad – it goes to step 2 of 4 and stays there for ages, and then I get a pop up box saying "iTunes could not back up the iPad "... iPad" because the iPad disconnected."
I've just tried setting up iTunes on another PC and backing up the iPad to this iTunes and got the same error message so it's not the iTunes setup on either computer (Windows 7 PCs).
Everything I've tried so far seems to be working on the iPad but I can't do any backups.
Any suggestions on what else to try will be much appreciated.

Sometimes resetting the iPad system helps. Did you try that? If not, try it. Hold down on the sleep and home buttons at the same time for about 10 seconds until the Apple logo appears on the screen, then let go of the buttons and let the iPad start up. Then try to backup again.

I just got my refurb iPad in the mail. I am trying to set it up, but im getting this message "iTunes could not back up the ipad because the backup was corrupt or not compatable with the ipad. Delete the backup for this ipad. then try again." How?

I just got my refurb iPad in the mail. I am trying to set it up, but i am getting this error message " iTunes could not back up the ipad because the backup was corrupt or not compatable with the ipad. Delete the backup for this ipad. Then try agian." How do I do that?

It sounds like the iPad wasn't erased to me. If the iPad is totally cleared of content, there should be nothing on it and no backup to create.
Without connecting the iPad to your computer - Launch iTunes on you computer and go to Edit>Prefences>Devices. Do you see an iPad backup in there? If you do see it, delete it.

How do I get rid of error message, "iTunes could not back up the iPad because an error occurred."

During a recent syncing of my iPad and iTunes, I cancelled a sync during the backup step of the process. Since then I whenever I sync the ipad I know get, "iTunes could not back up the iPad because an error occurred."
I have reset my iPad and turned off the MacBook, still the message occurs.
Can someone offer some advice on how to get rid of this error message?

You can try deleting your backup. Launch Itunes on your Mac and go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices. Highlight the name of the iPad backup and select delete. Quit iTunes, restart your Mac and try to sync again.

ITunes could not back up the iPad "iPad Name" because an error occured

Hello. I have been backing up my iPad to the cloud since I got my iPad just over a year ago, but whenever I try and back up to a computer it comes up with the error 'iTunes could not back up the iPad "iPad Name" because an error occurred'. After reading MANY posts on the internet about this issue I am still not any closer to figuring out why it is not backing up and has never been able to back up to a computer. I am running Windows 8 Enterprise 64bit on a HP laptop. My iPad is a 3rd Gen 16GB iPad.
Here are the things I have tried:
1. Update iTunes and iPad to latest software.
2. Delete all previous backups by trying two methods (I have been unable to backup the iPad at all so there were no previous ones. Here are the two methods:
a) iTunes -> Edit -> Preferences -> Devices -> Device Backups (none there)
b) C:\Users\James\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync -> delete backup folder.
3. Turned off Windows Firewall. I am not running any other security software apart from the built-in Windows Defender.
4. Uninstalled the entire Apple suite (iTunes, Quicktime, etc.) and reinstalled.
5. Deleted the lockdown folder from C:\ProgramData\Apple.
6. Disconnected all USB devices and removed CD from disk drive.
7. Removed local backup encryption password.
8. Tried a fresh user account.
9. Tried a fresh user account on a different computer (Win 7)
10. Tried a different cable (original from Apple)
11. Run diagnostics on iTunes (all reported OK. Connectivity to iPad was fine)
I have probably missed some things that I have tried because I have tried ALOT but this is most that I can remember. Just to re-iterate, the iPad has always been able to backup to iCloud fine and syncs perfectly well with iTunes. The only problem is when I try to backup to a computer. Any help or suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks

I have a similar problem. My iPad is barely a month old and it backed up/synced fine at first. Now I get this same error. I've tried the same things Jalex mentioned plus several more. Nothing worked.
Then something odd happened. Last night I was on my laptop and opened itunes. It looked for, found my iPad and synced with it all by its self. I thought "thank goodness something must have worked"!! Now today, same thing...get the error everytime.
I think it is fairly common Jalex, as I've found several posts and followed all the directions trying to find a fix. I haven't however found a post where anyone found a specific fix.

HT201210 I tried to update to IPad 5.1, but when it finished and tried to restore the backup, it shows me that Itunes could not back up because a session could not be started with iPad. need your help please

I tried to update to IPad 5.1, but when it finished and tried to restore the backup, it shows me that Itunes could not back up because a session could not be started with iPad. need your help please

This has happened to me a couple of times and what I do is quit iTunes and restart my Mac and then try again and then it will work.
If iTunes has already created the backup, you should still be able to restore from the backup when you are connected to iTunes. Right click on the iPad name on the left side of iTunes and select restore from backup. After the process completes, sync with iTunes to transfer all of your apps, music, photos and other media back onto the iPad.

"iTunes could not back up the iPhone 'my IPhone' because a session could not be started with the iPhone"

Since 2 updates I started getting iTunes could not back up the iPhone 'my IPhone' because a session could not be started with the iPhone. This is happening with my iPad and iPhone. I see hundreds of complains on this issue starting from last year and obviously Apple has no clue how to solve this error. I went through the solutions and spend over an hour deleting backups resetting lockdown, restarting and nothing is working. Are they serious to ask us to disconnect all other USB devices to sync our equipment everyday to solve their problem? iTunes is the worst program I have seen on the market in the past 10 years. It reminds me of DOS programs that could only do one item at a time. You click a command and just wait and wait and wait. Of course they want me to call customer service, wait for x time to talk to tech support and then spend more time. I don't have the time. I spent a lot of money to get an equipment that should work as advertised and not spend further my valuable time. I have reached my limit with Apple and that crap iTunes. I'm calling for a divorce.
[By the way, your spell check doesn't recognize your own products such as iPad, iTunes and iPhone. Such an embarrassing company.]

Do you happen to be running any processes that Apple doesn't want you to use? (Jailbroken?)

HT4137 error code:iTunes could not back up the iPhone "Karen's iPhone" because it is locked with a passcode. You must enter your passcode on the iPhone before it can be backed up.

I am trying to use Itunes to move my data from my iphone 4s that was backed up on my Macbook Pro. I keep getting an error code backing up from ITunes to new Iphone 5s:iTunes could not back up the iPhone “Karen’s iPhone” because it is locked with a passcode. You must enter your passcode on the iPhone before it can be backed up. On the Iphone it keeps telling me to add another network. I have put our home network on the Iphone. When I put the passcode in the phone does not give me enough time to put my Apple ID password in and it shuts off. Help!
<Email Edited by Host>

FORCE IPAD INTO RECOVERY MODE
1. Turn off iPad
2. Turn on computer and launch iTunes (make sure you have the latest version of iTune)
3. Plug USB cable into computer's USB port
4. Hold Home button down and plug the other end of cable into docking port.
DO NOT RELEASE BUTTON until you see picture of iTunes and plug
5. Release Home button.
ON COMPUTER
6. iTunes has detected iPad in recovery mode. You must restore this iPad before it can be used with iTunes.
7. Select "Restore iPad"...
Note:
1. Data will be lost if you do not have backup
2. You must follow step 1 to step 4 VERY CLOSELY.

ITunes could not back the ipad

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for