ITunes won't sync smart playlists

So I have 8 smart playlists plus 6 normal playlists in my iTunes, it's all been working well and it's been syncing all of them until about a week ago. After I synced it, I noticed that only the normal playlists were on the ipod, not the smart ones while they are still showing in itunes, I tried re-syncing but it didn't work, I still only have normal playlists.... PLEASE HELP!

After some experimentation I have a solution that I find satisfactory for a smart playlist containing only podcasts, and not referencing any other playlist, AND still leaves the "Live Updating" checkbox selected.
What I did was...
- removed any references to other playlists in the Smart Playlist options.
- changed it to "Genre" "IS" "Podcast"
- added "Plays "Is Less Than" "1"
- Selected "Limit to" (in my case 25) "items" checkbox. (I coincidentally, also chose "by Artist" but it didn't matter.)
- Unselected the playlist, under the Podcasts tab, while the iPhone was connected...
-- Sync'ed the iPhone once without it selected.
-- reselected the Playlist under the Podcast tab of the iPhone options, and
--- re-synced with the playlist now selected again.
I have to say I am more than pleased that it not only is keeping the same order in iTunes as well as on the iPhone, but it also removes ON-THE-FLY! the podcasts as I completed listening to them - in the iPhone, without any sort of syncing enabled. I had always hoped that would work someday.
Thank you Apple.

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Thoughts on syncing Smart Playlists

Like many other people, I've seen odd things happen when I sync Smart Playlists. I have a theory, but first...
My most recent example occured using a playlist that pulls songs I haven't played lately:
Media Kind is Music
Limit to 100 items selected by Least Recently Played
Match only checked items
Live Updating
I sync the playlist to my Shuffle, play some songs, and sync back. Sometimes the playcount and Last Played date updates are applied to the wrong songs.
THere have been other examples. I haven't been able to reproduce the problems reliably, but searching the fourms and the Intertubes show that similar problems have been going on for years. Apple says disabling "Live Updating" helps, but that defeats my main reason to use Smart Playlists.
My theory is that things start going screwy when the Smart Playlist rules are affected by activity on the iDevice. If the playlist collects "all songs rated 3 stars", playing the songs doesn't affect membership in the list, so syncing works properly. But if the playlist picks least-recently-played songs, and you play the song, when you sync pack, the song is removed from the playlist on the computer because it doesn't belong. That breaks the other database updates in some fashion.
Does this match up with your experience? Do you only see problems with smart playlists that change based on playcount/playdate info? I suppose if you change ratings on an iPhone, playlists based on ratings could also be affected, but I mostly notice the problems with my Shuffle.
If this is the problem, there's an easy fix for Apple - anytime a device is about to sync, disable all live updating in iTunes on the computer. Since the option to disable updating already exists, this shouldn't be difficult. Maybe it's not elegant, but it'd be effective if my theory is correct.

I synced the same playlist with Live Updating turned off after playing 5-6 songs on my Shuffle. Some of the playcount/date data was updated correctly, some wasn't. Importantly (?), the wrong data is on both the computer and the Shuffle(of course, I can't see the data on the Shuffle before I plug it into the computer)
There was something in a post about using "Copy to play order" to resolve syncing problems. So I sorted the playlist on my computer by name, then "Copied to play order", then synced, then sorted and "Copied" on my shuffle. Let' see what happens...

My iTunes won't sync my tones (ringtones) to my iPhone 4. Every time I check "sync tones" my iTunes library says that my iPhone is connected to another iTunes library, but I don't have another iTunes library. What do I do?

My itunes won't sync my tones (ringtones) to my iphone 4. every time i check sync tones my itunes library says that my iphone is connected to a different itunes library but i do not have another itunes library. what do i do?

Hi HB3207!
I have a couple of suggestions for you to attempt to resolve this issue. First, I would try re-creating your iTunes library following the instructions listed here:
iTunes: How to re-create your iTunes library and playlists
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1451
You may also need to simply try restarting your phone and attempting to sync again after a restart. Information on completing this can be found here:
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Turning off and on (restarting) and resetting
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430
Thanks for coming to the Apple Support Communities!
Regards,
Braden

I switched from iphone 3GS to an iphone 4. Now itunes won't sync my apps, music, etc

I switched from iphone 3GS to an iphone4. Now itunes won't sync my apps, music etc? I'm using the current version of itunes for win7.

I believe you have to authorize the iPhone 4 in iTunes

My iTunes won't sync and I can't download an app onto my iPhone 4S. It's been really bad since the update!

Hi,
Two problems here guys
1. My iTunes won't sync. Since the update to iTunes 11 it refuses to transfer purchaces from my iPhone 4S and won't put stuff from my phone into my iTunes library and I can't put anything on my phone through my laptop. Both the laptop and the phone say that they are syncing but nothing actually happens
2. As the Avengers Initiative app is currently free I decided to try and download it straight on to my phone, but every time I try it says I don't have enough memory, even though I deleted stuff especially so I could download this and I now have 3.6 GB free, so I downloaded it on to my iTunes on my computer, but of course my iTunes won't sync
I've reinstalled iTunes twice and it hasn't worked!
Somebody help please

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thanks

Since I upgraded to iTunes 11.01 the "Smart" playlists feature no longer works. I can CREATE the list but, the songs that I have played don't accumulate in the list. I haven't changed the steps that worked for me previous to the upgrade. I have no idea

Since I upgraded to iTunes 11.01 the "Smart" playlists feature no longer works.
I can CREATE the list but, the songs that I have played don't accumulate in the list.
I haven't changed the steps that worked for me previous to the upgrade.
I have no idea how to fix this and can't find mention of anyone else having a similar problem.
Any suggestions?

Click on a station and drag to the left. The playlists sidebar will open up. Drop on the playlist you want to add to.
tt2

Need some help: my itunes won't sync with my iphone anymore. Both softwares are up to date and I've reinstalled itunes. After I reinstall, it syncs. But then when I reboot my computer, it no longer syncs anymore and I have to keep reinstalling itunes. Tho

Need some help: my itunes won't sync with my iphone anymore. Both softwares are up to date and I've reinstalled itunes. After I reinstall, it syncs. But then when I reboot my computer, it no longer syncs anymore and I have to keep reinstalling itunes. Thoughts???

thought that it was possible to have the same iTunes library on any machine that was authorised, a kind of cloud-iTunes I guess.
That would convenient, but sadly it is not the case. Sorry!
Either way your welcome and best of luck!
B-rock

I got a new iphone 4 today. I have updated my itunes to the latest update but my itunes won't sync with my iphone. Does anybody know why this might be?

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Also, See Here for Getting Started...
http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/getstarted/
iPhone User Guide

My itunes won't sync to my iphone anymore. How do I handle this?

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Double click your Home button, swipe right on the multitask window, you will find the orientation lock on the left. Tap it to unlock and Home button to close Multitask windows. Now landscape orientation will work when you turn your phone

Itunes won't sync music to my iPhone5!!

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Hi guys,
i tried this and it worked for my iphone 5
check pls: https://discussions.apple.com/message/21665313#21665313
pushc6
Re: iTunes won't sync my music, movies, ringtones... Anything!
Apr 30, 2013 4:39 PM (in response to YoshiCookie)
''I was experiencing the same problem and tried all sorts of stuff, including items in this thread with no luck, this is what ultimately worked for me.
1. Download iFunBox (or other utility that gives you access to the filesystem)
2. Delete the _iTunes_Control folder
3. Delete everything in the Purchases folder
4. Force a sync in itunes
5. Profit.
So far I haven't seen any weird problems, other than my songs now sync.''

ITunes won't sync music to my iPad

iTunes won't transfer all the music from my computer to my iPad. The sync starts, it transfers about 500 of 2500 songs, then just stops.
I have tried disconnecting wifi, reinitialising the iPad and practically every other tip I could find on this forum: no joy.
Just seems incredible that the music I have (mostly) paid for on iTunes won't sync from one device to another. Are Apple trying to get me to pay for iTunes Match?!
Thanks in advance for your help...

I don't use and never have usediTunes Match, I almost never buy music from iTunes, and I can sync all of music just fine - purchase and imported from CD's.
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I know that most of these posts were put up a little while ago
But.
I too had a similar problem - my thoughts were:
Something to do with update to IOS 7.4
Corruption
Itunes software issue
After a LOT of research, I found a simple step that solved this issue for me.
I had been running my sync (pre - IOS 7.4) as automatic - see the options section under the summary tab
I changed my selection to manually manage music and videos and tried another sync
Wha La!
It began to copy over 700 songs that had not properly synced to my Ipad 2
BONUS: it then started to sync my videos again.
Hope this helps somebody.
It certainly made my life less frustrating
Downside: I have to MANUALLY manage - but it's better than all the hassles
NB: I don't know why this error occurs and I'm not sure this fix will work for everyone's issues but it can't hurt.

Itunes won't sync music to my Iphone 5C

Okay so I've been reading what everyone has said to do when itunes won't sync to your phone and I've tried EVERYTHING!!! My phone still isn't syncing. I have a Toshiba laptop which has windows 8 & I don't know what else to do. Please someone help me. I'm starting to get ****** off because everyone else has figured out a way to get it to work but I can't. My computer recognizes my phone but itunes doesn't. Any suggestions?!

I know that most of these posts were put up a little while ago
But.
I too had a similar problem - my thoughts were:
Something to do with update to IOS 7.4
Corruption
Itunes software issue
After a LOT of research, I found a simple step that solved this issue for me.
I had been running my sync (pre - IOS 7.4) as automatic - see the options section under the summary tab
I changed my selection to manually manage music and videos and tried another sync
Wha La!
It began to copy over 700 songs that had not properly synced to my Ipad 2
BONUS: it then started to sync my videos again.
Hope this helps somebody.
It certainly made my life less frustrating
Downside: I have to MANUALLY manage - but it's better than all the hassles
NB: I don't know why this error occurs and I'm not sure this fix will work for everyone's issues but it can't hurt.

ITunes won't sync all of my music to iPhone 4s

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Was this music purchased from iTunes or ripped? I have had problems in the past when I changed Apple IDs, and the content purchased through my previous account would not sync. If memory serves, I think it was an issue to do with the Mac not being authorised to access my old account. Signing in with my old account and authorising it resolved it. Not sure if this helps, but thought I would share.

I have an ipod classic and recently got the ipod touch. My itunes won't sync my older ipod so that I can transfer songs from my old one to the new. How can I do that?

I have an ipod classic and ipod touch. My itunes won't sync the classic so I can transfer the songs to my touch. It already says I have authoization do to so and have followed the pop up instructions. How can I transfer my songs?

See this excellent user tip from another forum member turingtest2 outlining the different methods and software available to help you copy content from your iPod back to your PC and into iTunes.
Recovering your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device
B-rock

ITunes won't sync smart playlists

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