Syncing iphone 4 with new computer

Hello, I have an iphone 4 that is originally synced to a windows 7 desktop. I recently purchased an iMac, and now would like to sync my phone with it instead. How could I do this without losing anything on my phone? I have tried to look up on the internet about this, but the answers I have obtained seem to be very complicated. I am wondering if anyone can explain, in simple terms, how can I accomplish this?
Thank you!

You need to Copy your iTunes Library from your Old computer to your New Mac...
There are several ways to do this...
See Here for one way
iTunes: How to move your music to a new computer
Or...
From your Old Computer... Copy your ENTIRE iTunes FOLDER to an External Drive... and then from the External Drive to your New Computer..
Backup iTunes to an External Drive
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
An Added Bonus is that you will then have a Backup of iTunes...
Move iTunes Library from PC to MAC
http://www.macworld.com/article/146958/2010/03/move_itunes_windows_mac.html

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Syncing iPhone Apps with New Computer- avoid erasing old apps?

My old laptop was recently stolen, and I just replaced it. However, when syncing my iPhone to the new computer, all music was lost. No problem, I had a backup on my iPod/external drive, hurrah.
However, I did not backup the .ipx files for the applications. Do I need to redownload all the apps, or is there a way to sync it to the new computer without nuking all the old apps (and the stored data/settings)? Thank you!

The apps will be 'nuked' - at least, you can redownload them for free.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2519
Next time, back up your whole library, better yet, your whole HDD!

Syncing iPhone 3GS with new computer

Hi everyone!
I got a new MacBook for christmas, and I just downloaded some music on here which I want to transfer to my phone but when I drag it across nothing happens! From what I've read on the internet, I gather that you can't sync with more than one computer. I tried to tick the "manually manage music and videos" box on my new MacBook, but get the message that all my content will need to be erased and replaced!
I wanna keep some of my old songs and definitely my apps - since they all have high scores etc..
The old computer is also a MacBook, if that makes any difference.
So basically,
Question 1: Is there any way at all to add this music from my new laptop to my iPhone without deleting the old stuff?
Question 2: If the only way around this is in fact erasing, which things will actually be deleted from my phone?!
Thank you SOOOO much in advance to anyone who can give me a bit of help here!

Right okay, haha. I think I have a little bit more of an idea of what I need to do now!
I'm not bothered about having my whole iTunes library on my new computer, so will it still work if I just copy across any songs/videos/apps that I want to?
And about the contacts - I never used Mail/iCal/Address Book on my old Mac - mainly use my computer for iTunes, the internet and some games! lol. So do I still need to add a contact/event?
Good to hear about the text messages, though! Is there anything else that won't be touched?
I'm just gonna have to bite the bullet I think - it would be an even bigger pain if I could never use my phone on this computer!
Sooooo, basically, if I click the erase and sync thing, everything will be replaced with all the stuff currently in my new library and if I check the manual box, then I can add things to my phone whenever I like? sounds okay - just need to know what I'm actually gonna loose. xD
Also, do you recommend I back up my iPhone on my old computer? SO CONFUSING! hahahah.
Thanks ever so much again!

Cannot Sync iPhone 4 with New Computer

I replaced my computer with a new one (Win 7 - although I believe the OS is irrelevant)
I moved my iTunes library to the new computer using Home Share. But, when I connect my iPhone 4 to the new computer, I cannot move music, podcasts, etc. between the iTunes library and the iPhone (in either direction). When I click the option to manage music files manually, I get a message saying the iPhone can only sync to one computer and I need to erase and sync the iPhone in order for it to sync to this computer.
I followed instructions in other threads here, including:
- authorize this computer
- transfer purchases from the iPhone to iTunes
- reset warnings on iPhone thru the device pane in iTunes
- backed up the iPhone
I allowed the erase and sync, then restored from the backup.
All of my files and data (email, apps, and related data, etc.) are there except none of my music, podcasts, movies, etc., are there. I'm still not able to move media files between the iPhone and iTunes
How can I fix this?

The music sync is one way - computer to iphone. The only exception is itunes purchases. File>Transfer Purchases
It has always been very basic to always maintain a backup copy of your computer for just such an occasion. Use your backup copy to move everything to your new computer.

How to sync iPhone 3GS to new computer without losing information

As my last computer was dying I was able to create a backup disk on itunes to use with my new computer. When I got my new computer, I put in the disk and had no problems transferring all of my songs, pictures, and videos to my new itunes. Now when I want to sync my iphone to my new computer it is saying that I must erase and resync with the new computer, but I am worried that I will lose all of my contacts and other information that I have stored on my iphone. Can anyone tell me if this is a legitimate concern, and if so what I can do to keep my contacts, mail, and other information on my phone but at the same time be able to put my new songs on my phone as well.
Thanks in advance for any help!

Do the following & you'll be OK since you've moved your itunes library:
First, disable auto sync when an ipod/iphone is connected, under preferences in itunes, which in windows is in the edit menu.
Connect your phone, DO NOT SYNC.
Next, go up to Store>Authorize this computer.
Next, File>Transfer Purchases.
Next, make sure you have at least one contact & one event in whatever supported program you use for that purpose. They can be fake, it doesn't matter.
Right click the phone in the device pane & select "Reset Warnings".
Next, right click again & select BACKUP.
Next, restore your phone from the backup you just made.
This must be followed by a sync to restore your itunes content. Which is selected from the various tabs. You should get a prompt regarding your contacts & calendar asking to "merge" or "replace", when you sync. Select "merge"
This is what's included in the backup you'll make & restore from:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
This is how to restore from that backup, as already referenced, when prompted to create another backup before you restore, decline as we will use the backup we made when we started:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414

Syncing iPhone to a new computer, will it transfer all my data?

I currently have an HP with Windows Vista. I'm getting a new computer and need to know what will happen when I connect my iPhone to the new computer. Will it sync with the new computer and transfer all the information to the computer? If not is there anything I can do. I won't have access to the old computer anymore.

All the iTunes media content will be deleted from the iPhone. You should copy the iTunes library from the old computer to the new computer (with an external hard drive, DVDs, etc.). Calendar/contacts can be transferred from the phone to the new computer, but you must have at least one new contact and event on the new computer, then you'll be prompted to Merge the data (choose that option).

How do I sync iPhone to a new computer

I've just lost my old mac and will upgrade to a new model. How can I sync iPhone to the new mac? I made the iTunes backup. What other steps should i take to avoid losing my info and settings? Please help

You won't lose any of your iPhone settings when syncing your iPhone with a new computer. When doing so, iTunes on the new computer will create a backup of your iPhone where your iPhone settings are stored.
In addition to an iTunes backup, did you also create a backup of photos that were stored on your old Mac along with contact information, calendar events, and bookmarks?
Before syncing your iPhone, you need to transfer your iTunes library from your old Mac to your new. Then authorize your new Mac with iTunes with your iTunes account. Did you de-authorize your old Mac with iTunes? You can have up to 5 computers authorized with the same iTunes account.
Also before syncing, enter one contact in the Address Book, and one calendar events in iCal on your new Mac. Make these up if needed, which can be deleted later after the first sync. This will provide a merge prompt when syncing this data, which you want to select - especially if you don't have a backup of contact information and calendar events from your old Mac.
If you use iPhoto for transferring photos from your computer to your iPhone, you need to transfer your iPhoto library from your old Mac to your new or any photos that were transferred from your old Mac to your iPhone will be lost when transferring photos to your iPhone from your new Mac.

Syncing iPhone & iPad with new laptop after old one crashed.

The computer (Dell laptop) I had originally synced my iPhone & iPad with crashed. I have a Toshiba laptop that I authorized with my iTunes account but I cannot sync my devices. When plugged in I receive the message waiting for my old laptop to sync. Any suggestions?

Sync with new computer
https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3141

Syncing iphone on a new computer

My hdd on an old computer crashed and is not recoverable. All my iPhone syncing was done on that laptop and all info is lost. Now I want to sync ALL my info (contacts, photos, calendar, apps, everything) on a new laptop (vista). Every time I try to sync with the new laptop I get a message saying "your laptop is already synced with iTunes on another computer, syncing to this computer will erase everything on your iPhone." Murphy's law says anything that can go wrong will go wrong. Now that I cannot sync my iPhone, I am sure something will go wrong and I will lose everything. Please suggest a way to sync ALL my info from my iPhone to the new laptop. Thanks, FS

By design, the iphone will sync itunes content with one computer at a time. Any attempt to sync such content with a second computer will result in ALL itunes content being first erased from your phone & then replaced with the content from the second computer. This is a design feature and cannot be overridden. The itunes content sync is one way: computer to phone. If you have photos that were synced to your phone or music ripped on your own that were not backed up, you will first have to extract them from your phone using third party software:
http://www.wideanglesoftware.com/touchcopy/index.php
Once you've done that, do the following in the order specified:
1. Disable auto sync when an ipod/iphone is connected under preferences in itunes, which in windows is under the edit menu.
2. Make sure you have one contact & one event in whatever programs you use for that purpose on your computer. The entries can be fake, doesn't matter, the important point is that these programs not be empty.
3. Connect your phone, itunes running, do not sync at this point.
4. Store>Authorize this computer.
5. File>Transfer Purchases(To make sure all purchased content on your phone will be in your itunes library).
6. Right click in the device pane & select reset warnings.
7. Right click again and select backup.
8. Right click again & select restore from backup, select the backup you just made. When prompted to create another backup, decline.
9. This MUST be followed by a sync to restore your itunes content, which you select from the various tabs, You'll get a popup regarding your contacts & calendars asking to merge or replace, select merge.
That's as good as it gets without a backup of your itunes library.

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Cannot sync ipad Air with new computer running windows 8

With new computer (HP Envy 27) running with windows 8, I have the latest iTunes installed, and successfully transferred my itunes library (books, music, TV programs, podcasts etc) to the new computer. I've tried multiple times to sync my iPad Air with no success. Only the Podcasts and Apps have been synched. No TV programs, and only a few music albums and books came across, despite the fact I selected the albums and books to synch individually. Can anyone help please?

Since you are able to sync some content and not all, I would first unsync (uncheck the box and hit apply) for a category (lets say books), then go back and re-sync (check the box again) and select just one item that did not sync before. If it syncs then you know it's not the content.
If it doesn't sync, then you will have to do a little more testing to see what it is, like trying to sync from a new library or new user.
Also, verify in itunes what's on the iPad by showing the sidebar and clicking the arrow next to the iPad on that sidebar. You can see what has made it onto the iPad. If its on the iPad there, but not showing up in the proper place on the iPad's screen (like books in iBooks) then you will need to troubleshoot the device up to maybe even restoring it as new.

How do I sync my iPhone 5 with new computer?

I just sold my computer to my friend, but need to sync my iphone with a new computer. I have a lot of information on it that I don't want to lose, especially voice notes. I don't want to loose anything on my phone, just transfer iTunes libraries.
I tried to sync it and a pop up window came up with the Erase and Sync option. If I back up my iphone, where can I access the file? I need to take the voice notes from my phone and put them into individual files on Finder.
thanks!!!

Take a look at this article to get some background info: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495
Steve M.

Sync iPhone 4 with new Mac installation

I've just replaced the hard drive in my MacBook Pro with a fresh new OS 10.6.8 installation. The old drive is still accessible via a USB external case.
I did not use Migration Assistant, as I didn't want to inherit any mess from the old system, and MA's options seem extremely unrefined - most checkboxes are very non-explicit about what it will migrate.
I have transferred all music, book and app files to the new iTunes from the old. My new iTunes is logged into the same iTunes account as the old.
I've manually set up Apple Mail, but my Address Book is currently waiting for contacts, and iCal is also empty, which I presumed I could sync directly from my iPhone.
But I would like to re-sync my iPhone 4 with the new iTunes WITHOUT erasing the phone. I have many hours worth of user configuration data within my many apps - favourites in GPS apps, saved game settings, documents in reader apps etc.
From everything I've read, this seems impossible! The new iTunes installation insists on erasing the phone. SURELY this can't be true. How do I store my phone in it's current form and retain all current data and settings?
Any assistance greatly appreciated.

1. Disable auto sync when an iPod/iPhone is connected under iTunes>Preferences>Devices in itunes.
2. Make sure you have one contact & one event in the supported applications(Address Book & iCal) on your computer. These entries can be fake, doesn't matter, the important point is that these programs not be empty.
3. Connect your phone, iTunes running, DO NOT SYNC at this point.
4. Store>Authorize this computer.
5. File>Transfer Purchases(To make sure all purchased content on your phone will be in your itunes library).
6. Right click in the device pane & select reset warnings.
7. Right click again and select backup.
8. Right click again & select restore from backup, select the backup you just made. When prompted to create another backup, decline.
9. This MUST be followed by a sync to restore your itunes content, which you select from the various tabs, You'll get a popup regarding your contacts & calendars asking to merge or replace, select merge.
You should be good to go.

Syncing iPhone 4 with New Laptop

I recently bought a new laptop and would like to transfer the music from my iPhone 4 to iTunes on this new computer. How would I go about this? I've heard it's not possible to sync a device with more than one computer, but I'd really like to figure this out so that I don't have to start from scratch and re-download 2,000+ songs since I didn't purchase them through iTunes! Also, I don't know if it matters or not, but both my old and new computer are PCs. Thanks in advance!

Hi muneeb_s1,
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Sorry that you lost your data through a HD crash and had to replace the HD. One of our other users posted a tip on how to sync an iPhone after you have replaced a HD.
Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "cra... | Apple Support Communities
Cheers,
Jeff D.

Syncing iphone to a new computer running itunes

is this possible? i got my iphone and synced it to the computer i was using then. i have since got a new computer and can't put any new songs on to the iphone from the itunes account even though it's been authorized and is using the same account details. can i make this pc the one that is to be synced regularly as i no longer use the other one?

Iphone can sync to ONE itunes library/computer at a time. If you sync to a new machine then the current iphone's itunes content will be erased.
You cannot use the iphone to transfer music, with the exception of itunes purchased music. In itunes, with iphone attached click File>Transfer Purchases. This will transfer itunes purchased music.
The iphone is NOT a back up device.
You should move the music from your old computer to your new one, then sync iphone.

Syncing iphone 4 with new computer

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