iTunes is stuck on 'Preparing To Sync' with iPhone

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iTunes is stuck on 'Preparing To Sync' with iPhone

Windows 10 iTunes sync is stuck on 'Preparing To Sync' with my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I only sync Outlook 365 calendar.

AppleSyncMapiInterfaceHelper_x64.exe is using high CPU (>10% on 10th gen Core i9) and has Very High power usage.

What sort-of worked was to stop the AppleSyncMapiInterfaceHelper process with the task manager and then the sync proceeded to complete. However, it only sync'd in one direction - from iPhone to PC, not from the PC to iPhone.

Dell Optiplex 7780 AIO, Intel Core i9

Windows 10 Pro 22H2, version 2104

iTunes v 12.12.1.1 from Windows store, updated to 12.13.1.3

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iOS 17.1.2, updated to 17.2.1

(none of the updates worked)

Question: Is there a fix available? Does Apple know of the problem?

Windows

Posted on Dec 26, 2023 01:30 PM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

277,717 points

Dec 31, 2023 05:48 AM in response to slouke

You can use Windows Task Manager to terminate MDCrashReportTool.exe which should allow the sync in progress to continue. Another user suggested renaming this file as a workaround, but that isn't possible if you are using the Microsoft Store version of iTunes. You might also choose to roll back to the previous build of iTunes. See Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates - Apple Community if required. Download links for recent builds are at the very bottom of the page.

tt2

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Answer 2

slouke Author

Level 1

10 points

Dec 31, 2023 12:49 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks, turingtest2, but I don't think that is the problem. Here is a screen shot of Task Manager showing that the MDCrashReportTool process isn't even running. The one that is running at very high power seems to be the problem. If I terminate it, the sync completes but only in one direction: from the iPhone to the PC and not the other way.

I'm not set up to automatically update iTunes in the Microsoft store and the version I started having this issue with (12.12.1.1) has been running since 2021 with no problem. I updated to the latest version and it has the exact same problem.

Perhaps my only option is to uninstall iTunes and reinstall an earlier version?

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

277,717 points

Dec 31, 2023 06:54 PM in response to slouke

slouke wrote:

.... Perhaps my only option is to uninstall iTunes and reinstall an earlier version?

I suspect so.

tt2

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iTunes is stuck on 'Preparing To Sync' with iPhone

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