Wi-Fi syncing

Sync your device over a Wi-Fi network

If you’re on a Wi-Fi network, and have iOS 5 (or later) installed on your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad, you can sync your device without connecting it to your computer.

When you sync over Wi-Fi, your device uses the same sync settings you chose for syncing over a cable.

Turn on Wi-Fi syncing

  1. Connect your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad to your computer and select your device.

  2. Click Summary.

  3. Select “Sync with this device over Wi-Fi.”

  4. Disconnect your device from your computer.

Your device still appears in the Devices pop-up menu in iTunes unless you click the Eject button Eject icon.

If you click Eject, your device is removed from the Devices pop-up menu, but Wi-Fi syncing remains turned on. Your device reappears in the Devices pop-up menu the next time you open iTunes.

Sync your device over Wi-Fi

Here are ways to sync wirelessly when your device is on the same Wi-Fi network as your computer (the computer must be turned on):

  • Connect your device to a charger and plug it in to an electrical outlet.

    Syncing begins automatically.

  • In iTunes, click the Devices button to choose your device, and click the Sync button.

    If you sync the device manually, click Add To Icon of a plus sign and a list, drag items to the pane on the right, and click Done.

  • On your device, go to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync, and tap Sync Now.

    You can use your device while it’s syncing over Wi-Fi.

To restore your device’s software, connect the device to your computer.

You can sync a device wirelessly with multiple computers, but each type of content can be synced with only one computer.

Syncing over Wi-Fi is slower than syncing over a cable. If you connect a device to your computer while syncing over Wi-Fi, syncing continues over the cable. If you disconnect a device’s cable from a computer while syncing, syncing stops, even if Wi-Fi syncing is on.