[Detailed Guide] How to Turn Off Automatic Sync on iTunes

How to stop an iPad sync with iTunes

My iPad started syncing automatically to iTunes but it seems to be frozen. How do I stop it without causing damage?

- Question from Apple Community

People usually take advantage of iTunes to sync the iTunes content on the PC with their iOS devices or vice versa automatically or manually. However, iTunes provides the automatic sync function to make sync more convenient but sometimes, things go contrary to its wishes. This guide will tell you how to turn off automatic sync on iTunes in two ways.

• Why do you want to turn off automatic sync on iTunes?

• How to turn off automatic sync with all iOS devices on iTunes

• How to stop iTunes from automatically syncing a specific device

• Bonus tip: How to backup iPhone to PC selectively

• Conclusion

Why do you want to turn off automatic sync on iTunes?

People may have kinds of reasons for turn off automatic sync on iTunes, and here are some of them.

⁕iTunes gets stuck during syncing. Just like the user from the Apple community, sometimes, when you enable automatic sync on iTunes, it won’t sync, the process might be stuck instead.
⁕An undesirable computer. Sometimes, you may just want to charge your devices when connecting to a computer. Or the computer doesn’t belong to you or be not the one you usually sync with.
⁕iTunes sync costs much time. Therefore, you can sync iPhone with iTunes manually or turn to another way to transfer data.

No matter why you want to turn off automatic sync on iTunes, it’s time to stop it.

How to turn off automatic sync with all iOS devices on iTunes

If you don’t want iTunes to sync any of your devices automatically, you can follow the steps below.

Step 1. Connect one of your iOS devices to computer > Open iTunes, click Edit in the upper-left corner > Preference.

Step 2. When a dialog box appears, tap Devices > Check the option Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically > Click OK to make it.

How to stop iTunes from automatically syncing a specific device

iTunes 12 and later enable you to turn off automatic sync an individual iPhone, iPad, etc. on iTunes. Hence, if you are using an old iTunes version, download the latest version of iTunes and follow the tutorials below to know how to stop iTunes from automatically sync a particular iPhone or iPad.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer > Go to iTunes, click the device icon in the top left corner > Select Summary.

Step 2. Scroll down to locate Options box, uncheck the box next to Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected.

Step 3. Click Done to make it. iTunes will not sync your iPhone or iPad when you connect it to computer next time.

Bonus tip: How to backup iPhone to PC selectively

Indeed, iTunes is not good enough when it comes to sync or backup iOS devices. It can neither preview files nor select files as I need. Are there any other ways to sync iPhone, iPad, etc. without iTunes? Of course, there are. For me, I prefer FoneTool as an alternative.

It has these features and advantages.
✓ A preview and selective process. The most outstanding difference between FoneTool and iTunes is that you can preview and select the files you want to backup.
✓ A clear interface and simple operations. It’s easy for beginners to handle it in a short time.
✓ Wide compatibility. It’s widely compatible with most versions of iPhone from iPhone 4 to the latest 14, as well as kinds models of iOS. It also supports iPad and iPod.
✓ Multiple functions. Besides backing up iPhone selectively, it's also a powerful tool to sync iPhone to iPhone without effort 

Can’t wait to have a try? Download FoneTool, and backup iPhone data as you like to PC.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to PC with USB > Launch FoneTool and click Phone Backup on its main interface > Go to Selective Backup and click Get Started.

Step 2. Check each icons to preview and choose the files you'd like to backup > Click OK to confirm.

Step 3. Choose a backup destination to save your backup files > Click Start Backup to begin the task.

Conclusion

Hope this guide can help you turn off automatic sync on iTunes so that it won’t sync your iPhone or iPad automatically. If you want to sync iPhone without iTunes, FoneTool is a good choice for you. If this guide helps you, share it with others.