How to Get an iPhone Not to Sync

by Aaron Wein
Turn on manual mode to prevent your iPhone from syncing.

Turn on manual mode to prevent your iPhone from syncing.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images

Depending on your iPhone's settings, it may start syncing whenever you connect it to iTunes even without giving a prompt. This can be an annoyance if you only wanted to charge your iPhone or view items stored on the device. Gain more control of the syncing process by enabling manual mode on your iPhone to prevent it from automatically syncing.

Step 1

Connect the iPhone to your computer with the iPhone's USB cable and run iTunes.

Step 2

Click the "X" next to the syncing progress bar at the top of iTunes if the program automatically starts syncing.

Step 3

Click your iPhone's name at the top right.

Step 4

Click the "Summary" button to view basic options for the iPhone.

Step 5

Select the "Manually manage music and videos" option. This option prevents your iPhone from automatically syncing whenever you connect it to a computer.

Step 6

Click "Done" to save the change.

Tip

  • In manual mode, you can pick and choose which items you want to sync. Click the "On this iPhone" button at the top right, click the "+" symbol and click and drag media items from the left pane to the right. Click "Done" when finished. Choose between different media items by clicking the "Library" button and choosing your desired media type.

Warning

  • Steps in this article refer to iTunes 11 and iPhone devices running iOS 6. Different versions or models may require different steps.

About the Author

Aaron Wein is a copy editor for Skagit Valley Publishing. He has been a writer and editor since 2004, contributing to Washington-based publications and clients such as the "Bellingham Herald," "Western Athletics," "GNAC Sports" and Microsoft. Wein obtained a bachelor's degree in journalism from Western Washington University.

Photo Credits

  • Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images