Tips iOS5 - Wifi Sync

Getting WiFi Sync to actually you know Sync seems to be a little more confusing then expected based on emails. 

 

First - You need to have iOS 5 Beta 2 or later installed on your iOS device to get Wifi Sync to work. You also need Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later and you need iTunes 10.5 Beta 2 installed on your computer. 

 

Second - Before you can get Wifi Sync to work you need to connect your iOS device to your computer via USB and then under the iOS device on iTunes in the Summary Tab you need to select under "Options" - "Sync over Wi-Fi connection.  If that is not checked you will not be able to sync wirelessly.  Once you select this, click "Sync" in iTunes and wait for the back up and sync to finish. 

 

When it says the Sync is complete - You can then disconnect the USB cable from your iOS device.  

 

Go To the Settings App.

 

Settings -->  General --> iTunes Sync  

 

 

You should at this point see a button with "Sync Now" in it in dark bold black.  Tap that button and it should start a wireless sync.  If it is a grey "Sync Now" it means you do not have a wireless connection.  

 

Reasons for the Grey "Sync Now"

1. You don't have iTunes open on your computer

2. Your computer is asleep

3. Your computer and iPad are not on the same Network.  

4. You are still running iOS 5 Beta 2 or another later version of the Beta and it is just beta software so it may be a bug.  In this case reconnect your iPad via USB and do a sync - and then disconnect the USB cable and try do a wireless sync again. 

 

Despite previous rumors and posts - you do NOT need your iOS device connected to a power source to Sync Wirelessly - so it is a true Wireless Sync - when it works for the Betas.