How to Sync iPhone and iPad

Whenever you connect a new Apple iOS device to your computer, it tends to encourage you to sync with iCloud. Not everyone wants to do that. First, there are typically limits to how much you can save in the cloud without paying for more storage. Second, being able to sync iPad and iPhone to PC ensures you have a local backup. Third, the cloud isn’t always secure as many incidences have proven.

You have a few options for syncing your iPad and iPhone with your computer. The right option for you depends on what you want to sync. Do you want to sync photos, music, Outlook Calendar and Contacts, Reminders, Notes, text messages, videos, podcasts, books, or something else?

How to Sync iPad and iPhone with iTunes

You can sync information between your iPad or iPhone and computer through iTunes. When iTunes connects to your device, it’ll show the contents of items you can sync in the following tabs:

• Apps
• Audiobooks
• Books
• Info
• iTunes U
• Music
• Movies
• Photos
• Podcasts
• Tones
• TV Shows

If you don’t have any content in a tab, it won’t appear. For example, if you don’t have any movies, you won’t see the movies tab.

ITunes can’t sync notes, bookmarks (except for Internet Explorer), or mail accounts. Info is where you’d go to sync Google or Outlook Calendar and Contacts. To sync email, go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account. Follow the prompts.

Here are the steps to use iTunes to sync iPad and iPhone with your computer.

Step 1. Open iTunes.

Step 2. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes by selecting “Help” and “Updates.”

Step 3. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer through the included USB cable. (The USB goes into your computer. The other end goes into your iOS device.)

Step 4. Select your connected device in iTunes as the next image shows. This displays information about your iOS device. It’s possible syncing will start automatically if you have content and sync already set up.

Step 5.Select the settings for each category that you want to sync by tapping on “Settings” on the left panel of iTunes as shown in the image below. This brings up the options for each category. Select the option that you want and select “Apply.”

Step 6. Repeat for all content you wish to sync.

Step 7. Select “Sync” to sync the newly added content.

If everything works, all items you selected to sync will now appear on your iPad or iPhone. Remember that when you update anything on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll need to open iTunes to sync it and back it up on your computer.

Here’s a tip. If you do Wi-Fi sync with iTunes, you might want to be sure to have your devices plugged in somewhere. Sometimes iTunes won’t find them and sync unless they’re plugged in.

You may not have new photos, music, and books to sync very often. But if you regularly update your Calendar and Contacts, you may want to sync every day, maybe multiple times a day. This can be tedious when you use iTunes to sync and back up.

ITunes is notorious for inconsistent syncing. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes when it works, it’s incomplete. So here’s how you can sync without iTunes. The other problem is that iTunes can slow down a computer that has plenty of memory and space.

How to import photos and videos without iTunes

You can skip iTunes altogether, or at least, for almost everything. You can upload photos and videos from your iPhone and iPad without running iTunes. Just treat your phone like a digital camera.

Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer through the included USB cable. (The USB goes into your computer. The other end goes into your iOS device.) Windows should recognize the device as a camera and open the AutoPlay dialog box as shown in the following image.

Windows will now start to detect your photos and videos on the phone. Once Windows has detected all of your photos and videos, all items are selected by default. You can un-check the items that you would not like to import. If you’re happy with everything, select “Continue” to start importing.

How to sync Calendar and Contacts with iPhone and iPad

You also don’t need to use iTunes to sync Calendar and Contacts with iPhone and iPad. If you use Outlook on your Windows PC, you can sync it without opening iTunes.

Apple removed the ability to sync Outlook Notes with iPhone. If you’ve been missing this feature, you can get that back as well as sync Outlook Tasks with Remind on the iPhone and iPad.

All you need is AkrutoSync Windows Outlook sync software to sync Outlook with iPhone and iPad without iTunes. Unlike iTunes, the whole process is automatic and accurate. You don’t have to run iTunes every time you want to sync your updates. Keep AkrutoSync running in the background and it’ll continuously update all your connected devices with Outlook.

You may have other non-iOS devices. ITunes can only sync with iOS devices. Using Akruto, you’ll be able to sync Outlook with Windows Mobile 10, Android, iOS, some or all of them.

All you have to do is download and install AkrutoSync. Here’s how to set up your iPhone to sync with Outlook using Akruto. Once done, Akruto takes care of the rest. No more opening iTunes every time you need to back up or sync calendar. Make sure Akruto is always running behind your apps and you’re in good hands.

See what Akruto can do for your productivity and get rid of your frustration with iTunes by getting the Outlook software now to try it free for seven days.