How to Wirelessly Sync Your iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Wirelessly Sync Your iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC

by

When you connect your iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC, you'll be able to sync to it albums, songs, playlists, movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, audiobooks, photos and videos, contacts and calendars. This article shows you how.

windows icloud hero pc iphone
You can sync your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ to a Windows PC by physically connecting them, but did you know that you can sync your Apple device by having them connected over same Wi-Fi network? The only real difference to the operation is that syncing over Wi-Fi is slower than syncing over a cable.

Note that if you connect an iPhone or ‌iPad‌ to your Windows PC while the device is syncing over Wi-Fi, the syncing process will continue over the cable. But if you disconnect the device's cable from the computer while syncing, syncing will stop, even if Wi-Fi syncing is on.

To enable syncing over Wi-Fi, you'll first need to connect your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ to your Windows PC using a cable.

If your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ came with a Lightning to USB Cable and your computer has a USB-C port, you'll need to connect the USB end of the cable to a USB-C to USB Adapter (sold separately), or use a USB-C to Lightning Cable (sold separately).

Apple Prefer Lightning Over USB C Feature
If your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ came with a USB-C to Lightning Cable and your computer has a USB port, you'll need to use a Lightning to USB Cable (sold separately).

If your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ came with a USB-C Charge Cable and your computer has a USB port, use a USB-C to USB Adapter and a USB-A cable.

How to Enable iPhone and iPad Wi-Fi Syncing

  1. If you haven't go iTunes on your computer already, go to the Microsoft Store to download and install the latest version of iTunes for Windows.
  2. Connect your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ to your computer using a compatible USB charging cable (see above).
  3. Launch the iTunes app on your PC.
    itunes windows

  4. Click the iPhone button near the top-left of the iTunes window.
  5. Click Summary in the sidebar.
  6. Select the checkbox for Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi.
  7. Click Apply.

When you disconnect your iPhone or ‌iPad‌ from your computer, the icon for your device will remain in iTunes unless you click the Eject button. If you click Eject, the icon for the device is removed, but Wi-Fi syncing remains turned on.

You can now sync your device wirelessly by connecting it to a charger and plugging it into an electrical outlet. Syncing will begin automatically. Alternately, click the icon for your device in the iTunes app, then click the Sync button.

Tag: Windows

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Glass Photos Feature

Apple Brings Full-Resolution iCloud Shared Albums to Android and Windows

Monday June 8, 2026 3:57 pm PDT by
Apple today announced an update to iCloud Shared Albums to allow friends and family on Android and Windows to join and contribute photos more conveniently, with support for full-resolution images. The improvement for Android and Windows users removes a notable friction point for mixed-device groups, enabling users outside the Apple ecosystem to participate in shared albums via iCloud.com...
iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Thursday July 2, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
If you pay for certain iCloud+ storage plans beyond the 5GB that Apple offers for free, you will receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. A summary of the two new iCloud+ perks on iOS 27:Increased daily usage limits for some new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. HomeKit Secure Video cameras receive generated video...
American Express Gold Apple Pay Feature

American Express Announces New Apple Pay Feature

Tuesday June 30, 2026 10:27 am PDT by
American Express today announced that you can now redeem Membership Rewards points when checking out with Apple Pay on the web and in apps on the iPhone and iPad. When checking out with Apple Pay on iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later, tap on your eligible American Express card (Platinum, Gold, Green, and others) and select the Membership Rewards points option. You can use points to cover all or...