With iTunes, you can sync your music, movies, TV shows, photos and more. After you sync, the content on your iPad matches the content in your iTunes Library on your computer. Before syncing with iTunes, you can also consider using iCloud or similar services to keep your content automatically up to date on all of your devices. If you prefer to use iTunes to sync your content, follow the steps below to know how to sync iPad to iTunes. There are three ways available for you.

Part 1. How to Sync iPad to iTunes using USB

Before syncing iPad to iTunes using USB, you need to keep in mind that what you can sync with iTunes. Not all files can be synced to iTunes.

What You Can Sync with iTunes

  • Albums, songs, playlists, movies, TV shows, books, podcasts, audiobooks, and tones.
  • Photos and videos. To sync photos and videos using iTunes, you can use a supported photos app or sync from a specific folder on your computer.
  • Contacts and calendars.
  • Device backups that you made using iTunes.

    • Syncing your with your computer is really quite easy. Gather your iPad and its USB charging cable, and make sure you have installed the latest version of iTunes on PC/Mac. Plug in your device, and iTunes should launch, displaying your device's summary screen. The guidance below will show you the further steps.

    1. Open iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest version. Then connect your iPad with USB cable to your computer.

    2. Click on your device. After clicking on your device, tabs appear on the left side of the iTunes window under Settings.

    3. Turn on syncing. You can turn on syncing for Music, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, Books, Audiobooks, Tones, Photos, and Info.

    4. Sync your content. Click the Sync button in the lower-right corner of the screen to sync your content.
    Sync iPad with iTunes via USB Cable

    Part 2. How to Sync iPad to iTunes using Wi-Fi

    Besides syncing iPad to iTunes via USB cable, you can try another way: Syncing iPad to iTunes via Wi-Fi. Here's about how to do that.

    1. Open iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest version. Use the USB cable that came with your iOS device to connect it to your computer.

    2. In iTunes, find and then click your iOS device. On the Summary tab, select "Sync with this [device] over Wi-Fi."

    3. Click "Apply" button, then disconnect the USB cable. Choose which items you want to sync, then click sync.
    Sync iPad with iTunes via Wi-Fi

    Part 3. How to Sync iPad to iTunes with iPad Transfer Software

    If you still have some non-purchased files in your iPad that is unavailable to sync them to iTunes, you will need the third-party software to sync non-purchased files from iPhone to iTunes. Leawo iTransfer can give you much help on this issue, which enables users to transfer various of files among iOS devices, iTunes and computers, like apps, music, movies, TV shows, ringtones, ebooks, photos, Camera Roll, contacts and text messages, etc. The following guidance will show you how to sync iPad to iTunes without erasing. You can free download the software then have a try.

    Download Windows Version
    Download Mac Version
    Run Leawo iTransfer

    Step 1. Run Leawo iTransfer and connect iPad to computer with USB cable. The software will recognize your iPad automatically.

    choose a library

    Step 2. Click the name of iPad and choose a library. The contents of this library will display in the right part of the window.

    Select the files

    Step 3. Select the files you need by holding Ctrl/Shift key, and click the transfer button at the right bottom. Or right-click a selected file and choose Transfer to > iTunes.

    click Transfer Now

    Step 4. After selecting files, you’ll see a pop-up dialog. Check Transfer to List and choose iTunes as a target. Then click Transfer Now to start syncing iPad to iTunes.

    After the transfer finishes, Leawo iTransfer will successfully help you to sync iPad to iTunes without erasing. You can make use of iTunes to transfer purchases from iPhone to iTunes. And you can also take advantage of Leawo iTransfer to transfer both purchased items and non-purchased items from iPhone to iTunes without any loss of data. And you don’t need to worry about the erasing of data when you sync iPad to iTunes by using Leawo iTransfer. Also Leawo iTransfer allows users to copy various kinds of files from their devices to computer for backup. If you want to know how to backup iPhone, please check here.

    Part 4. How to Fix iPad Not Syncing with iTunes

    It is quite frustrating when you find that your iPad won't sync with iTunes normally. Don't worry. Here is what you can do to fix it and get the iPhone, iPod, or iPad syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC again.

    1. iPad Won't Sync with iTunes on PC

  • Try quiting iTunes and running iTunes again. Or remove iTunes from your computer and install the latest version.
  • Try restarting your phone by holding down the home button and power button.
  • Try restarting the PC.
  • Try toggling off and on the sync music or sync TV shows option in each of the respective tabs.
  • Sometimes, why your iPhone won’t sync with iTunes is caused by bad USB port or USB cable. All you need to do is checking whether your USB port or USB cable is bad and switch the bad one to a new one if the USB port or USB cable is indeed bad.
  • Reset and restore the iPhone. This should be your last option. You will lose all the data on your device. You will be resetting your phone to factory settings and start as if its a new phone. Only advantage is that you have iCloud backup.

    • 2. iPad Won't Sync with iTunes over Wi-Fi

  • Restart your computer and iOS device.
  • Make sure that your computer and iOS device are on the same Wi-Fi network. Syncing doesn't work over an Ethernet to Wi-Fi connection.
  • Check your firewall settings. If you use security or firewall software on your computer or router, you can get help with security software. You can also contact the router's manufacturer or check the documentation to learn how to open TCP ports 123 and 3689 and UDP ports 123 and 5353.