Syncing

Syncing your Apple TV with iTunes:

You can set up iTunes to automatically sync your Apple TV with your iTunes library. That way, you can play your iTunes library on your TV without having to turn on the computer and open iTunes.

To sync your Apple TV:

Make sure the computer you want to stream from is on, and iTunes is open.
  • Go to iTunes > Preferences, choose Apple TV, and make sure “Look for Apple TVs” is selected.
  • On your Apple TV, choose Settings > Computers > “Connect to iTunes,” and then note the passcode displayed.
  • In iTunes, select the Apple TV (below Devices) and enter the passcode.
Click the Summary tab and select one of the following:

Automatic Sync:
  • iTunes automatically adds items to your Apple TV whenever you add them to your iTunes library.
Custom Sync:
  • You choose the items to sync. After you select this option, click the other tabs to specify your syncing preferences. With this option, you can prevent unsynced items from appearing on your Apple TV (when iTunes is open). To display all items, deselect the checkbox.
NOTE: If you don't see these options, make sure you have the latest Apple TV software installed.
  • To transfer a rented movie from your computer to your Apple TV, click the Videos tab, select the movie you want to transfer, and then click Move.
IMPORTANT: You must be connected to the Internet to transfer a rented movie.
  • To sync photos, click the Photos tab.
During a sync, items are added to your Apple TV as space allows, in this order: movies, TV shows, music, podcasts. If you also want to sync photos, they are added last, unless you select “Sync photos before other media” in the Photos pane.

Syncing starts automatically whenever you click Apply, Sync, or choose File > Sync.To turn off syncing, on your Apple TV choose Settings > Computers > “Select iTunes Library” > Disconnect > Continue.

You can also use Apple TV to play unsynced items from your library, whether syncing is turned on or off.

For instructions, see the Related Topics below. For more information, see the Apple TV user’s guide at the Apple TV Support website.

NOTE: If you play videos on Apple TV while a sync is in progress, the sync pauses until playback stops.



Syncing media with iPhone:

You can sync music, audiobooks, podcasts, and videos from your iTunes library, as well as photos, with your iPhone. You can sync your iPhone with only one computer and iTunes library at a time.

If you have more media than can fit on your iPhone, iTunes offers to create a special playlist to sync with your iPhone.
iTunes fills the playlist with selections from your library; you can change the contents of the playlist and sync again.

To sync media with your iPhone:
  • Connect your iPhone to your computer (make sure the iPhone has been activated).
  • When the iPhone appears in the iTunes window, select it.
  • Click the tabs (Music, Photos, and so on) and select the items you want to sync.
  • To sync only certain items, click Summary, select “Sync only checked songs and video” checkbox, and then click the other tabs and select the items you want to sync.
  • Click Apply.
You can sync your iPhone and your computer any time by choosing File > Sync iPhone.

If you don’t want your iPhone and your computer to sync when you connect your iPhone to your computer, deselect “Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected” in the Summary pane.

If you have problems syncing, try syncing only certain information. For example, deselect the Sync checkboxes on the Info, Photos, Podcasts, and Video panes, and try syncing only Music.

For more information, see the iPhone user’s guide or the Apple support website.



Syncing contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and email account settings with iPhone:

You can sync your iPhone and your computer so that both have your latest contact, calendar, Internet bookmarks, and email account information.
For example, if you add contacts on your iPhone, you can sync to add those contacts to Address Book on your computer.

You can sync iPhone with only one iTunes library at a time.
When you sync, iTunes determines which device (iPhone or the computer) contains the most recent information, and lets you to choose the information you want to sync.

To sync information with iPhone:
  • Connect your iPhone to your computer.
  • When your iPhone appears in the iTunes window, select it.
  • Click the Info tab and then select the items you want to sync.
  • Click Apply.
If you don’t want your iPhone and your computer to sync when you connect your iPhone to your computer, deselect “Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected” in the Summary pane.

You can sync your iPhone and your computer any time by choosing File > Sync iPhone or clicking the Sync button in the lower right of the iTunes window.

You can also sync information with your iPhone using MobileMe or Microsoft Exchange.
Any items you choose to sync with these applications will not be synced with iTunes.
See the documentation for MobileMe and Microsoft Exchange for further details.

If you have problems syncing, try syncing only certain information.
For example, deselect the Sync checkboxes on the Music, Photos, Podcasts, and Video panes, and try syncing only Info.

For more information, see the iPhone user’s guide or the Apple support website.




Preventing iPhone from syncing automatically:

By default, contacts, calendars, and other information is automatically synced when you connect your iPhone to your computer.
You can prevent a specific iPhone from syncing automatically by connecting the iPhone, selecting it in iTunes, and deselecting “Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected” in the Summary pane.

You can also prevent automatic syncing of all iPhones.

To prevent automatic syncing for all iPhones:
  • In iTunes, choose iTunes > Preferences.
  • Click iPhone.
  • Deselect “Disable automatic syncing for all iPhones.”
If this checkbox is selected, the iPhone won’t sync automatically, even if “Automatically sync” is selected in the Summary pane.
To sync your iPhone and your computer, connect the iPhone and choose File > Sync iPhone.
You can sync iPhone with only one iTunes library at a time.

For more information, see the iPhone user’s guide or the Apple support website.