How to Fix iTunes Sync Error 54 on Windows or Mac

“I get an error message 'iPhone could not be synced. An unknown error occurred (-54)' every time I try to sync my iPhone with iTunes after updating it on my Windows 10 computer. How do I fix this?”

-- A question from the Apple community

When you try to sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes, you might see an alert that says, “Could not sync iPhone [device name]. An unknown error occurred (-54).” Most of the time, you can fix this by restarting your iPhone and computer. If that doesn't work, use the other fixes in this guide. Before you do, learn a bit more about iTunes error -54 if you're interested.

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What is iTunes Error 54?

iTunes Error 54 is a permissions error that usually occurs when you try to sync files with a locked computer or when your computer doesn't have access to iTunes files or content. Aside from Error 54, other unknown iTunes errors like Error 0xE8000015, Error 3194, and Error 3150 are also common. In this guide, we'll primarily focus on iTunes Error 54 and its troubleshooting tips.

7 Ways to Fix iTunes Error 54

If you're dealing with iTunes error 54, try the solutions below. If none of the basic solutions work for you, you can use an alternative to iTunes to sync iPhone data or manage files.

1. Merge Your iTunes Media Library Files

Your iTunes media library contains all the music, movies, and videos you've purchased from or imported to your devices, which may be stored in several locations. You can merge all of your media into one folder to reduce the chances of errors. To do this, open iTunes on your Windows or Mac, go to File > Library > Consolidate Files, and click “OK.”

2. Sync a Small Number of Files at a Time

This might be due to attempting to sync too much content all at once. You could try syncing smaller portions of data multiple times and gradually increase the amount of content you're syncing until the error reappears. This way, you can identify the specific file or files causing the issue.

3. Check for Third-Party/Safety Software

When you use iTunes, some third-party software or security software might affect the sync process. Try turning off this security software or changing its settings to see if that resolves the issue.

4. Delete and re-download/re-import content

Error 54 can also occur in the iTunes Store. If Error 54 is due to this reason, try deleting and downloading the content again. If the file was imported from another source, delete it and re-import it.

5. PDF Files Deleted Before Syncing with iTunes

This error can also occur when trying to transfer iTunes purchases from your device to your computer or sync with Apple Books. Since iTunes has trouble reading PDFs, it's best to transfer the PDFs from your iPhone/iPad to your computer, delete them from the device, and then sync again with iTunes.

6. Change the Permissions of iTunes

Since error 54 is a permissions error, you can fix it by changing the permissions of the iTunes folder or the original file/folder. Here's how: Open Windows Explorer > Go to the "Music" folder > Right-click on the "iTunes" folder > Properties > Uncheck "Read-only."

7. Use an Alternative to iTunes to Sync iPhone Data to Computer

It's no secret that you can encounter the iTunes error 54 when you sync your iDevice to a computer. This issue is quite common, and it can be a pain to deal with. If you're lucky enough to find a working solution, you can easily get rid of it. But if not, and no solution seems to work for you, then you might need to use an alternative to iTunes to manage your files.

There are many alternatives to iTunes available on the market, and here we'd like to introduce you to one of the best iPhone iTunes alternatives, MobiMover. As a professional iPhone data transfer tool, MobiMover has many features that iTunes doesn't have, for example:

• Transfer data from iPhone to computer, or vice versa
• Migrate data between two iPhones
• Backup and restore data on your iPhone
• Manage WhatsApp data on your iPhone
• Download videos from websites like Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

To sync your iPhone with your computer, you can:

Step 1: Run the MobiSaver tool

First, download the MobiSaver tool > Connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer > Launch the MobiSaver tool > Choose “Recover from iTunes Backup” > Select an iTunes backup.

Step 2: Unlock iTunes

If this iTunes backup is encrypted, you'll need to enter the password to unlock it. After entering the password, click “Continue.” MobiSaver will now automatically scan your backup file for any lost data.

Step 3: Preview and Recover Data from iTunes Backup

After the scan, you can preview the detailed content of the lost photos/videos, contacts/messages, memos, and social app data. Check the files you need and click the "Recover" button to save them to your computer.

Additional Tip: How to Recover Lost Data on iPhone

Some of the solutions above require you to delete some files to fix the problem. If you have any issues during the deleting process, don't panic. You can use this professional iPhone Data Recovery – MobiSaver to help you recover unlimited deleted data from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with only 3 simple steps.

Recover Deleted Data from iPhone:

Step 1: Run the MobiSaver tool

First download the MobiSaver tool > Connect your iPhone/iPad to the computer > Launch the MobiSaver tool > Choose "Recover from iTunes Backup" > Select an iTunes backup.

Step 2: Unlock iTunes

If your iTunes backup is encrypted, you'll need to enter the password to unlock it. After entering the password, click “Continue.” The MobiSaver tool will now scan your backup file for any lost data.

Step 3: Preview and recover data from iTunes

Once the scan is finished, you can preview the lost photos/videos, contacts/messages, memos, and social app data in detail. Select the files you need and click the “Recover” button to save them to your computer.

In short

That's all about how to fix iTunes error 54. If you encounter this error, don't hesitate to use the solutions provided in our guide to fix it effortlessly. Unfortunately, if you lose data while fixing the issue, don't worry. The bonus tip can help you recover deleted or lost data from your iPhone.