How to Stop iTunes from Opening Automatically when You Connect Your iPhone

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: May 25, 2021

This wikiHow teaches you how to prevent your computer's iTunes program from automatically opening and beginning to update your iPhone when you connect your iPhone to your computer.

Steps

1
Open your computer's iTunes. This is the multicolored musical note icon on a white background icon.
2
Click iTunes. It's in the top left corner of the screen.
- If you're using a PC, click the Edit tab here instead.
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3
Click Preferences. This should be toward the bottom of the drop-down menu here.
- You can also hold down ⌘ Command and tap + (or Ctrl++ for PC users) to open this menu.
4
Select the Devices tab. You'll find it in the top right section of the Preferences window.
5
Click the box at the bottom of the window. It says "Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from syncing automatically" to the right of this box. Clicking it should place a checkmark here.
- If there is a checkmark in this box, your iTunes won't open automatically upon connecting an iOS device.
6
Click OK. Now you'll need to open iTunes manually if you want to backup your iPhone or add music to it.

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Community Q&A

Question

Why won't my computer consider my iPod shuffle 4th gen as a device?

Community Answer

4th gen shuffle is quite old so if your computer is new it might not play it. It could also be that the iPod or the computer is broken.