Itunes Error 69 when syncing iPod
The Apple iTunes software started to display Error 69 recently whenever it tried to sync data between my iPod and the software program.
The full error message read: "Attempting to copy to the disk failed. An unknown error occurred (-69). That message is not really that helpful if you ask me. I figured that this was some kind of transfer problem and decided to investigate it further.
I started the syncing again in iTunes and monitored the songs that were successfully synced with the iPod. Error 69 appeared again of course but this time I remembered the last song that was synced and decided to remove it for now from the iPod and iTunes to see if it would resolve the issue.
After that I restarted the syncing process and it went through without a problem. I'm not sure if this is the appropriate method of getting rid of ipod error 69 in iTunes but it helped me.I ripped the song again from the music CD, copied it back, and the copy synced fine from that moment on.
This time it would sync without difficulties which was a relief. I hate it when an album on my iPod or PC is missing a track.
The song may have been corrupt or use some sort of character set that is not supported by iTunes or the iPod. That's the best explanation that I can come up with right now. If you run into the same issue, try and remember the song where the synchronization process stops, remove that song from the queue and start again afterwards. If all goes well, you should be able to sync the remaining library with your iPod and avoid the error message from then on.
Apple has a support page up on its website that offers instructions about the error as well. It confirms what I figured out, that the transfer error is caused by a bad file. Apple's solution is more or less the same that I discovered, but it may still help to read it as well.
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It’s horrible that here it is 11/2017 and I’m STILL HAVING this error. Apple needs to pull their head out of their ARSEs b/c I PAID for the music that I still cannot download. What gives Apple? I know you think you are the only dog in town but there are others out there that are FAR more reliable.
try ‘autofill’ in the music section of your ipod. worked for me, you have to keep pressing it but it does get the files on.
i think the problem is in itunes helper.is not runing at all
Actually, Rob’s suggestion about ‘Resetting the warnings’ does work…the song will sync but the song that follows will have the error again. So the process goes: Sync…reset…sync…reset…sync…reset. I unfortunately, need to do it another 500 times lol but they do pass to the Ipod.
same thing here. I have a 5g, 30gb video. i dropped it a few times and synced it to my pc…..now im getting this crap (error -69)…..thats what i get for letting her borrow it. I was meticulous about caring for it until i f***ed it up.. i am sooo pissed!! I tried restore, restore in disc mode, resetting in diagnostic, formatting(dont work), I checked it in disc mgmt mode(says healthy)…..everytime i go to sync, it gives me the same error (-69)…new hard drive????
Thank you soooo much! I was >< this close to throwing it at a wall. lol and permantly committing myself to Windows products.
This is not a FILE issue. I have five ipods and four work fine. My 80Gb doesnt and comes up with these errors all the time. Apple is not helping itself here. The files which are supposedly ‘corrupt’ play fine on four ipods and my iphone…
The problem is rubbish hardware. Come clean Apple. This solution stinks!!
i can load 40gb of songs on my ipod 160 classic no problems and irrelevant of the files i load and unload. if i load music 41gb-45gb the ipod gets that message and bricks. if ipods load sequentially then perhaps this is a hard drive fault. otherwise i’m out of ideas. nothing said thus far has helped me at all. I’ve done the 5 r’s repeatedly used other software (winamp media monkey) tried on different computers with different OS’s. and moved my music library to new locations before loading. apple sucks!!
It is not the files even podcasts are not syncing. I keep getting the same error too.
ive got an 20gig photo ipod, and every time the sync gets to around 5.8gb it crashes and comes up with error -69. ive tried removing the bad songs and restoring the ipod. i even formatted my library and re imported the songs. however i also found that the songs which have apparently caused the error are now syncing. so im very confused, i dont want to have to take it to apple, as they’ll make me pay through the nose for a repair. any ideas?
thanks
same thing here. I have a 5g, 30gb video. my daughter dropped it a few times and synced it to her friends pc…..now im getting this crap (error -69)…..thats what i get for letting her borrow it. I was meticulous about caring for it until she f***ed it up.. i am sooo pissed!! I tried restore, restore in disc mode, resetting in diagnostic, formatting(dont work), I checked it in disc mgmt mode(says healthy)…..everytime i go to sync, it gives me the same error (-69)…new hard drive????
it’s the song files, not the ipod
Unfortunately whoever first started telling people that their files are bad and they need to delete it from the iPod is just wrong. Here’s how you REALLY fix it: Restore your ipod, making sure to place it in disk mode. Wait for the ipod to sync, and when it starts freezing on a song, rapidly tap or hold play/pause until it starts syncing again. Your iPod isn’t timed correctly with the computer and that’s that’s the reason for the error. pressing play will kick the iPod in the ass and make it line up with the process on your PC. You’re all welcome in advance.
moody, you are completely wrong. i have actually talked to Apple. the problem is corruption in the files. these files must be removed and replaced.
Listen to Rob, hes got the technique
Thanks, Rob!! Your suggestion worked for me as well.
Mine is the same as jess there is no option to do anything other than eject when you right click the icon in devices. Ipod has lost all its songs but will not speak to itunes to sync again
I tried that and it just freezes afterward.
This worked for me
Click ‘OK’ to the error message “Attempting to copy to the disk failed. An unknown error occured (-69).â€
Do NOT eject the iPod icon from the DEVICES pane but right click the iPod icon instead.
Select the ‘Reset Warnings’ option from the pop up menu.
Click ’sync’ and iTunes continues from where it left off loading your iPod hard drive and
Thanks
thank Rob so far its working ive done everything from restoring to reformating it!!!! Thanx a bunch
ma ipod duin this and i really wanna fix it but i dont have the reciept anymore
I had this problem with iTunes v1.3(WinXP SP3) & my 30GB iPod video(5th generation) despite using the ‘Restore’ option on iTunes. I eventually solved it by doing the following;
Click ‘OK’ to the error message “Attempting to copy to the disk failed. An unknown error occured (-69).”
Do NOT eject the iPod icon from the DEVICES pane but right click the iPod icon instead.
Select the ‘Reset Warnings’ option from the pop up menu.
Click ‘sync’ and iTunes continues from where it left off loading your iPod hard drive and sycning some more.
If the error box appears again (it did for me several times) then repeat this procedure until eventually ‘iPod sync is complete – Okay to disconnect’.
Hope this works for you too. (30-Dec-2008)
this worked, thank you!
this is great info, but duznt exactly help. the way you’re doing it will not tell u which file is corrupted, it will only have the ipod skip syncing the file, so that it wont be synced to the ipod. i also hypothesize that this corruption can spread, so if the file is left unchecked, more files may become corrupt
Awesome, thanks!Personally i believe you are brilliant.
I do this but even when i uncheck all songs it still says this
also once i restore to factory settings theres still 30mb on my ipod, what is this???
Oy I don’t want a new ipod and some of the songs that this occurred on were songs I had before but accidentally deleted and needed to reload. If they worked the first time why would they be corrupt the second time. I think it could possibly be the new version because i was fine till i updated.
I’m having the same problem but there are many songs it may or may not occur on. I went to the store and they told me to reset, then restore then they gave me a new one. I suppose I’ll try to watch for which trtacs have problems, but with 13000 tracks, it would take a few hours of watching that bar, pls it doesnt always show the current track being worked on.
This problem can be fix in apple website but the way to fix it seem little bit hard on u guys, y dun u send it back to apple and tell them to fix it, that would be the best way. I got the same problem and on the next monday i;ll sent it to apple store they told me: “free to fix” so why dun u guy just try. =__=
i hv the same problem… when i try to sync my ipod… it says.. Attempting to copy to the disk failed. An unknown error occurred (-69), can someone tell me what to do??????
should i format the ipod????? pls. help!
I’m getting error 69’s a lot more lately. I wonder if it’s tied to the newest version of itunes or my new ipod touch?