Member Avatar for outbama

Some works, the rest is gray/locked. Tried Manual sync, isn't working, keeps messing up. Now I can't even sync at all. Apply button in gone on iTunes so is sync.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Aurorab

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— the symptoms you describe (some tracks grey/“locked”, manual sync failing, and the Apply/Sync controls disappearing) usually point to one of two underlying problems: account/DRM/authorization mismatches or the iPhone being tied to a different iTunes library. ’s pointer about moving purchases is relevant for iTunes-bought tracks, and ’s note about third‑party extractors is the usual fallback when songs were ripped or acquired outside the iTunes Store.

Quick checklist (do these before making any destructive change):

  • Make sure iTunes is updated to a version that supports iOS 5 (and if you’re on a modern Mac, remember device sync moved to Finder in macOS 10.15+).
  • Back up the iPhone in iTunes (File > Devices > Back Up) so nothing is lost.
  • Authorize the Mac with the Apple ID that purchased the music (iTunes Store > Authorize This Computer). Purchased content may require that authorization to play/transfer.
  • Select the device in iTunes and read the Summary pane carefully — if iTunes reports the iPhone is synced to another library, syncing from this Mac will erase the device unless you first copy or back up the music.
  • Restart iTunes and the iPhone, try a different Lightning/USB cable or port, and check iTunes Preferences > Devices for any settings that prevent syncing.

Why tracks are grey/locked and what to do:

  • Grey or “locked” items are often DRM-protected (iTunes shows the track Kind as “Protected AAC audio file” or the file uses .m4p). Those require the purchasing Apple ID to be authorized on the Mac.
  • If the Grey tracks were ripped from CD or copied from another computer, iTunes’ Transfer Purchases won’t move them — that’s when a device‑to‑computer extractor or restoring from the original machine is the safe option.

If nothing helps, keep the backup, extract any music you can, then decide whether to allow iTunes to re-associate the phone (which erases content) or to use a trusted extractor to copy non‑purchased tracks first.

Member Avatar for ericym

have you tried right clicking on your device in itunes and clicking transfer purchases? usually it transfers stuff from device to itunes but in this case it should do the oppisite. hope i helped!
More reviews: How to transfer iPhone to Mac after iOS 5 upgrade
Hope it can do you a favor.

Edited by ericym because: n/a
Member Avatar for Aurorab

You can try the iPubsoft iPad iPhone iPod to Computer Transfer software to transfer your music from your iPod touch to your computer, this software can help us transfer anything like videos, music, photos, etc. on your iPad iPhone or iPod to computer for backup.

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