You may have come across error code -54 on a Windows 10 computer while trying to sync your iOS device with iTunes. We will show you the steps to fix this frustrating error that might be preventing you syncing songs, pictures and other files from your computer to an iOS device.
iTunes Error Code -54
iTunes Sync Error 54: “The iPhone cannot be synced. An unknown error occurred (-54)”
You may have tried other logical methods to fix this iTunes error, such as updating iTunes to the latest version and upgrading your iPhone to the latest iOS version, only to see this error still persisting on your computer.
Apparently, this error is common on Windows computers and is happening due to a bug in Windows 10 operating system that makes the iTunes folder ‘Read Only’ for quite some strange reason.
Since the entire iTunes folder is read only, this prevents the computer from syncing with the iOS device connected to the computer.
Fix iTunes Error code -54 On Windows 10
Follow the steps below to hopefully fix error code -54 in your case (as it luckily did for us)
1. Open the File Explorer on your computer by clicking on the Windows 10 home button.
2. From the File Explorer side menu Access the Music Folder (See image below)
3. Expand the Music Folder by clicking on it (You will see the iTunes folder within this folder)
4. Right click on the iTunes Folder (See image above)
5. Next, click on Properties and un-check the Read Only option under Attributes (See image below)
6. Click on OK to save this setting
7. You will now see a pop-up window asking you whether you want to apply the change to this folder only or to this folder, sub folders and files.
7. Tick the later option (in case it is not already ticked) and click on OK.
This should successfully resolve the problem on your computer, allowing you to sync your iOS device to iTunes. In case the issue still continues to bother you, make sure that you have full control on the iTunes folder by following these steps.
1. Right-click on the iTunes Folder
2. Select Properties
3. Click on the Security Tab
4. Click on Edit > full control and then click apply.
Note: You may need to log in with an Admin account in order to take full control of iTunes Folder.