These are your instructions on how to wirelessly sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch over WiFi using iTunes 10.5 and iOS 5.
Step One Connect your iOS device to the computer and launch iTunes.
Step Two Select your device from the list of devices on the left.
Step Three Make sure the Summary tab is selected then scroll down and select Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi.
Step Four Click Apply to save your changes.
Your iPhone will now automatically sync with computer when it's connected to a power source and both devices are on the same wireless network. You can also follow the instructions below to start a manual sync.
MANUAL WI-FI SYNC
Step One Press to select Settings from your SpringBoard.
Step Two Press to choose General from the Settings menu.
Step Three Press to select iTunes Wi-Fi Sync from the General menu.
Step Four Press the launch Sync Now button to begin a manual sync.
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Yeah, it's kind of stupid you HAVE to be connected to a power source, but it make sense. You are about to go to bed or something, you plug in your iPod touch, it syncs for you so you don't have to do it. Then all your data is stored every day in case you have to restore or something.
i find it pretty stupid that you have to be connected to a power source while syncing. in all honesty it just doesn't make sense why you would have to be plugged in, kind of defeats the purpose of it.
hopefully a tweak will be released that can fix this annoying issue.
Shouldn't people make sure they know what they're talking about before calling things stupid? Neither iCloud backup nor wireless sync require that your device be plugged into a power source. What happens is that the device will *automatically* backup and sync (two separate types of task) when the device is plugged in. The device is smart enough to do this once a day, preferring overnight, rather than starting a sync with every power connection. You can trigger either task manually regardless of whether you're externally powered, however. The idea is that a device shouldn't do a long, power-draining transfer without your knowledge if it's not powered.