"Mingling data" error message syncing calendar events with iPod touch or iPhone

Issue or symptom

When syncing calendar data from computer that has empty title field(s) or has non-ASCII characters in the title field to iPod touch or iPhone, the following error message may occur:

"iTunes could not sync calendars to the iPod because an error occurred while mingling data"

Solution

Use the steps below to help you locate calendar events with blank or empty titles and add a title or delete the calendar event and then resync them back to iPod touch or iPhone. Use the same steps to find titles with non-ASCII characters. If the issue continues after correcting the titles, see the "Replace calendar data" section below.

Use iTunes to update to iPod touch Software 1.1.3 or later or iPhone Software 1.1.3 or later and update to the latest iTunes to prevent this issue from occurring.

Mac OS X

  1. Open iCal.
  2. Click the list button in the lower right corner of the iCal window.
  3. Click the Title field in the results list that appears to sort by title.

Windows Outlook 2007

  1. Choose View > Current View > By Category.
  2. Click the Subject header to sort by subject

Windows Outlook 2003

  1. Choose View > Arrange By > Current View > By Category.
  2. Click the Subject header to sort by subject.

Resync to iPod touch or iPhone

Once the calendar (iCal, Microsoft Outlook Calendar, or other calendar app supported by the iPod touch or iPhone) has been cleaned up, reset the Calendar sync so that calendar data on the computer replaces what's on the device.

  1. Connect iPod touch or iPhone and open iTunes.
  2. Select the iPod touch or iPhone in the source list.
  3. Click the Info tab and scroll down to the Advanced section.
  4. Under "Replace information on this iPod," select Calendars.
  5. Click Apply.

Replace calendar data

If no calendar event(s) are found to have blank titles/subjects or contain non-ASCII text/characters, the calendar data on the iPhone / iPod touch may need to be replaced. To replace the calendar data on the device with the data from the computer, perform the following steps:
Note: These steps will overwrite the data on the device with the data on the computer—any changes made on the device that had not been successfully synced will be lost.

iTunes for Windows

  1. Choose Edit > Preferences .
  2. Click the iPhone tab.
  3. Click "Reset Sync History." A dialog appears to confirm you want to reset the sync history. Click Reset Sync History.
  4. If it's selected, deselect the "Disable automatic syncing for all iPhones" checkbox. Note: Do this even if you have an iPod touch.
  5. Connect the iPhone or iPod touch.
  6. Select the device in the iTunes source list.
  7. Click the Info tab, and in the Advanced section under "Replace information on this iPhone," select Contacts and Calendars.
  8. Click Apply to resync the data, overwriting the data on the iPhone or iPod touch with the data on the computer

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, iTunes may need to be removed and reinstalled.

  1. Uninstall iTunes and Apple Mobile Device Support. See this document for assistance.
  2. Download and install the most current version of iTunes from www.apple.com/itunes.

iTunes for Macintosh

  1. Open iSync from the Applications folder.
  2. Choose iSync > Preferences.
  3. Click "Reset Sync History." A dialog appears to confirm you want to reset the sync history. Click Reset Sync History and then quit iSync.
  4. Open iTunes.
  5. Choose iTunes > Preferences.
  6. Click the iPhone tab. If it's selected, deselect the "Disable automatic syncing for all iPhones" option. Note: Do this even if you have an iPod touch.
  7. Connect the iPhone or iPod touch.
  8. Select the device in the iTunes source list.
  9. Click the Info tab, and in the Advanced section under "Replace information on this iPhone," select Contacts and Calendars.
  10. Click Apply to resync the data, overwriting the data on the iPhone or iPod touch with the data on the computer.

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, please contact AppleCare for additional support.

Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only, and does not constitute Apple's recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012