The era of the PC-free is finally here! Syncing over Wi-Fi has to be one of the best new features of iOS 5. You no longer have to connect your iOS device over a cable to your Mac or PC. Like AirDrop, all you need to sync is to have your iOS device and Mac on the same network. Cutting the cord couldn’t be easier, and we’ll show you why (and how!).

After your device appears in iTunes, select it in the sidebar, and then head to the Summary tab. Locate the Options section, and then check to enable the “Sync this iPhone/iPad over Wi-Fi” option. Then click the Apply botton to sync your device once more over the tethered connection.

From now on, whenever your device is connected to a power source, it will search for the wirelessly tethered computer over the Wi-Fi network. If the computer is on, it will begin to sync with iTunes.

You can optionally start a manual sync by heading to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync on your iOS device. Tapping the “Sync Now” button will automatically find the computer on the wireless network, and begin to sync with iTunes. By tapping on the computer in this area, you will be presented with the syncing progress (which step in the sync process, and which file is currently being transferred -- the same information you’d get in iTunes).

Once your device has been synced, it will disconnect from iTunes. You will still be able to see and manage your iOS device wirelessly right from iTunes, just as you would tethered.

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