Mobile devices that perform synchronization operations are configured to reduce the amount of data that must be synced to perform a media content sync operation over a wireless connection. The sync operation is implemented as a two-phase arrangement, synchronizing first in a metadata sync operation and then in a media content sync operation. The source device transmits to the destination device a last known version number of the music database that was synced to the destination device and a current version number of the media database at the source device. In response to a failure of the network connection before completion of the metadata sync operation, upon establishment of a second network connection between the source device and destination device, the metadata sync is completed only for any version numbers that indicate a version subsequent to the last version number that was synchronized over the first network connection.