iPhone Backup Failed – Top Reasons and Best Fixes

Jack

By Jack

Update on

iPhone Backup Failed

Backing up data is of the utmost importance. Even though most of us ignore this piece of general tech advice, it’s crucial for avoiding data loss and securing files.

iPhones are no different – regular backups can prevent the loss of valuable photos and text messages.

Apple has graciously made it easy to take backups, and you can do so either with iTunes, iCloud, or a third-party program. Unfortunately, iPhone backup failed occurs occasionally, and if you encounter this problem, fixing it will be your top priority.

You’ll be happy to know that it isn’t a rare error either. This means that plenty of solutions are out there for us to try, and by the end of this article, we guarantee you’ll be able to take an iPhone backup without any problems.

Part 1. Top Reasons for iPhone Backup Failed

Let’s take a quick look at why your iPhone might be unable to take backups.

  • 1. iOS device doesn’t have enough battery power to take a backup
  • 2. The current network connection is not stable, so iCloud can’t connect to the servers
  • 3. Your iCloud account’s storage is full, or doesn’t have enough space for a new backup
  • 4. iCloud hasn’t been set up on your iPhone correctly
  • 5. iPhone couldn’t authenticate your iCloud account credentials

There could be another reason that the iPhone backup failed in your case. Reasoning aside, the techniques below will help resolve this problem in any situation.

If you have an issue with forgetting the iTunes backup password, click to fix it now.

Part 2. The Best Way to Fix iPhone Backup Failed via TunesCare

After trying all the above methods, if your iPhone Backup failure issue has not been fixed, you should repair your iPhone.

Then Tenorshare TunesCare should be your best choice, a professional iPhone Repair tool to eliminate various iPhone and iTunes issues.

Just download it on your computer and follow up the simple steps below to get a try.

1. Launch TunesCare and click the option of ‘Fix All iTunes Issues.’

Tenorshare TunesCare

2. If your iTunes performs abnormally, TunesCare will ask you to fix it immediately; click the ‘Repair iTunes’ button to download the iTunes drives.

downloading repair drivers

3. Once the repairing drives have been downloaded, the software will start to repair your iPhone / iTunes automatically. Once the task is completed, your iTunes will reboot. Then please try to back up your iPhone again.

Fix iPhone backup failed via TunesCare

Part 3. Solutions for iPhone Backup Failed

If you want to stick with using iTunes or iCloud for your backups, that’s not a problem. Try the following solutions.

Solution #1 – Purchase More Storage

Apple gives everyone with an iCloud account a small amount of storage for free. Most people find this to be enough space for a couple of backups.

But if your iPhone is full of data and you responsibly back it up on a regular basis, the free storage will quickly fill up.

Fortunately, Apple sells iCloud storage at reasonable monthly rates. Users can purchase this either through a web browser or on their iPhones.

  • #1 – Unlock your iPhone and open the Settings app.
  • #2 – Tap your name at the top of this menu and tap “iCloud.”
  • #3 – Next, select “Manage Storage” and tap “Change Storage Plan.”
  • #4 – Several upgrade options are available here. Tap the upgrade you’d like and tap “Buy” at the top right.
  • #5 – Enter your iCloud password and proceed to complete the payment stage.
Buy more storage to fix iPhone backup failed

Obviously, the drawback to this is that you’ll be paying monthly for the storage. Even considering this, the pricing of extra iCloud storage is far from expensive.

Solution #2 – Delete Unneeded Backups

If spending money is the last resort, deleting any old backups from your account will help. Realistically only the most recent backup is necessary. It’s reassuring to have multiple backups but not entirely necessary.

  • #1 – Open the Settings app and tap your iCloud account.
  • #2 – Go to “iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups“.
  • #3 – All iPhone backups will be listed with their file sizes. Take a moment to explore the backups and decide which ones to delete.
  • #4 – Tap on a backup to delete, and at the bottom of this menu, press “Delete Backup.”
  • #5 – Confirm that the backup should be removed from your iCloud storage.
Delete Unneeded Backups to fix iPhone backup failed

Even just wiping one or two backups will aid in iPhone backup failure. There will be an increase in available iCloud storage, and taking backups shouldn’t cause errors anymore.

Solution #3 – Update iOS Version

Let’s be honest: as important as iOS updates are, seeing that “Software Update” notification causes a rush of anxiety. Sure, big updates usually include new and exciting features. But minor updates are less so.

Why people have a distaste for iOS updates is simple. When updates are installed, we can’t use our iPhones. Sadly not keeping the iOS version up-to-date can result in iPhone backup failure due to software communication conflicts.

  • #1 – Open Settings and go to the “General” menu.
  • #2 – Tap “Software Update,” and if there’s a new update available, tap “Install.”
  • #3 – It will now download, and your iPhone will install it once it finishes.
  • #4 – Wait while the new firmware installs, and afterward, check if you can take a backup.
check for ios update

Usually, we’d suggest that users back up their iPhones before updating the iOS version. Considering the backup failed error, backing up isn’t an option, so be cautious about data loss.

Solution #4 – Change iCloud Settings

Human error can’t be ignored, and it could be that you turned off the iCloud backup setting. Enabling it once again is easy and doable from your iPhone.

  • #1 – Launch the Settings app.
  • #2 – Tap your iCloud name at the top of this screen.
Change iCloud Backup Settings
  • #3 – Tap “iCloud” and swipe to the bottom of this menu.
  • #4 – Look for “iCloud Backup” and select it.
iCloud Backup
  • #5 – If the slider is not green, tap it to enable the iCloud Backup feature.
  • #6 – Once enabled, tap “Back Up Now” to take an iCloud backup.
enable the iCloud Backup feature

This setting is on by default. So, if you turn it off at any time, remember to return to the iCloud settings and reenable it to avoid further backup problems.

Solution #5 – Sign Out of iCloud

Authentication errors are another reason that you might run into iPhone backup failure. These errors don’t always alert you and can affect iCloud features negatively.

Signing out of your iCloud account and signing back in will reauthenticate your iPhone’s access and secure a connection with Apple servers.

  • #1 – Start by launching the “Settings” app and tapping your iCloud account.
  • #2 – Swipe down and tap on the “Sign Out” button. Follow the confirmation steps to agree with the account removal.
  • #3 – Back on the Settings menu, tap the iCloud banner and sign in using your account email and password.
  • #4 – Go to “iCloud > iCloud Backup” and enable the feature if it isn’t already.
  • #5 – Tap “Back Up Now” to see if the issue is gone.
Sign out of iCloud

When we sign in to iCloud on a new iPhone, we assume that’s it. As you can see through, sometimes, signing out and back in can revalidate the iCloud connection and resolve common problems.

Solution #6 – Investigate Network Issues

Last of all, network connection problems can interfere with an iCloud connection, and thus, it may be behind the iPhone backup failure. Try the following:

  • Connect to a different Wi-Fi network.
  • Enable airplane mode for a few minutes, then disable it.
  • Check if other iPhones can take backups on the network.
  • Restart your router (if other devices experience network issues too).
  • Use your data plan to take a backup instead of Wi-Fi.
  • Try taking a backup on iTunes.

If you discover that the backup failed is limited to your iPhone, resetting the network settings is the next step. Here’s how to do so:

  • #1 – Go into the Settings app and tap “General.”
  • #2 – At the bottom of this menu, tap on “Reset” and choose “Reset Network Settings.”
  • #3 – Enter your device’s passcode to confirm this action.
  • #4 – Your iPhone will now restart as part of the network reset.
  • #5 – Once the device loads up, reconnect to Wi-Fi, and check if a backup can be taken.
Reset Network Settings

This completely wipes all network settings. You will have to reconnect to any Wi-Fi network you were connected to and possibly reconfigure your carrier settings.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Why does my iPhone backup keep failing?

There are several possible reasons for iPhone backup failures, including insufficient storage space, poor internet connection, outdated iOS version, or a corrupted backup file. This article provides troubleshooting tips to help you resolve these issues.

2. How can I free up storage space on my iPhone?

To free up storage space on your iPhone, delete unnecessary apps, photos, and videos. You can also transfer media files to your computer or cloud storage. Enabling the “Optimize Storage” option in your Photos settings can also save storage by keeping optimized versions of your photos on your device.

3. Can I backup my iPhone without an internet connection?

No, iCloud backup requires a stable internet connection. However, you can use iTunes as an alternative backup method, which allows you to create a local backup on your computer without an internet connection.

4. What should I do if my backup file is corrupted?

If you suspect your backup file is corrupted, you can verify and fix it using iTunes on your computer. Connect your iPhone to the computer, open iTunes, select your device, and choose “Restore Backup” to repair any issues with the backup file.

5. Are there any other backup options besides iCloud and iTunes?

Besides iCloud and iTunes, you can also consider using third-party backup applications available on the App Store. These apps provide additional features and flexibility for backing up your iPhone data.

Conclusion

iTunes and iCloud are the two generic ways to take backups of your data, and Apple recommends sticking to those. However, considering the iPhone backup failed problem, alternate approaches may be needed.

If none of the fixes help you take an iPhone backup, contemplate using iCareFone instead. This effective program lets you selectively back up an iPhone’s files; it’s simple to use and avoids any iCloud errors like this.

Jack
Jack

Ten years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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