This post specifically addressed a problem on an iPhone 7 Plus that won’t backup to iCloud. It highlights some working solutions and suggested workarounds to deal with the main issue. So if you’re here for the same reason and need some help, then you should read on to learn more.
There are different methods for you to backup your iPhone for safekeeping. You can backup your device to iCloud or backup with iTunes. The latter requires you to secure a computer that runs with the latest version of iTunes app. However, if you don’t have an available computer to use, you can just go for iCloud backup. So now you are trying to backup your iPhone manually but all you see is an error message and for some reasons your iPhone won’t backup to iCloud. This means that you’ve got a problem to fix. And to get started, try to determine the possible reasons.
But before anything else, if you have other concerns with your iPhone 7 Plus, make sure you drop by our troubleshooting page for we have already addressed some of the most commonly reported issues with this new iPhone. If you need further assistance or if you can’t find what you’re looking for in that page, fill up our iPhone issues questionnaire and hit submit. Don’t worry, it’s a free consultation service so you don’t have to worry about anything. Just give us more information about the problem and we’ll do our best to help you fix it.
Possible reasons as to why your iPhone 7 Plus won’t backup to iCloud
There are several reasons as to why you cannot create an iCloud backup of your iPhone. In most cases, the problem is due to a network problem and insufficient iCloud storage space.
One of the important requisites for iCloud backup to work is an active and stable Wi-Fi connection. Another thing is that there has to be enough storage space available in iCloud. Your iPhone also needs to be plugged in and that the screen has to be off. If you are able to meet all these requirements, there’s shouldn’t be any problem backing up your iPhone to iCloud. Otherwise, you may have to attempt to fix the problem using any of the subsequent solutions.
Outlined below are generic solutions and applicable workarounds to deal with a problem on your iPhone 7 Plus that won’t backup to iCloud. Be sure to test your device after performing each method to determine whether or not the problem has been resolved. Try the next applicable solutions, if necessary.
First solution: Verify and ensure that your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
Again, Wi-Fi is a key requisite for you to backup to iCloud. As explicated earlier, iCloud backups only work over a Wi-Fi connection. Thus, your iPhone has to be connected to Wi-Fi. So this is what you should check first. Here’s how:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap the Wi-Fi button at the top of the screen.
- Tap the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to.
- If prompted, enter the correct network password then tap Join.
- Wait until you are connected to the Wi-Fi network.
Once you’re connected, try performing an iCloud backup again using the following steps:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Scroll down and then tap to select iCloud from the given options.
- Tap the Back Up Now button at the bottom of the screen.
Your iPhone will then backup to iCloud.
Second solution: Check and ensure that you have sufficient iCloud storage
Insufficient iCloud storage is also another possible reasons for your iCloud backups to fail. To rule this out from the possible cause, check your available iCloud storage by performing these steps:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Scroll down and then tap iCloud.
- Tap the Storage option located at the top of the screen.
- On the next screen you will see the current available storage indicated next to the Available header. If you don’t have enough space to backup your iPhone, tap the Manage Storage button to view what’s taking up your storage.
- To purchase more storage, tap the Change Storage Plan button at the bottom of the screen and then follow the onscreen prompts to complete the process.
Once you have ensured that you have sufficient storage in iCloud, try to backup your iPhone 7 Plus again with these steps:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Scroll down and then tap iCloud.
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen then tap the Backups button.
- Finally, tap Back Up Now to confirm action.
Third solution: Sign out of iCloud then sign in again.
Some users have found remedy to the same iCloud backup problem by signing out of their iCloud account and then sign back in. This trick has long been used to fix any account verification issues that may be causing iCloud backups to fail. It won’t hurt if you give it a try this time and see what happens then. Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Scroll down and then tap iCloud.
- Scroll to the bottom of the screen then tap Sign Out.
- Confirm that you want to erase all settings. Once you do so, you will be logged out from your iCloud account and redirected to an iCloud sign-in page.
- To sign back in, enter your iCloud username and password.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to sign in completely.
- Once you’re able to sign back in, try backing up your iPhone to iCloud again.
Signing out of iCloud does not mean that you will lose all of your data. While you may be prompted with a message saying that you will be removing or deleting data from your iPhone, you actually lose anything in the process as all of your files are stored in iCloud Drive for safekeeping. This means that you will still be able to access your files.
Once you sign back in with your iPhone, all of your data will be redownloaded to your device automatically.
Fourth solution: Reset All Settings on your iPhone 7 Plus.
Another possible reasons as to why you’re unable to backup to iCloud is that your iPhone settings might have been misconfigured. This is likely the case if the problem starts only after making recent changes to your iPhone settings. If you can, you may try to revert the settings back to its previous configuration. But if that won’t work, then you should consider doing a reset to all settings on your iPhone. This process won’t delete any content from your iPhone except for your Wi-Fi network passwords, accessibility settings, etc. On the positive side, the process may erase any incorrect settings interfering with your iCloud backup. Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap Settings from the Home screen.
- Tap General.
- Scroll to the bottom of the menu then tap Reset.
- Select the option to Reset All Settings.
- Confirm action if prompted to do so.
- Wait for your iPhone to complete the settings reset and when it’s done, your iPhone restarts.
After the reboot, try to perform another iCloud backup to see if it is already working. If not, proceed to the next solution.
Fifth solution: Perform a DFU restore.
If none of the aforementioned methods is able to fix the problem and that your iPhone 7 Plus still won’t backup to iCloud, then you may consider restoring your device in the case. But before you proceed, be sure to backup your iPhone in iTunes. This then requires you to connect your iPhone to your Windows or Mac computer and then back it up through iTunes. Follow these steps to create an iTunes backup:
- Connect your iPhone 7 Plus to your computer using the supplied USB cable or Lightning cable.
- Open iTunes on the computer. Be sure to use the latest version of iTunes app.
- Select your iPhone 7 Plus from the list of devices in iTunes.
- Navigate to the center of the screen under the Backups section.
- Click the button labeled This computer under Automatically Back Up header.
- Click the Back Up Now button located on the right side of the screen. Doing so will backup your iPhone 7 Plus to iTunes.
- Wait until the iTunes backup is complete, then proceed to a DFU restore.
A DFU restore is deemed the deepest type of iPhone restore. It works by erasing both your iPhone’s software and hardware settings, thus removing any possible issues and software bugs from your iPhone. This restore is often considered the last resort when dealing with more complex software glitches affecting iOS.
Precaution:
- Do not attempt to perform a DFU mode restore if you suspect that your iPhone has physical or liquid damage. If your iPhone is damaged in any way, a DFU mode restore may fail and possibly break your device and so you would end up with a completely unusable iPhone.
Here’s how to perform a DFU (Device Firmware Update) restore on your iPhone 7 Plus:
- Plug your iPhone into the computer using the supplied USB cable or Lightning cable.
- Open iTunes on the computer. Your iPhone can be turned on or off.
- On your iPhone 7 Plus, press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Down button simultaneously for 8 seconds.
- After the elapsed time, release the Sleep/Wake button but keep holding down the Volume Down button until you will see the message saying that “iTunes has detected an iPhone in recovery mode.”
- Release the Volume Down button when you see the aforesaid message.
- If you’ve done it right, your iPhone’s screen will then become completely black. This means that you have successfully entered DFU mode. If not, try again from the very start. Timing is a key to entering DFU mode.
- When you’re already in DFU mode, follow the steps to restore your iPhone 7 Plus using iTunes.
After the restore, try to backup your iPhone 7 Plus to iCloud again then see if it is now working as intended. If not, then it’s time to escalate the problem to the experts.
Seek More Help
If the problem persists after performing all the aforementioned solutions, contact Apple Support for further assistance and other options. While you have the option to backup your iPhone 7 Plus to iTunes instead, making it work with iCloud backup services would still be necessary.
Engage with us
If you have other issues with your Apple iPhone 7 Plus, we are always willing to help. Contact us through our iPhone issues questionnaire and provide us with all necessary information about your problem so we can find a solution to your issue.