Need help with iCloud backup that is not working on your new iPhone XS Max? If so, then feel free to refer to the highlighted solutions below. Read on to figure out what to do if you cannot backup files on your new iOS device to iCloud.
There are many factors to consider when dealing with iCloud backup issues on your iPhone. But before you troubleshoot software problems, verify and ensure that you haven’t yet exceeded your iCloud storage limit. The default storage allocated for an iCloud account is 5GB. Once the 5GB is used up, your device won’t back up to iCloud. New photos and videos won’t upload to iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Drives. Text messages and other iCloud apps will also stop updating across your devices. Sending and receiving emails through your iCloud email address will likewise not work.
- To view the available iCloud storage, head over to Settings-> [your name]-> iCloud menu, then tap on iCloud Storage or Manage Storage option.
If the 5GB free storage is used up, then you will need to add more space by procuring more iCloud storage. Prices vary depending on the plan, so better talk to your service provider for further information.
Another thing to check is your iPhone’s internet connection. Backing up to iCloud requires Wi-Fi access as your phone will need to access Apple’s iCloud server. Thus make sure your iPhone is connected.
If you still have ample of iCloud storage space left and your iPhone is connected to the Internet but still cannot use iCloud to backup files on your iPhone XS Max, then move on and try any of the following solutions.
First workaround: Reboot or soft reset your iPhone XS Max and retry
If your iPhone XS Max won’t backup to iCloud automatically, check and ensure that iCloud Backup is enabled on your device.
- To do so, navigate to Settings-> [your name]-> iCloud-> iCloud Backup menu. Make sure iCloud Backup is turned on. If it’s not, then tap the switch to turn it on.
Then perform a soft reset or reboot your iPhone XS Max. Doing so helps clear out minor software data corrupt that may have affected iCloud Backup operations on your phone. Here’s how it’s done:
- Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
- Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears.
- Drag the power off slider to the right.
- After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power button or Side button again until the phone reboots.
Performing a soft reset is also a way to dump errant cache from the internal memory of the phone, without affecting any saved information.
Second workaround: Delete old or unused iCloud Backups
Deleting old and unused iCloud backups is usually needed when you’re iCloud storage space is almost or already used up and paying for iCloud storage upgrade isn’t in current your preferences. To delete iCloud Backups on your iPhone XS Max, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Settings-> [your name]-> iCloud menu.
- Tap to select your iPhone XS Max.
- Tap Delete Backup.
- Then tap Turn Off & Delete.
Deleting files in iCloud Drive can also be considered an option if the problem is attributed to insufficient storage space. To delete files you saved in iCloud Drive, refer to these steps:
- Open the Files app.
- Tap Browse.
- Navigate to the Locations section.
- Tap iCloud Drive.
- Then tap Select.
- Choose the files that you want to delete then tap the Trash icon.
- Navigate to Locations-> Recently Deleted-> Select menu.
- Select the files that you want to delete permanently.
- Then tap Delete to confirm.
Restart or soft reset your iPhone XS Max then retry backing up files to iCloud and see if the problem is fixed. If not, then try other applicable workarounds.
Third workaround: Turn off Restrictions on your iPhone XS Max
To rule out the possibility that automatic backups to iCloud are restricted on your device, check and ensure that Restrictions is turned off. This is often the required solution if the iCloud option is greyed out on your iPhone settings. To disable this iPhone feature, follow these steps:
- Tap to open the Settings app.
- Tap Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions switch to turn it off.
Give your iPhone another reboot and then see if iCloud backup is already working as intended.
Fourth workaround: Sign out of iCloud and sign in again
Signing out of and back in to iCloud can also help refresh your login session and clears out minor faults. So here’s what you can try next:
- Navigate to Settings-> [your name].
- Tap Sign Out.
- Enter your Apple ID password to continue.
- Then tap Turn Off.
- Select to enable data that you want to keep a copy of on your device.
- Tap Sign Out twice to confirm that you want to sign out of iCloud.
Restart your iPhone XS Max and then sign in to iCloud using the same Apple ID and password. See if that helps.
Fifth workaround: Reset Network Settings on your iPhone XS Max
Should the problem be attributed to network errors on your iPhone system, performing a network settings reset can help. Doing so clears all customized network settings including Wi-Fi network and server information. Any erroneous network configuration will therefore be removed. Here’s how it’s done:
- Tap to open the Settings app from the Home screen.
- Tap General.
- Scroll down to and tap Reset.
- Select Reset network settings from the given options.
- When asked, enter your device passcode to continue.
- Then tap the option to confirm network settings reset.
After the reset, your iPhone will reboot by itself and then loads the original or default network settings and options. This means you need to reconnect to your Wi-Fi network to use Internet services on your iPhone again. Try that and see if that fixes problems with iCloud backup on your device.
Other options
If none of the prior methods is able to fix the problem and you still cannot backup files on your iPhone XS Max to iCloud, check the iCloud Backup status on the Apple System support page. Make sure it’s available. If it’s not, then there’s nothing much you can do on your end but wait until the iCloud server is back up and running again.
Alternatively, you can use iTunes to backup important contents to your computer instead. With iTunes, you can manually create copies of or move some critical files from your iPhone XS Max to the computer storage.
For other suggestions, contact your service provider/carrier or Apple Support. If you see any error prompts while attempting to use iCloud backup, take note of the information and relay that to the support team. This information will serve as hint for them to determine what exactly when wrong and what is needed to rectify the error.
I hope that this how-to post has helped you one way or another. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post to your friends or people who may also have similar problems. Thanks for reading!