Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iCloud Backup iPhone 6S

C

cynics

macrumors G4
Original poster
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,157
I'm having a bit of trouble with my iPhone 6S with iCloud backups. iPad Air 2 seems to work just fine. I got a message on the phone that my iPhone hasn't been backed up for 7 weeks so I goto manually back it up and get the message "The last backup could not be completed".

IMG_0242.PNG

I googled the issue and tried everything I read online.

First thing I did was a quick reset which didn't work.

I already tried waiting it out several days in case it was just a server issue.

Then I tried deleting the old backup and trying again. Didn't work.

Then I tried signing out of iCloud and back in, didn't work and is a massive headache. I lost all my iCloud photos (they are restoring now) and cards in ApplePay needed to be reactivated. I would not recommend doing that unless you absolutely have too.

Then I tried reseting network settings, didn't work and again massive headache. Lost all my wifi and bluetooth information not just on my iPhone but every device (including my iMac) tied to my AppleID. I will be regretting that for a long time.

The only other step I can think of is to restore as new. But if getting a back up to work requires me not using a back up and starting fresh then what is the point of a back up in the first place?

Has anyone run into this, have an suggestions?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
I had this issue occasionally, ever since iOS 9 beta came out. I don't think I have any solutions for you as I'm still puzzled with it as well. One thing I did do was to keep trying every time I see the dreaded "could not be completed" message and cross my fingers that it will actually complete the backup.

However, as of yesterday, I turned off iCloud Backup completely and are now doing backups using iTunes. It came to my realization that iCloud Backup was the sole reason my 6s was draining it's battery and warm all the time; I could have the phone charged to 100%, killed all the apps, turn on Airplane mode with Wi-Fi only, and to wake up to 65% battery. And the Battery section even dared to tell me that I've been using my phone for the last 3-4 hours. Yeah, I suppose instead of sleep-walking, I'm sleep-using-my-iPhone.

Note that Photos weren't backed up as part of iCloud Backup.
 
cynics said:
I'm having a bit of trouble with my iPhone 6S with iCloud backups. iPad Air 2 seems to work just fine. I got a message on the phone that my iPhone hasn't been backed up for 7 weeks so I goto manually back it up and get the message "The last backup could not be completed".

View attachment 611106

I googled the issue and tried everything I read online.

First thing I did was a quick reset which didn't work.

I already tried waiting it out several days in case it was just a server issue.

Then I tried deleting the old backup and trying again. Didn't work.

Then I tried signing out of iCloud and back in, didn't work and is a massive headache. I lost all my iCloud photos (they are restoring now) and cards in ApplePay needed to be reactivated. I would not recommend doing that unless you absolutely have too.

Then I tried reseting network settings, didn't work and again massive headache. Lost all my wifi and bluetooth information not just on my iPhone but every device (including my iMac) tied to my AppleID. I will be regretting that for a long time.

The only other step I can think of is to restore as new. But if getting a back up to work requires me not using a back up and starting fresh then what is the point of a back up in the first place?

Has anyone run into this, have an suggestions?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

I did a clean restore and WILL NOT WORK on my iPhone 6s or my old iPad 3. Although the service shows up and running, there's clearly something wrong with it no doubt. Maybe it has to do with coming updates? iOS 9.2.1 or iOS 9.3? I have no idea...
 
ferretex said:
I did a clean restore and WILL NOT WORK on my iPhone 6s or my old iPad 3. Although the service shows up and running, there's clearly something wrong with it no doubt. Maybe it has to do with coming updates? iOS 9.2.1 or iOS 9.3? I have no idea...
Click to expand...
I assume there are no other duplicate backups?
 
I had this problem with a new 6s. What I found when I tried the initial backup was that even though it failed, it still took up a large ammount of iCloud space. What worked for me was choosing not to backup my photos (that largest component at 3 GB) - the backup then completed ok. I then turned on backup of photos and the backup failed again, but after a while it completed succesfully. Even though the backup fails, keep trying and it should get there eventually (especially if you can turn on individual items over time).
 
I have that problem occasionally on my 6s. I find sometimes I just have to try and do the manual again and it works fine - sometimes I have to do a restart and then it works. Certainly doesn't for me drain the battery
 
Contacted Apple today and was informed it is a problem they are aware of and the only solution for my particular problem is to restore the phone. They said I could restore from a backup (meaning iTunes I suppose).

Not sure what I'm going to do yet. I think I'm just going to cancel my 50gb iCloud storage and use iTunes. That would be the easiest and most cost effective anyway.

Tech support was very friendly and as helpful as they could be and I understand they didn't do anything wrong however I'm still annoyed by the situation.
[doublepost=1453160832][/doublepost]I decided to restore as new...

IMG_0001.PNG

The very first thing I did was try to turn on iCloud back up and low and behold....same problem. I'm not sure what else to do aside from set up an appointment and drive all the way to the apple store. I can't believe I listen to that person from tech support against my better judgement. Now I have the pleasure of sitting around all night and resetting up my phone.....
 
Do what they suggest: backup to iTunes, encrypted so ti saves all your passwords and health data if you're storing that, and then wipe and restore from the iTunes backup. Then, see if it will backup via iCloud. If it does, problem solved.

Personally, I keep two backups anyway: one in iCloud and one encrypted on my Mac via iTunes. The iTunes backup is my go-to whenever i upgrade, but sometimes those backups have issued too... in which case the iCloud backup will save your bacon.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Newtons Apple
I spoke with Apple via chat and jumped through all their hoops including a DFU restore and was eventually escalated to the engineering team. I won't hear back from then for at least a week.

Screen Shot 2016-01-18 at 8.11.27 PM.png

Ended up getting disconnected several more times but eventually got through. Lol

Screen Shot 2016-01-18 at 8.25.42 PM.png
 
I backed up my iPhone 6s and iPad 3 in iTunes (encrypted) and restored them. I set them as new devices with nothing installed on them. iCloud Backup simply does not switch on, there's clearly something wrong.
 
Having similar issues with my wife's iPhone 6S. It won't do a backup, I try to do a backup initiated manually and it immediately fails. Turning off backup won't work, unless I log out of her iCloud account on the iPhone; after I log back in, the backup is set to ON, but again, it won't actually do a backup.

Like someone here above, I restored the phone and set up as new. Nothing installed on the phone. Logged in to her iCloud account and have the exact same problem with not being able to complete a backup. I tried logging into a different iCloud acct on her phone, this is with her phone again restored from an iTunes backup, and of course everything works fine for that account with regard to being able to make a backup.
 
k.alexander said:
Having similar issues with my wife's iPhone 6S. It won't do a backup, I try to do a backup initiated manually and it immediately fails. Turning off backup won't work, unless I log out of her iCloud account on the iPhone; after I log back in, the backup is set to ON, but again, it won't actually do a backup.

Like someone here above, I restored the phone and set up as new. Nothing installed on the phone. Logged in to her iCloud account and have the exact same problem with not being able to complete a backup. I tried logging into a different iCloud acct on her phone, this is with her phone again restored from an iTunes backup, and of course everything works fine for that account with regard to being able to make a backup.
Click to expand...
So with a different iCloud account is working...why are then some iCloud accounts not allowing this all of a sudden...not even iOS 9.2.1 corrected this. It might be another type of issue or problem, we'll keep tuned and see who makes the bell ring.
 
ferretex said:
So with a different iCloud account is working...why are then some iCloud accounts not allowing this all of a sudden...not even iOS 9.2.1 corrected this. It might be another type of issue or problem, we'll keep tuned and see who makes the bell ring.
Click to expand...

Yes, I was shocked that when I finally restored the phone as new, without restoring from an iTunes backup, and then tried to do a backup with absolutely nothing on the newly restored phone other than me logging in to her iCloud acct in settings that the backup still failed in the same manner, giving me: "The last backup could not be completed".

I then again restored her phone from an iTunes backup, bringing everything back. Did this about 2-3 times on Sunday. Meanwhile I spent some time on the phone with Apple tech support, got transferred to 2nd level tech, and he was supposed to call me back last night (Mon) -- nothing!

So last night I logged out of my wife's acct on the phone, and logged in with an unused iCloud acct I have (funny story that acct is a tester acct that Apple set up for me years ago, when iCloud.com first became available, because something wasn't working on my acct; the acct has not been used in years but I happen to have the login credentials); anyways, logged into that acct and started a backup, it was working.

I'm going to call Apple again tonight. From searching on here this seems like a relatively wide-spread issue. Apple tech support admitted that iCloud backup has been problematic since iOS9.

Btw, my wife has an iPad on the same acct and it's backing up fine.

I am also well familiar with problems deleting old backups on devices. I've seen that countless times. In that situation, your best bet is to disable every single app on the backup screen, one by one, once they're all disabled, you can usually delete the backup.
 
I'll join the club too. Been in contact with Apple over the last 72 hours. Been dealing with Senior Advisors and Engineers. They are aware of the issue and are working on a fix. They seemed to say that it will be a fix via an update and is not 9.2.1. I'm expecting to get a phone call around 5PM PDT from Apple.
 
  • Like
Reactions: k.alexander
9.2.1 did not fix my issue so I'm patiently waiting to hear back from Apple. I will post back with what they say, and if anyone else in contact can post back I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: k.alexander
cynics said:
9.2.1 did not fix my issue so I'm patiently waiting to hear back from Apple. I will post back with what they say, and if anyone else in contact can post back I'd greatly appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Same here. Will post back if I get an update as well.
 
k.alexander said:
I am also well familiar with problems deleting old backups on devices. I've seen that countless times. In that situation, your best bet is to disable every single app on the backup screen, one by one, once they're all disabled, you can usually delete the backup.
Click to expand...

There's a trick to that, just keep pressing Try Again when it says the backup can't be deleted. This worked for me ever since iOS 9 beta came out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: k.alexander
+2, one with my wife's 6s and one with my iPad mini 2. Both will not backup to previous working account even after restore and setup as new. This is with 2 separated accounts, one for me and one for my wife. And both have no issue backup to other iCloud account, my 2nd iCloud account, without issue.

I am guessing they have some issue in iCloud database index related to S/N of device, it somehow think same S/N backup still exist, even though the backup already deleted. My 6+ is able to backup without issue in same iCloud account my iPad mini could not backup to even with restored and setup as new.

Waiting for Apple 2nd level support response after escalated to engineering. They are good about giving me their email address so I could contact them in email to follow up.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: k.alexander
I went to the Store in cologne today because i can return my 6s until today!
I swapped it against a new 6s plus Space gray 128 GB.

With the new device is everything ok. Backup is ok now
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back