iCloud syncing issue on iPhone 16

[BHanular]

I have an iPhone 16 (not Pro) with IOS 26.1.
After the 26.1 update I noticed a red dot appearing on the Settings app. When I clicked on it I received the following notification:

Some iCloud Data
Isn't Syncing

When I clicked on it, I received the following notification:

Your end-to-end encrypted data stored in iCloud can't be accessed on this device. It includes saved passwords and data from Health and Maps. Verify your account information to resume syncing.
Resume Data Sync

When I clicked on Resume Data Sync, I received the following notification:

Couldn't Sync iCloud Data
To continue using iCloud to sync your end-to-end encrypted data, you'll need to delete current data stored in iCloud.
Cancel
Delete iCloud Data

I’m afraid if I click on Delete iCloud Data, I’ll permanently delete all my photos as well as all other data on my iPhone.

My iPhone photos are synced to iCloud.

Please review the attached images.

I would like to know how to eliminate the syncing issue and thus the red dot without permanently deleting the photos on my iPhone.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!

 

[Apple_Robert]

Often times you when you get that red badge message, it means you aren’t signed into one of the services with your account. Double check all the sign-ins with your account.

 

[BHanular]

Thank you for the reply. That’s much appreciated!

I‘m signed into my iCloud account on my iPhone and iPad and they both have the same issue. That’s all the devices I have. Not sure what you mean by services.

Again, thank you for your attention to this issue.

 

[gwang73]

Have you tried disabling Advanced Data Protection and see if the syncing issue is fixed? The only other thing I can think of is to try logging out of iCloud on your 16 and logging back in. Good luck with this issue, it can be nerve racking!

 

[cynics]

For less sensitive data Apple shares secured decryption keys for your iCloud data. For more sensitive data like Health, Maps, Passwords (and a dozen other things) your trusted devices locally hold the only decryption keys for them. Apple can store and sync the data but only your trusted devices can access it.

It sounds like your iPhone doesn't have the decryption keys for that more sensitive data. This happens when you ignore the trust verification prompt (6 digit code) when logging into iCloud on a new device or a device that logged out and back in for whatever reason. Did that happen?

To fix it you'll need to sign out of your AppleID and back in. However before doing that you will need another trusted Apple device like an iPad or Mac (one that is syncing properly) or a trusted phone number.

Goto https://account.apple.com/ and verify all your personal information is correct and up to date especially your phone number. In sign-in and security > account security verify that trusted phone number is there and trusted devices if they exist.

When you sign back in with your AppleID you should get a prompt to enter a 6 digit code that sent to another device for you to enter into your iPhone. I'm also fairly confident there is something you can tap on the screen to say you don't have another device or something. From there they can use your phone number (I've never done this so I don't know the process).

Once you enter the code you should be able to sync all your iCloud data to that iPhone.