Backing up your iPhone is something that you need to do periodically. If your iPhone 12 is not backing up, then you could potentially lose some of your data. When we say “data,” what we mean is the configuration of your iPhone and everything that makes it uniquely yours. That includes your apps, pictures, videos, podcasts, music, etc. Your iPhone should back up with iCloud automatically. Sometimes, though, conditions arise where that does not happen. If you find your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max not backing up, you’ll need to figure out what the problem is, then how to fix it.
How to fix it if your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not backing up
Here are some of the common reasons why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max won’t back up and how to fix the issue:
Your iCloud Settings Might Be the Reason Your iPhone 12 Backups are Not Working
The first thing that you should think of as a possibility if your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not backing up successfully is your iCloud settings. The feature needs to be switched on. If you have not taken the needed steps to enable it, then your iPhone 12 won’t back up.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone then tap your name located at the top of the screen. This will launch your Apple ID settings.
- Select iCloud, then scroll down to where it says iCloud Backup. Tap it.
- You will see an iCloud backup button. Toggle it to the on position, and it will change to green.
- When the prompt appears, tap Okay.
Now, automatic iCloud backups are on. Your iPhone should back up every time that you plug it into a power outlet and connect to Wi-Fi. Make sure that your iPhone is locked when you do this as well. Otherwise, it won’t work.
Your Wi-Fi Connection Could be Why Your iPhone 12 Won’t Back Up
Another common reason for your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max not backing up with iCloud could be your Wi-Fi connection not working. If you’ve got a working Wi-Fi network at home, that is the ideal place for you to back up your devices. If your Wi-Fi connection is shaky, though, the process could be interrupted, or it might not even be able to start.
If you don’t see the Wi-Fi icon on your iPhone, then you know that it’s not connected. You can easily do it, though.
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone then tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the Wi-Fi button, moving it to the green On position. Your iOS device will automatically join your network if you have set it up to do so. If you haven’t done this, then you’ll need to select your Wi-Fi network and type in your password.
If your Wi-Fi isn’t working, then you can turn off your router and then turn it back on. If that doesn’t work, then check all the connections. If you’re still experiencing problems, then contact your internet provider. There may be a temporary outage in your area.
See also: iPhone connected to Wi-Fi but no Internet access?
Is Your iPhone Connected to a Power Source?
If you’re using iCloud to backup your iPhone, then it will need to be plugged to a power outlet. If an outlet is not available to you, you can also connect your iOS device to a computer, either a laptop or a desktop machine.
When you plug it in, make sure that the USB cable you are using is working properly. If it is, a battery icon will appear at the top right of your iPhone’s screen. It’s recommended to use the official Apple cable. If you use a third-party cable, it might be cheaper, but these might not work correctly.
Make Sure You Have Sufficient iCloud Storage to Back Up Your iPhone
iPhone backups are what take up most of your iCloud storage space. If you don’t have enough storage space, then your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 pro max won’t back up to iCloud.
There is no specific amount of space that you’ll need. That’s going to depend on how much data is on your iOS device. You might need only 1GB, or you might need as many as 4 or 5GBs. You can run out of space faster, but there are ways to resolve this problem.
To see how much space you have left, start the Settings app on your iPhone. Then, tap your name located at the top of the screen. Tap iCloud, and choose Manage Storage. Now the iCloud storage page will launch, and you will see how much you have used and how much is left. If all 5GB of the free storage for your iPhone has been used, you’ll know that’s why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max cannot back up.
What Can You do if You’re Out of Storage for Your iPhone?
If your iOS device is out of storage space, then you’ll need to check what you have on there. Deleting old, backed up data is one options. That might be from the iPhone itself, or some of the apps. Deleting your iPhone backup will free up the most space, but then if you restore it as it was, you’ll run into the same problem. Because of that, deleting data related to your apps or the apps themselves is usually the Best option.
Head over to the iCloud storage page, and tap the app for which you would like to delete the backed-up data.
You’ll need to tap Delete Data. In some cases, it will say Delete Documents and Data instead, or Turn Off and Delete. Any of these options performs the same task.
Press Delete again to confirm your action.
You Can Also Upgrade Your Storage Plan
Upgrading your iCloud storage plan is another option offered by Apple. It’s at least worth considering. Usually, it costs just a few extra bucks a month on your phone bill, and you get to avoid this hustle of having to choose which apps to eliminate. You will find an option to upgrade on the iCloud storage screen. You’ll get a lot of new space, and now you can take more pictures, shoot more video, or whatever else you find useful.
Check the Status of iCloud
It is also possible sometimes for iCloud servers to go down for a while. The system is imperfect, and while it’s a rarity, that might be why your iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or iPhone 12 Pro Max is not backing up. If you feel like the iCloud servers might be down, you can rule out that by visiting the Apple’s System Status page. If there is an outage in service, then it will indicate there, and it will also provide updates and an approximate timeframe when it will be up and running again. Usually, Apple is quick to fix the problem.
Sign Out of iCloud, then Back in Again
Signing out of iCloud and then back in again is essentially a way of resetting your iPhone’s presence on the network. That can be a solution sometimes with backup issues.
- Start the settings app on your iPhone then tap your name located at the top of the screen.
- Scroll down through your Apple ID settings and tap Sign Out.
- When prompted, type in your Apple ID, followed by your password. Next, tap Turn Off, deactivating Find My iPhone.
- Tap Sign Out, then tap Sign Out again when the prompt appears.
From there, you can tap Sign into Your iPhone and sign back in. After entering your Apple ID and password, your iPhone should be recognized again. If you have another Apple device connected to your ID, a code might be sent to it that you will be prompted to enter.
Once you are signed back in, plug your iPhone to a power outlet, and see if the backup goes forward as it should. Usually, that will have fixed the issue.
Try Restarting Your iPhone
One last troubleshooting step you can try when your iPhone 12 won’t back up is restarting your device. It’s a simple fix for many problems, so it’s worth giving it a shot too.
- Press and hold down any of the volume button together with the side button. After a few seconds have passed, a power slider Will appear on the screen and the option to shut down the phone.
- Drag the slider from left to right, and the Device will shut down.
- Wait a few seconds for the phone to shut down completely and then press and hold the side button again. The phone will power back on.
Now try plugging your iPhone to a power outlet to see if the data will back up.
If you’ve tried everything that we’ve mentioned but your iPhone 12 won’t backup to iCloud, then you can either contact Apple Support through online life chat, or you can take the device into an Apple Store and talk to the Geniuses about the problem. Be sure to book a Genius Bar appointment before making a visit to avoid any inconvenience. Explain to them everything that you’ve tried, and they can inspect your device to see if there is some kind of hardware issue or another possibility that you’ve been unable to detect.