Error "backup is corrupt or not compatiable".

I recently got my iphone 4 stolen, so I have borrowed my mom's iphone 3gs, but when I try and back it up, it gives me this error " backup is corrupt or not compatiable." How can I get this information back? I have tried uninstalling itunes and reinstalling. I'm not having any luck with this at all. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks,
lindseyfromky

Even if deleted all the backups shown in iTunes Preferences>Devices, check the actual backup folder on your computer to be sure there isn't one still there that needs to be deleted. You will find them at one of the following locations:
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Windows Vista/7: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Mac OS X: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

Similar Messages

Can't backup Device- Error: backup was corrupt or not compatible with iPod

This seems to be a profile issue within Windows 7 and the fantastic Windows version of iTunes.
About an hour ago, iTunes froze during it's backup. I had to disconnet my device as well. I tried to backup again and I received the above message.
I tried various things including deleting my backup files, changing my time zone and none worked.
I then tried to do a backup from a brand new profile within Windows 7. That worked so it's not a device issue.
However, all my apps et al are on my main profile and iTunes wants to delete and sync the new iTunes with NO apps to my device so I stopped that.
Any solution for this? Or is this just one of my many questions that will remain unresolved?

As I said the iTunes program on the computer. You open iTunes on the computer and go to the View menue in the upper rightand then click on preferences. Go to Devices and delete the backup.

I am syncing my ipod but it comes up with a error saying itunes could not backup the ipod because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the ipod, what do i do?

i am syncing my ipod but it comes up with a error saying itunes could not backup the ipod because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the ipod, what do i do?

As I said the iTunes program on the computer. You open iTunes on the computer and go to the View menue in the upper rightand then click on preferences. Go to Devices and delete the backup.

Unable to sync or backup my iPad2 with the new iTunes. I keep getting the error ""iTunes could not back up the iPad because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPad.". I've deleted all the old backups but still get this.

I'm totally frustrated by iTunes and don't know how to solve my problem. Like a lot of people on here I'm not able to sync or back up my iPad2 with my iTunes (version 10.4.1.10). I'm running Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit. My iTunes worked just fine until the 10.4.xx updates came out and since June I've not been able to back up or sync the iPad2.
When I connect and try to sync I get the error message, “iTunes could not back up the iPad because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPad.”
I've deleted all the old backups so there are none on my system. I've deleted iTunes and re-installed the 64bit version several times but it has not made any difference. I've read and followed several suggestions on these boards about how to remove and reinstall everything but none have worked yet. I'm stumped here.

I had the exact same thing with my shuffle - same error message saying that it was corrupt so I restored it (wiping everything in the process) and the same message came up as soon as it reloaded. Thank god I didn't try it with my iPod or iPhone first. So many issues with this new version of iTunes!!!!!!!!

HT4972 After upgrading iPhone 4 to iOS 5.1.1 getting the error "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone that is being restored" HELP!

I attempted to upgrade my iPhone 4 to iOS 5.1.1. I selected 'back up' from the phone in the device menu and iTunes confirmed that the phone had been backed up. I then installed iOS 5.1.1 which wiped everything on the phone & now I am getting the error "iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone that is being restored".
I have tried restoring factory settings but iTunes simply will not restore from back up & I'm not sure what else to do!
Any advice would be much appreciated.

I have the same issue and I KNOW my backup IS good. What happen is when you try to restore your phone apple says something like can I check for new updates and if you choose no, it just takes you back to the restore screen and a loop from then on. If you dont update from you phone then when you back up you will have the 5.0.1 back up and then when you update to 5.1.1 and then try to restore the backup from 5.0.1 it say it EITHER corrupt or incompatible.. It is incompatible and its hard as **** to restore back to 5.0.1. I followed the restore to a T and still getting errors. I lost all text history and have to reset up email. All just because I wanted a 1.2 Gigs of "other" space back.

I have the current version of itunes, but when I go to update my ipod, I am getting an error message that says that it could not back up because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPod. This is the first time trying to backup.

I have the current version of itunes, but when I go to update my ipod, I am getting an error message that says that it could not back up because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPod. This is the first time trying to backup the iPod. I have authorized my computer. Still no luck.

Go to iTunes>Preferences>Devices and select the iPod backjp and click on delete and try again.
Also
- Reboot the computer
- Try another cable
- Try another USB port

I am getting error message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone". I have deleted the backup and restarted my computer, but continue to get this error message. What do I need to do now?

I have recently updated my phone and am attempting to sync it. I got the error message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone". I deleted the backup, restarted my computer, and even restored the iPhone, but continue to get the same error message. What do I need to do now?

iTunes places the iPhone backup in the following location. Navigate there & delete everything in the backup folder, but not the folder itself. You will have to turn on "Show All Hidden Files & Folders" to see it:
Mac:~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Windows XP:\Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Windows Vista and Windows 7:\Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

How to resolve error message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone. Delete the backup for this iPhone, then try again."

I inadvertently deleted my iPhone backup on my MacBook Pro. I restored iPhone to factory settings and then synced remotely with iCloud. However the error message repeatedly states:
iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone. Delete the backup for this iPhone, then try again.
Any ideas as to how this can be resolved please. Thank you very much.

My wife's iPhone 5 would not backup, after upgrading to iOS 8.     The "genius" at the Apple store succeeded in DELETING, the only recent backup of her phone so
recovery became more critical.
I followed all the procedures for troubleshooting it, but still it would try to backup and then stop due to an error. We particularly wanted to preserve some game data/history/progress that she'd been working on for years.      This game (Dream Fish) would no longer open after the iOS 8 upgrade ... and the phone would not successfully backup, and so we had no confidence that it would restore from an older backup either.       I googled for solution and found Phoneview and iFunBox.      These apps allow you to see & access data files in the iPhone.      Phoneview was too fragile and crashed when copying a file any size.
I found "iFunBox".     iFunBox was excellent.      I used iFunBox to recover her game data.    It allows you to make a copy of data files that reside on the iPhone... and store them as a manual backup on the Mac.
And in the process I found 2 games that caused iFunBox to crash.      The 2 games in question were not important enough to try to keep, so I deleted them from the iPhone.
So then, I had a manual backup of the important iPhone data, and had eliminated two game files that apparently had a conflict with iOS 8.
My next Backup attempt was successful.        The iPhone with iOS 8 would now backup to both the Mac and to the Cloud.
Next I deleted Dream Fish from the iPhone and downloaded a fresh version from the Cloud.    The new Dream Fish with no history opened in iOS 8.
Then I used iFunBox to copy my wife's Dream Fish data history from the Mac back into the new game.
Once the transfer was complete, Dream Fish would now OPEN and all of her progress was there and working like normal.
Hope this helps.

HT1766 Error message: "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone. Delete the backup for this iPhone, then try again." But how do I delete the backup?

Error message when attempting to backup up iPhone4S to Mac says "iTunes could not back up the iphone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone. Delete the backup for this iPhone, then try again." But how do I delete the backup? Can't find answer to that anywhere.

We had this problem after upgrading to iOS 8.       The iPhone 5 would not backup either to the cloud or to the computer.   Backup always ended with an error message.
Long story short, with the help of iFunBox ( which I used to make manual backups of some important iPhone data files ), I discovered two games that
would crash iFunBox.      They were not important games for us, so I didn't try to isolate the offending data files.     And I deleted the two games from the iPhone.
Apparently these two games conflicted with iOS 8 just as they did with iFunBox.      The next backup without those games was then successful.
I backed up to both the Mac and the cloud.
Hope this helps.

I deleted the backup on itunes, synced again and got the error message: itunes could not back up the iphone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iphone

I am using iphone 3GS, after syncing for few times and got the errors. I deleted the backup from Edit-> Preferences-> Devices. Then I synced again, there was an error message: itunes could not back up the iphone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iphone. What can I do? I have no backup anymore on ituens.

babesharon
I closed iTunes & manually deleted the file which was still stored locally even though it didn't display in Preferences. I have vista so I went to
C:\Users\{user name}\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync and deleted everything in the Backup folder (though I left the folder as is). If you have a different OS search the apple website for the backup location.
I reopened iTunes & Synced with out a problem. I also got the update to install.
Good luck.

I tried to update my iPhone4's, but get the following error message: iTunes could not back up the iphone "iPhoneName" because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iphone. Delete the backup for this iphone, then try again.

I tried to update my iPhone4's, but get the following error message: iTunes could not back up the iphone "iPhoneName" because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iphone. Delete the backup for this iphone, then try again.

The solution will be found here, select your computer type and software.
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2529

I have an iPhone with iOS 7.1.1 and am trying to update to 7.1.2, but get an error message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone becaus the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone"

I have an iPhone with iOS 7.1.1 and am trying to update to 7.1.2, but get an error message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the iPhone"

Assuming you are using the current version of iTunes (11,2,2), open iTunes, click "Preferences" under the leftmost entry on iTunes' menu, then choose "Devices".
Find the iPhone's backup there, highlight it, and choose "Delete Backup".

Whenever i try to backup my Iphone 4 i get an error message " Itunes can not backup (my Iphone) because the backup was corrupted or not compatible with the Iphone"

whenever i try to back up my iphone it gives me an error message "itunes could not back up (my)iphone because backup was corrupted or not compatible with your iphone" i already deleted the itunes backups through the prefrences tab. this has not helped. what am i doing wrong?

I have the same question and the only reply I've found on the forum was "change the USB hub", which HASN'T worked. So I am accepting new suggestions. Tks!

I have installed 0S5 but restoring the backup doesn't work. the following messages appear: An error accurred while restoring this iphone (-20) because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with iphone being restored (my iphone 3GS)

I have installed 0S5 but restoring the backup doesn't work. the following messages appears: An error accurred while restoring this iphone (-20), followed by another message: because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with iphone being restored (my iphone is 3GS), I tried restoring the factory settings and then restore the backup, but the same problems and I have lost all my contacts, pictures etc

Hi Ckuan,
Thanks a lot for your advice.
Deleting the correupted back up means to delete the information of one month since the last back up I made is one month ago.....right?
This back up I made right before I restored my iphone. During the restore however my OS was upgraded to 5.1.1. and reading the comments on the internet it seems I am not the only one whom experience this problem.
Can it be that if I downgrade my OS back to 5.1. the back up will not be considered as corrupted? If so, how do I downgrade the iphone?
Thanks in advance.

IPod wont backup, corrupt or not compatiable

sorry everyone, I thought I had this wrapped up. I found the folder they were hidden however, my ipod is still not recognizing where the backup folder is and I keep getting the same message:
iPod wont backup, corrupt or not compatiable
How do I get my ipod and backup folder to link up?
Thank you

What happens if you remov the backup files and then try to sync/backup?
The message is saying that the backup is mpt compatible with the iPod and one reason is that the backup is corrupted.
Just what are you try to do?

Error "backup is corrupt or not compatiable".

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for