IPhone 5 won't back up--why?

When I connect my iPhone 5 to my Mac, iTunes and iPhoto do not open and do not register that the phone is connected. I'm using the correct cable and can't see any obvious user error in what I'm doing. Suggestions?

Are you using the most current version of iTunes (11.0.4)?
Are you using the most current version of iPhoto (9.4.3)?
If so, what happens when you plug your iPhone into your Mac and then manually open iTunes?

Similar Messages

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    Which email should I send to for a refund on iCloud storage within 15 day period. Also the iPhone won't back up to iCloud it keeps saying backup failed even when I log out of iCloud and log back in how can I fix that?

    If your back up continually fails, you might try turning off back up on your mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup) and then deleting the backup file from iCloud by swiping the backup file on the mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup > manage…) and then turning back up on again.
    Being able to back up to the cloud can be very useful, especially if you don't have access to a computer or have infrequent access to one, however unless you specifically need to use iCloud for back up, you will find backing up to iTunes significantly more convenient and possibly more reliable.

  • My Iphone won't back up to my itunes account on my computer when I plug it in, It syncs but when it tries back up I get an error message. I have tried to restore it to the last time it was backed up but still it didn't work.

    Hi,
    I got my iphone last year and It was working just fine until June of this year and I didn't notice it until I tried plugging my iphone into my computer to get more songs on it. Error message came up saying that it was unable to backup iphone because an error occurred. So I did some research and tried to delete old backups and restore to the last one. After all that it still won't back up and some of my apps just don't work, thought the new ios would help but it did not. Everything works fine its just that I want to be able to back my phone up and I haven't been able to sync June. Any help would be appreciated.

    For your computer first get iTunes to see it by:
    iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
    or
    iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Device not recognized in iTunes for Mac OS X
    - The transfer iTunes purchases
    iTunes Store: Transferring purchases from your iOS device or iPod to a computer
    - Or redownload them by:
    Downloading past purchases from the App Store, iBookstore, and iTunes Store
    - Transfer other music by using a third-party program like one of those discussed here:
    newer copy
    - Connect the iPod to your compute and make a backup by right clicking on the iPod under Devices in iTunes and select Back Up
    - Restore the iPod from that backup
    Note that the backup that iTunes makes does not included synced media like apps and music.

  • IPhone won't back up to iTunes

    I had trouble on an old laptop when backing up my iPhone to iTunes, suddenly out of the blue it wouldn't work.  I tried all the suggestions, deleting old backups, uninstalling all apple products and reinstalling and still it was always hit and miss whether it would work or not.  Anyway cut to today I have bought a new laptop, installed iTunes connected my iPhone and it backed up. At last I thought.  Now just tried to backup again and it won't do it. Comes up with the iTunes can't back up this iPhone to your computer. Aargh. Please any ideas as I am desperate.  I need a backup of my phone before something goes wrong and I lose it all!

    Here are Apple steps to this problem.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2529
    Some users post that you must remove the backup from both iTunes and the backup system folder.

  • IPhone won't back up to iCloud

    I get a notification saying it needs to be backed up because it hasn't yet but when I try to back it up it won't load or anything. I think it works when plugged into my computer but I don't know how to check.

    MadyWeaver wrote:
    when I try to back it up it won't load or anything.
    Sorry. This makes no sense. What exactly are you doing and what is the result?

  • My iphone won't back up to laptop/iTunes

    As of last week I am no longer able to back up my iphone 5 to my Laptop (macbook pro G4 OSX 10.8.2 Mountain Lion) with iTunes 11.0.1. It gives me the following error message: "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because an error occurred."
    I reinstalled itunes. I tuned off all Apps on iphone. I restarted iphone. I restared laptop. Nothing has worked. Itunes sees the phone and begins the back up process but always gives me the error message. BTW I am still able to upload photos into iphoto no problem. Thoughts anyone?

    I had the same issue. Iphone would not sync or backup to my laptop. I tried reinstalling, even to another directory, nothing worked. Then I thought about what software I most recently installed. On a recent trip I installed a Sprint USB Broadband Modem on my laptop. I realized that I had trouble with syncing and backing up my Iphone since that install.  I uninstalled the program "Sprint Smartview" and rebooted my laptop.  As a result, my syncing and backup functions were restored and Itunes works perfectly. Hope this helps. It was definitely a conflict issue with the Sprint software.

  • My iPhone won't back up to icloud

    Hi Apple Community,
    I can't backup my iPhone 4 16GB to the iCloud if iam connected to wireless.... Everytime i try to back it up in the iCloud settings on the iPhone i recive the message saying "There was a problem completing the backup. Please try again later"..... I have been trying to back up to the iCloud since thursday and i even restored my iPhone still it dosn't work..... Apple is starting to **** me off!

    If your back up continually fails, you might try turning off back up on your mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup) and then deleting the backup file from iCloud by swiping the backup file on the mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup > manage…) and then turning back up on again.
    Being able to back up to the cloud can be very useful, especially if you don't have access to a computer or have infrequent access to one, however unless you specifically need to use iCloud for back up, you will find backing up to iTunes significantly more convenient and possibly more reliable.

  • TS3992 My iPhone won't back up to iCloud.

    The iCloud pane in the settings app told me that to create an iCloud backup, I had to connect to Wi-fi, plug in my iPhone and lock it.
    I did all that, and even left it that way all night long, but the next morning I checked my iCloud backup and it still hadn't backed up to iCloud.
    Now I haven't backed up my iPhone to iCloud for almost five weeks.
    What can I do?

    I just discovered I'm in the same boat.
    I happened to check my iPad 2 and found that the last icloud backup was in mid-July.   I completely turned off the device (Home-Power buttons) as is advised in the Apple troubleshoorting guide.  Started up again.  In Pages, I created a new doc and went to my mac, logged into icloud.com and checked iWork.  The new file was there - so my iPad connection to iCloud is okay.  Pressed the Back Up Now button in Settings>icloud>Storage & Backup.  The progress meter made it a little more than 3/4 of the way through, and with less than one minute go to, the process gave up and the error is the usual "the last backup could not be completed". 
    I've searched through many past posts on the topic and the only advice I find is to shut down/start up the device and to reset Network settings.  I've done the first.  Since I'm able to get files to iCloud from Pages, the connection to icloud is okay.  But the backup is the problem.  Any other ideas before I consider a Network reset (which I assume means losing many settings).  Or maybe I go back to backups to iTunes.
    I should add that backups work flawlessly on my iPhone.  Also have more than 20 GB of free space on iCloud and about 10GB free space on the iPad.

  • My Iphone won't back up to Icloud anymore and My photos won't sync

    For some reason I can't get my phone to back up to icloud or my photos to show up on my Mac photo stream. My phone is connected to wifi and plugged in to the power. What should i do?

    If your back up continually fails, you might try turning off back up on your mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup) and then deleting the backup file from iCloud by swiping the backup file on the mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup > manage…) and then turning back up on again.
    Being able to back up to the cloud can be very useful, especially if you don't have access to a computer or have infrequent access to one, however unless you specifically need to use iCloud for back up, you will find backing up to iTunes significantly more convenient and possibly more reliable.

  • I changed my apple ID email address and ever since my iphone 5 won't back up to icloud

    I got a new email address so i changed my Apple ID email to my new email. Ever since then my iphone won't back up to icloud. Its been about 2 months now and I'm getting nervous about losing my stuff. Is this fixable?

    Did you ever change the iCloud ID on you phone after making this change?   If not, to change your iCloud ID, go to Settings>iCloud, tap Delete Account, then sign back in with the new ID.  This deletes the account and your iCloud data from your device, but not from iCloud.  Provided you are signing back into the same account, your iCloud data will reappear on your device when you sign back in.
    To avoid losing photo stream photos, save them to your camera roll (if not already there) before deleting the account.  To do this, open your my photo stream album, tap Edit, tap the photos, tap Share, then tap Save to Camera Roll.

  • Hi, I am wondering why my iphone won't send pictures through messages, I have MMS on and I have tried sending it with 3G on aswell and still doesn't work. Someone please help me :)

    Hi, I am wondering why my iphone won't send pictures through messages, I have MMS on and I have tried sending it with 3G on aswell and still doesn't work. Someone please help me :)

    Hey lozza567,
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    iOS: Troubleshooting Messages
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2755
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    You will need these to send and receive MMS:
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    - iOS 3.1 or later.
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    - A domestic MMS plan from your cellular provider. You may need an international messaging plan to send MMS to an international contact. Contact your carrier for more information.
    - A roaming MMS when using a cellular provider's network different from your billing cellular provider's network. Learn more about roaming and contact your carrier for more information.
    To resolve issues with sending and receiving MMS, follow these steps first
    1. Go to Settings and turn airplane mode off.
    2. Go to Settings > Messages and turn MMS Messaging on.
    3. Go to Settings > Cellular and turn Cellular Data on.
    4. Go to Settings > Cellular and turn Data Roaming on if you are roaming on a cellular provider network different from your billing provider's network.
    5. Verify that you have a cellular data connection in the status bar at the top left of your iPhone.
    6. Go to Settings and turn Wi-Fi off. Open Safari and navigate to www.apple.com to verify that you have a data connection. Turn Wi-Fi back on to continue using Wi-Fi for other features. If your cellular data connection isn't available, follow these steps.
    7. Verify that you can send and receive SMS. If you are unable to send and receive SMS, see the "Issues with sending and receiving SMS" section, above.
    8. MMS may not be available while on a call. Only 3G and faster GSM networks support simultaneous data and voice calls. Learn more about which network your phone supports.
    9. Restart your iPhone.
    10. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings on your iPhone.
    11. Reseat your SIM card.
    If you are still unable to send or receive MMS, follow these steps
    1. Make sure that the contact trying to message you isn't blocked in Settings > Messages > Blocked.
    2. Go to Settings > Messages and turn on group messaging if you are sending a group message.
    3. Make sure that you are using the area code with the contact's phone number. When sending messages internationally, you also need the contact's international code.
    4. Verify a "Pay as you go" MMS plan has enough available balance. Contact your carrier if unsure of your MMS plan or available balance.
    5. If the issue occurs with a specific contact or contacts, back up or forward important messages and delete your current messaging threads with the contact. Create a new message to the contact and try again.
    6. If the issue occurs with a specific contact or contacts, delete and re-create the contact from the Contacts application. Create a new message to the newly created contact and try again.
    7. Back up and restore your iPhone as new.
    8. If your carrier has recently ported your phone number, the porting process may not be complete. Contact your carrier to confirm that the porting process is complete.
    9. Contact your carrier to verify that you are provisioned to send SMS and are in an area with cellular coverage.
    10. Contact your carrier to verify that there are no blocks or filters placed on your wireless account preventing you from sending SMS.
    11. Your carrier may require APN settings to be modified to use MMS. Learn more about when you should adjust APN settings.
    Thanks,
    Matt M.

  • My iPhone won't stop vibrating when plugged into my Macbook.  All software is up to date.  iTunes just gives me an error.  No problems when plugged into a PC.  Why the nonstop vibrating!?

    My iPhone won't stop vibrating when plugged into my Macbook.  All software is up to date.  iTunes just gives me an error.  No problems when plugged into a PC.  Why the nonstop vibrating!?

    When I connect it to my iMac (with up-to-date OS X Yosemite 10.9.5) - it doesn't work.
    Specifically - iTunes automatically launches, but then quickly shows a dialog window that says, "iTunes could not connect to the iPhone. This device is no longer connected."
    Meanwhile - on my iPhone - in the upper right-hand corner (where the battery life is displayed) - you can see the "plugged in" icon (lightening bolt) rapidly blinking on and off.
    In other words - it seems like, when it's plugged in - it's rapidly connecting and disconnecting (several times per second).
    If I click "OK" on that dialog window on iTunes - it instantly pops back up, and continues to do so as long as I keep the iPhone plugged in.
    I have tried all and stile did not resolve my problem. I tried to restart both devices, try different cable (I have original cable). Both devices are new and software's are update it on latest versions.
    Thanks in advance for any help!

  • TS3988 How do I change my iCloud account id on my iPhone?  I changed my Apple ID and iCloud Id on my PC but I can not change it on my iPhone and now it won't back up.

    How do I change my iCloud account information on my iPhone?  I had to change my Apple ID and my iCloud ID on my PC but, I wasn't able to change it on my iPhone and now it won't back up.

    Welcome to the Apple Community.
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    Providing you are simply updating your existing details and not changing to another account, when you delete your account, all the data that is synced with iCloud will also be deleted from the device (but not from iCloud), but will be synced back to your device when you login again.
    In order to change your Apple ID or password for your iCloud account on your computer, you need to sign out of the account from your computer first, then sign back in using your updated details. (System Preferences > iCloud, click the sign out button)
    In order to change your Apple ID or password for your iTunes account on your iOS device, you need to sign out from your iOS device first, then sign back in using your updated details. (Settings > store, scroll down and tap your ID)

  • Iphone 4S won't back up on itunes, but ipad, ipod and iphone 3GS will.

    I took delivery of my new iphone 4S on Friday and am running the latest iOS and latest version of itunes and the phone restored from the back up copy of my 3GS with no problems and is working great.
    I have just tried to back up the 4S on itunes (as I usually do weekly), its syncs ok but then I get the error message:
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    I have tried deleting previous back ups, deleting the lockdown folder, backing up on another PC and pretty much everything suggested here http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2529 apart from reinstalling itunes but it still won't back up and throws up the error message. If I plug in my ipad, ipod touch or old 3GS they all back up immediately which is leaning towards me thinking there may be a problem with the phone rather than itunes.
    I have been able to back up via iCloud so I'm not too worried in the immediate future however I do like to keep an iTunes back up as well (for e.g. creating a .csv file of messges etc
    Am a bit stuck now and am not sure which direction to go - do you think a restore would change anything (I assume a restore from iCloud would put the phone back to how it is tonight after the iCloud back up so not sure if this will change anything, (I have always backed up to the PC in the past so have no experience of iCloud back up processes) or should I make an appointment at the genius bar? Googling just seems to come up with what I've already done.
    Thanks in advance.

    Open iTunes and go to Edit>Check for Updates.  You'll need to be running at least XP SP2 or later to update to version 10.7.

  • I got a new iphone 4 today. I have updated my itunes to the latest update but my itunes won't sync with my iphone. Does anybody know why this might be?

    I got a new iphone 4 today. I have updated my itunes to the latest update but my itunes won't sync with my iphone. Does anybody know why this might be?

    Also, See Here for Getting Started...
    http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/getstarted/
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