Troubleshoot the Downloading of Messages from iCloud being Stuck: Every Possible Fix

Axel Nash

Written By Axel Nash |

“I can’t seem to sync my iPhone messages with iCloud. Whenever I try, the downloading of messages from iCloud gets stuck!”

Although it has been a while since the Messages app integrated with iCloud, users often encounter unwanted issues. For example, if the downloading of messages from iCloud is stuck, you might also encounter a similar situation. Since the issue can be caused by iCloud or your device, it is recommended first to diagnose it and then fix the problem. In this post, I’m going to make you familiar with every possible way to fix this iCloud sync problem.

Recommended reading: If you sycn your contacts to transfer to a new iPhone, try other methods! You can learn how to transfer contacts without iCloud in this article.

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Possible Reasons for the Downloading of Messages from iCloud being Stuck

Before we list some fixes, let’s quickly consider what could have caused this problem so that you can easily identify it.

  • • The Messages feature might not be synced on your iCloud account.
  • • There could not be enough free space on your iCloud.
  • • The iCloud servers might not be active as of now.
  • • You could have changed some settings on your device, causing the issue.
  • • A third-party anti-malware app can also cause this problem at times.
  • • Your device might not be linked correctly with your iCloud account.
  • • If your device has not been updated in a while, then it can also cause this issue.
  • • Any other app or firmware-related problem can also trigger it.
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Recommended reading: When you download messages from iCloud, you might come across the issue of your iPhone stuck on "Approve This iPhone." How did this happen? How to fix it? Click to read more.

7 Fixes for the Downloading of Messages from iCloud Stuck Issue

Now when you know what could have caused this problem, let’s learn how to fix the downloading of messages from iCloud being stuck.

Fix 1: Switch the Messages on iCloud feature

Before taking any drastic measures, ensure that the “Messages on iCloud” feature is enabled. You can turn it off and on again to reset the option even if it is switched on.

To fix the downloading of messages from iCloud being stuck, unlock your iPhone, and go to its Settings > Messages. Here, you can find the “Messages on iCloud” feature that must be turned on. In addition, you can tap on the “Sync Now” button here to further download your messages from iCloud.

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Besides that, you can also tap on your Apple ID (from iPhone settings) and visit the iCloud settings to turn on the syncing option for messages.

Fix 2: Check the Available Space on iCloud

You might already know that Apple only provides 5 GB of free space on every iCloud account that can quickly be exhausted. Therefore, if the downloading of messages from iCloud is stuck, then this could be a leading issue.

To check this, unlock your iPhone, go to its Settings, and tap on your Apple ID option. From here, browse to the iCloud settings and check the available free storage. You can also turn on the syncing of Messages from here and buy more storage for your account.

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Fix 3: Reset your iCloud Account on Linked Devices

If you have not linked the same iCloud account on different devices, then your message might not be synced as well. Therefore, you can check and even reset your account on linked devices.

To fix the downloading of messages from iCloud being stuck, go to the iCloud settings on your iPhone. Now, scroll down to tap on the “Sign Out” button and confirm your choice. Once you log out of your iCloud account, restart your device, and sign back in to reset it.

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Fix 4: Restart your iOS Devices

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix all kinds of minor issues on your iOS device as it would reset its current power cycle.

If you have an older iPhone model, then just long-press the Power key on the side. For newer generation iPhone models, you can press either the Volume Up/Down Key or the Side key simultaneously.

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This will display a power slider on the screen that you can swipe to turn off your iPhone. After that, wait for a while and press the Power key again to turn on your iPhone.

Recommended reading: How to transfer iCloud to Android.

Fix 5: Update your iOS Firmware

As listed above, if your device is running on an old or outdated version of iOS, then it can cause issues like the downloading of messages from iCloud being stuck. The easiest way to fix this is by updating your device’s firmware.

You can just go to its Settings > General > Software Update and view the available iOS profile. Then, tap on the “Download and Install” button as the update will be installed on your device and restarted automatically.

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Fix 6: Reset your Phone’s Network Settings

In some cases, downloading messages from iCloud can get stuck due to altered network settings on your device. The easiest way to fix this is by resetting your phone’s network settings. Please note that this will erase your phone's saved network settings and Wi-Fi passwords.

You can unlock your iPhone, go to its Settings > General > Reset, and tap on the “Reset Network Settings” option. You have to enter your phone’s passcode to confirm your choice. From here, you can also choose to reset all settings on your iPhone.

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Fix 7: Check the Apple System Status

Lastly, Apple’s iCloud servers might be down or under maintenance. To check this, you can go to the Apple System Status page on its website and view the status of the iCloud sync option. If it is down, you can wait a while and try to sync your messages again once it is up and running.

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I’m sure that by now, you will be able to fix the downloading of messages from iCloud being stuck issue. As you can see, I have come up with different reasons that can cause this iCloud sync issue and have further discussed several ways to fix it. You can first diagnose the problem and then take the needed steps to resolve it. If you have tried to fix the iCloud sync issue on your iPhone by any other method, then let us know about it in the comments.

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Axel Nash

Axel Nash

staff Editor