Have you encountered the frustrating "syncing with iCloud paused" problem while trying to back up your photos or files to iCloud? This issue can occur when your device lacks ideal syncing settings or when certain requirements, like Wi-Fi connectivity or adequate battery life, are not met.

Regardless of the reason, this situation can be confusing for many people, especially those who rely on iCloud to preserve their data. Fortunately, this guide discusses various details of solutions to fix syncing with iCloud paused issues. Hence, whether you seek to adjust the device settings or check storage, adhere to the troubleshooting steps and get your iCloud sync up.

In this article

Part 1. 5 Potential Reasons Behind Syncing with iCloud Paused

If you see that syncing with iCloud is paused, it usually indicates that your iCloud account has encountered some issues. Let's break down some common reasons why this happens to have a smooth syncing process in the future.

  1. Low Battery: Low battery mode is designed to improve battery life by switching off background activities. Therefore, this syncing may automatically pause if your device's battery is low.
  2. Storage Full: Another common reason for a pause in iCloud syncing is when your device has no storage space. Hence, check your available storage and clear some space if necessary to avoid a hindrance in your syncing process.
  3. Device Settings: Besides, check your iCloud settings because you may have paused the syncing manually for specific reasons at times. Moreover, parental controls can interfere with syncing, especially when screen time is restricted under Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  4. Account Issues: Some account issues, such as not agreeing to new terms and conditions, can also pause your overall syncing process. Moreover, if there is any issue with your Apple ID or iCloud account, syncing may be paused until the issue is resolved.
  5. Software Updates: If your device is running an outdated version, syncing could be affected. Therefore, ensuring that your device is running the latest version of iOS for seamless syncing is essential.

Part 2. Top 10 Solutions to Fix Syncing with iCloud Paused

Since you know the reasons behind syncing with iCloud paused, there are numerous approaches you can consider to overcome this. Therefore, this section covers each fix in detail with stepwise guidance to assist you in syncing the iCloud without any blunder.

Solution 1. Force Restart iPhone

Before trying any innovative tool, remember that sometimes software glitches and bugs can affect the syncing process. That’s why it is advised to force restart the iPhone first to fix the bugs affecting the iCloud syncing issue. By restarting the device with a sequential guide, all the temporary settings and software glitches will be resolved to give you a fresh start.

Instructions: If you are an iPhone 8 or later user, press and quickly release the "Volume Up" button to force restart the iPhone. Then, continue to perform the same procedure with the "Volume Down" button and then hold the "Side" button. After the Apple logo appears, unbind the side button to restart the device.

iPhone 7 and 7 Plus: Other than that, if you are using the iPhone 7 series, force-restart your device by holding both the "Volume Down" and "Side" buttons. Wait for a while until the device displays the Apple screen to initiate the force restart process.

iPhone 6 and Below: For iPhone 6 and early models, simply press the “Home” and Sleep or Wake” keys simultaneously until the Apple screen appears.

force restart iphone

Solution 2. Check iCloud Storage

There is a chance that your device is running out of iCloud space and facing a syncing issue with iCloud servers. If you don't have iCloud+, you get up to 5GB of free storage with a standard iCloud device; hence, if it fills up, you can't back up the data. Therefore, check the iCloud storage through the following steps and determine if this is the main cause or not:

Instructions: From the Settings application, tap "Profile" to start checking the iCloud space on the iPhone. On the new screen, choose the "iCloud" option, which will take you to a new screen. There, check the iCloud storage. If it's full, then it's the main reason affecting iCloud syncing. Therefore, you are advised to buy an iCloud plan to eliminate this problem from your iDevice.

access icloud storage screen

Solution 3. Checking Internet Connection

When you have ample space on the iCloud, the reason for this issue might be the internet connectivity. For iCloud backup, having a robust internet connection is the foremost requirement for perfecting the data. A strong internet connection speeds up data transfer and reduces the time needed to back up. Thus, here are steps that will allow you to check the device connectivity for safe and easy iCloud backup:

Instructions: Within the Settings app, hit the "Wi-Fi" and tap the network you are connected with. If the low data mode is enabled on the new screen, turn it off to ensure a strong internet connection and overcome the syncing with iCloud paused issue.

turn off low data mode

Solution 4. Verify iCloud Servers Status

For some reason, if you have applied all the above approaches and are still facing the same issue, check the status of Apple servers. This is necessary as sometimes your phone doesn't have any problems, but Apple servers might cause turbulence in iCloud syncing. Once you review the Apple servers, through the given steps, you will learn about recent updates or upcoming maintenance to fix this issue.

Instructions: On your device, search for the Apple System Status page and navigate to services related to iCloud. If the circle is green, everything is running smoothly, but if it is yellow, Apple servers are causing "syncing with iCloud paused” concerns.

check icloud server status

Solution 5. Disable Low Battery Mode

Though low battery mode is an effective way to use the device for an extensive period, it can also limit some features on the iPhone. As mentioned, enabling low battery mode turns off some features, and iCloud syncing might be one of them. Thus, here is how you can turn off low battery mode to easily transfer data:

Instructions: Head to the iPhone control center and tap the “Low Power Mode” icon to disable it if it's already active.

turn off low power mode

Alternatively, go to the "Battery" option within iOS settings and disable the "Low Power Mode" toggle on the following screen.

Solution 6. Update iOS 18 Firmware

Still facing the "syncing with iCloud paused" problem on your iDevice? Try updating the iOS firmware to overcome this frustrating situation. This method works most of the time since it meets the requirement of an ideal update for iCloud syncing. New updates might also support features that fix the temporary glitches and bugs to make data move seamlessly. Hence, follow the stepwise guide provided below to update iOS firmware:

Instructions: To update the iOS firmware, go to your mobile settings, select the "General" option from the list, and then select the "Software Update" option on the new screen. After tapping, you will be directed to the next screen, where you have to press the "Update Now" option.

hit update now button

Solution 7. Re-login into iCloud Account

Besides updating the iOS, you can also sign out and log back into the iCloud account to avoid persistent issues of "syncing with iCloud paused." Relogging will refresh the connection issues and resolve all the temporary glitches that might affect the syncing process. Therefore, adhere to the below instructions to safely log out and resign into the iCloud account:

Step 1. Reach to your iPhone’s Settings and tap your "Apple Profile" to move forward. On the new screen, scroll down and use the "Sign Out" option. This will bring up a new screen asking for your device password. Insert the password and select the "Turn Off" option from the top right corner to log out.

sign out of icloud on iphone

Step 2. Now that you have signed out, choose the “Apple Account” option from the top of the screen and enter the Apple ID credentials by selecting the "Sign in Manually” option. After that, try syncing the iCloud again to see if it works perfectly.

insert icloud credentials and press ok

Solution 8. Verify Date and Time Settings

Since compatibility among device settings is also the foremost requirement of iCloud backup, verify whether your basic settings, like date and time, are aligned. Once aligned, this will allow you to resolve the syncing with the iCloud paused situation, ensuring seamless data transfer. Hence, here is how you can verify whether the date and time are correctly set or not:

Instructions: Locate your iPhone’s “General” settings to tap the “Date & Time” option from the new screen. As you locate this option, press it and toggle the “Set Automatically” option to let the device align the time and date.

toggle set automatically date and time

Solution 9. Manually Perform iCloud Sync Process

Users who still haven’t recovered from syncing with the iCloud paused situation may look into other causes. This situation often occurs due to software bugs that you can easily fix by manually syncing the data from iCloud settings. Therefore, follow the steps below to adapt this manual process and bypass any temporary issues:

Step 1. Enter the Settings app on your iPhone and tap your Apple ID from the top. Afterward, choose "iCloud" to access all the apps on your iPhone.

choose icloud from iphone settings

Step 2. Press the "Messages" option and toggle the "Use on this Phone" button to proceed with the syncing process. Later, hit the "Sync Now" button to sync messages from your iPhone to iCloud successfully.

enable use on this iphone

Solution 10. Reset Network Settings

If the above solutions cannot resolve your issue, then resetting the networking settings might work. By resetting unstable glitches, you can clear out any hindrance caused by this syncing access. To reset the network settings, first make sure to remember your password and then follow the instructions below.

Instructions: To proceed with network resetting, first access the General settings of your iPhone. Later, go to the "Transfer or Reset iPhone" settings and expand the "Reset" option in the following interface. Finally, tap the "Reset Network" button and provide the required confirmations to complete the resetting process.

proceed to reset network settings

Part 3. The Best Alternative to iCloud for Creating Backup of Your Important iPhone Data

After considering the solutions mentioned above to resolve the syncing with iCloud paused issue, we recommend Wondershare MobileTrans as the best alternative. With this tool, you don't need to worry about your personal data loss, as it can backup and restore 18+ data types. Moreover, with the help of its backup and restore tool, users can recover music and other purchased content with just one click.

If you accidentally delete your WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, or GBWhatsApp messages from your Android smartphone, this tool can recover them. Moreover, it supports the latest version of iOS 18, making it a reliable choice for syncing data to your iCloud. Furthermore, you can backup WhatsApp directly to your PC and add a password to encrypt your backups.

Key Features

  • User Choice Data: Unlike other tools like iCloud and Google Drive, this tool allows one to choose the data to back up or restore.
  • No Overwrites: The original data on your phone will remain the same during the backup and restore process.
  • Restore to Any Phone: Once you've backed up your phone, you can restore the backups to any phone, including Android or iPhone.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Backup iPhone to Computer with Wondershare MobileTrans

After discussing how this innovative toolbox is the perfect alternative to iCloud, below is the comprehensive guide to back up iPhone data:

Step 1. Enter the Backup and Restore Tool After Connecting Your Device

To initiate the process, first install the updated version of Wondershare MobileTrans on your PC or MacBook. Afterward, connect your iDevice to your computer with an MFi-certified cable and press the “Backup” option from the "Backup and Restore" section.

use backup and restore feature

Step 2. Select the Type of File to Back up from your iPhone

From the following interface, you can select the types of files you wish to back up from your iPhone. After choosing the content of your choice, hit the "Start" button to accelerate the backup process. Wait for the backup process to be completed, and then preview the content on your computer to ensure its accuracy.

hit the start button
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Conclusion

In summary, syncing with iCloud paused is a frustrating problem many iPhone users face while moving their data. Therefore, this article has discussed various comprehensive approaches with detailed stepwise guidance. In addition to basic methods, it is recommended that Wondershare MobileTrans be used to back up iDevice data instead of iCloud easily.

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Axel Nash
Axel Nash Nov 27, 24
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