How to Fix iTunes “Back Up Now” Button Greyed Out?

In such cases, you can't back up your phone as you can not now access the service that iTunes usually provides for backing up your iPhone, but there is no need to worry about and certainly do not think if there's anything wrong with your phone.

This issue can certainly be frustrating if you're longing to back up your device to your PC, but as above, there is no need to worry. We'll guide you through the solutions.

Part 1: Why is manual backup greyed out in iTunes?

There are times when you connect your iPhone through iTunes to the PC. The iTunes shows the Back up now option is greyed out. iPhone users have usually seen this problem and have been through it, but you should not lose hope. First, you have to understand why the issue pops up in the first place. There can be several reasons, but the most common ones are as follows:

1. Outdated iTunes: We generally do not update applications, leaving them to be updated later at some point. One of the reasons you're getting this particular issue is that it might be because of your outdated iTunes application, which isn't letting you sync with your phone.
2. Wrong Port or USB Cable: Another common reason for such an issue is that users connect their iPhone using the wrong port or an incompatible USB wire/cable.
3. iOS isn't Updated: Like the first point, iOS users generally do not update their software. Having an older version of the software can also cause this issue.
4. Weak Internet Connection: Sometimes, the users have a weak internet connection, which brings out the Back up now being greyed out the problem. Connecting to a stable internet connection should fix the problem.

Part 2: 5 Ways to Fix iCloud Backup Greyed Out

Have you ever wanted to back up your iPhone using iTunes on your PC only to discover that the Apple iTunes "Back Up Now" is grayed out? Do not worry as you are not the first one to be experiencing this phenomena / problem and probably won’t be the last as this problem has been the same since a few years with the iPhone models. You cannot back up your personal information from your device to iTunes backups. iTunes backup is occasionally grayed out on Windows 10 for iPhone users who wish to back up their devices. This is an issue that many people encounter, especially if you wish to restore their device or only want to back up its data on their PC. But, luck is on your side today as we will be assisting you in solving any issues with iTunes backups that are currently grayed out and make backup your iPhone again as before. So, let’s get started-

1. Updating the iTunes on Windows to Latest Version

We all know that Softwares or Applications are prone to bugs and need to be maintained/updated every now and then. So, the most probable cause for your iTunes Back up now being greyed out is that the Application itself might be outdated and you would be needing to update it.

Follow the following steps in order to update your iTunes software:

• Step 1: Lauch the iTunes app from your PC/Laptop.
• Step 2: Click on Help and then “Update”.
• Step 3: Follow the steps it shows in order to update the app.

After the software has updated, make sure to connect your phone again and hopefully the problem would have resolved.

2. Restart both iTunes and Computer

Your iTunes backup might be disabled on your Windows PC because of some program problems in your computer or with iTunes because as stated above Programs or Softwares are prone to bugs and issues that come with time and sometimes with the updates. In such case, the best remedy is to restart your computer. If the trouble persists despite your attempts to resolve it, it's time to power down your computer and restart it. A restart on the computer might help in some cases.

3. Checking the Internet Connection

Make sure you have a secure and stable internet connection for making backups. When backing up an iPhone, many people encounter difficulties when their internet connection is bad. So at first, you have to make sure that while you’re backing up your iPhone, you have a stable Internet connection.

Another thing you can do is to disconnect your iPhone from the computer, and then, reconnect it again via USB cable, if in case there’s an internet issue and it can’t be resolved. Also, ensure that the USB cable you're using is in good operating order. If everything else fails, try a different USB connection at another computer. 

4. Updating the iOS version

If your iPhone's backup is grayed out, it's most likely because it isn't running the most recent iOS version. Sometimes, the outdated iOS version might be the cause of the problem you're having. In this given circumstance, the best thing you can do is update your phone and make sure that it's not running on an outdated version of iOS. 

5. Rebooting your iPhone

There is another way and that is to Reboot your phone. Perhaps your iPhone has an issue that is preventing it from backing up. In such situations, simply restarting your iPhone usually solves the problem.

Part 3: Restoring iPhone contacts with iTunes Backup

It is pretty simple to restore contacts on an iPhone using iTunes, as long as you know how to recover contacts from an iTunes backup file.

However, this method might be a bit risky for you as all current data on your Apple device will be lost and overwritten by backup contents, such as photos, videos, messages, notes, calendars, settings, etc.

If the above warnings do not matter to you and you're fine with everything stated above happening, then perform the following steps:

• Step 1: You must start iTunes and connect your iPhone to the computer using a USB cord.
• Step 2: You'll need to click "Restore Backup..." from the drop-down menu after selecting your iPhone under the Devices list on your computer screen.
• Step 3: Finally, under the most recent date, scroll down to find the newest backup entry and click "Restore" as a confirmation for the operation.

Conclusion

We are well aware of how much of an issue and how frustrating it is to have iTunes Back up now greyed out, but as they say that every problem has a solution. So we provided different solutions for you to try out. If one doesn't work, the next one will. We hope it helps!

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Axel Nash

staff Editor