If you want to expand the limited storage of your iPhone or iPad, outsource files or share them among Apple devices, you can’t avoid iCloud. However, sometimes the data in iCloud is not synced with iOS devices. In these cases, the following tips will help.
Among other things, photos from the iPhone are stored in the iCloud. In this case, pictures are automatically sent to the cloud. On the iPhone itself, only a compressed image preview remains and thus much more storage space. If there are problems with synchronization, you can either not download any data from the iCloud or no longer store from the iPhone or iPad in the online storage.
iCloud Not Syncing: This is what you can do
There is no clear cause for iCloud problems. Errors in synchronization can be either on your device or directly at Apple. Go through the following suggested solutions to exchange files via Apple’s online service again:
- Turn off iPad or iPhone and restart it.
- It is possible that the iCloud storage is full, which means that no more data can be uploaded. So delete content you no longer need if there are problems.
- In case of upload problems, you should also check the file name. Files with a name longer than 256 characters can cause errors.
- Check the network status of your device. Are you logged into a Wi-Fi network or do you have mobile Internet reception?
- Go to the settings of your iOS or iPadOS device. At the top, check that you are logged in with the correct Apple ID.
- Make sure that iOS and the Apple apps are running in the latest version and update them if necessary.
- Tap on your Apple ID and open the iCloud options area. Select an area here where the data cannot be synchronized. Disable data synchronization here briefly via the “Sync this iPhone/iPad” slider and re-enable the option.
- If it still doesn’t work, first log out of iCloud on your iOS or Mac device and then log in again.
- Also, investigate if logging out and back in from the Apple ID helps.
Also, make sure that you have set up iCloud correctly as well. Usually, these steps are enough to find out where the problem with iCloud lies.
Effective Steps to Fix “iCloud Not Syncing”
Step 1: Update your software
One of the first things you should do when iCloud is not syncing is to check if your devices are running the latest software versions. Apple often releases updates that improve the performance and stability of iCloud and fix any bugs that may cause syncing problems.
To update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > General > Software Update and download and install any available updates.
To update your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update and download and install any available updates.
To update iCloud for Windows on your PC, open the Apple Software Update application and download and install any available updates.
Step 2: Check the date and time settings
Another possible reason why iCloud is not syncing is that the date and time settings on your devices are incorrect. This may interfere with the communication between iCloud and Apple’s servers, which use the correct date and time for their location.
To fix this, you can either manually adjust the date and time on your devices or set them to update automatically from the Internet.
To set the date and time automatically on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically.
To set the date and time automatically on your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Date & Time and check the box for Set date and time automatically.
To set the date and time automatically on your PC, go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time and turn on Set time automatically.
Step 3: Check your Internet connection
iCloud requires a stable and fast Internet connection to sync your data across your devices. If your connection is slow or unstable, iCloud may not be able to sync properly or at all.
To test your Internet connection, try streaming a video from YouTube or another site. If it’s slow or buffering, try restarting your router or modem or switching to a different Wi-Fi network or cellular data.
You can also check if there are any service outages or connection issues affecting iCloud by visiting Apple’s System Status page. If you see any red icons next to iCloud services, it means they are experiencing problems and may not be available at the moment. Wait until they are restored before trying to sync again.
Step 4: Check your iCloud settings
Another common reason why iCloud is not syncing is that you have not enabled iCloud for the apps or services you want to sync. For example, if you want to sync your contacts across your devices, you need to turn on Contacts in your iCloud settings on each device.
To check your iCloud settings on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud and make sure the toggles for the apps or services you want to sync are green.
To check your iCloud settings on your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and make sure the checkboxes for the apps or services you want to sync are checked.
To check your iCloud settings on your PC, open iCloud for Windows and make sure the boxes for the apps or services you want to sync are checked.
You also need to make sure that you are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all of your devices. To check your Apple ID on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, go to Settings > [your name] and look at the email address at the top of the screen. To check your Apple ID on your Mac, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID and look at the email address next to Name. To check your Apple ID on your PC, open iCloud for Windows and look at the email address next to Account Details.
If you are using different Apple IDs on different devices, you need to sign out of one of them and sign in with the same one on all of them. Alternatively, you can use Family Sharing to share some of your iCloud data with other family members using different Apple IDs.
Step 5: Refresh your data
Sometimes iCloud may not sync your data automatically or may encounter some errors during the process. If you notice that your data is not up to date on your devices, you can try to refresh it manually. To do this, follow these steps:
- On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud and make sure that the apps you want to sync are turned on.
- Tap on iCloud Backup and make sure that iCloud Backup is enabled and that the last backup date is recent. If not, tap on Back Up Now to create a backup of your data.
- On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud and make sure that the apps you want to sync are checked. You can also click on Options next to each app to customize the settings.
- Click on Manage in the bottom right corner and then click on iCloud Drive. You can see how much storage space you have left and delete any unwanted files or folders.
- On your Windows PC, open iCloud for Windows and make sure that the apps you want to sync are selected. You can also click on Options next to each app to customize the settings.
- Click on Storage in the bottom left corner and then click on iCloud Drive. You can see how much storage space you have left and delete any unwanted files or folders.
By refreshing your data, you can ensure that your iCloud sync is working properly and that your data is consistent across all your devices.
iCloud Not Syncing: Is iCloud down?
Apple has its own overview that shows the server status of iCloud as well as other services. If the display for the iCloud status is not green, there are problems at Apple. In this case, there is probably little you can do about it and you will have to wait for some time until the data can be synchronized again.
If the iCloud problems cannot be solved, you can reset your iOS device. Note, however, that all data and settings will be lost in the process. If you continue to have problems with your iPhone or iPad, you should contact Apple support.
