Apple Intelligence now features Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools enhancements, seamless support for ChatGPT, and visual intelligence.

Apple Intelligence has also begun language expansion with localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Learn more >

You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

📰 Newsroom Update

Apple Music expands live global radio offering with three brand-new stations. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

User profile for user: augratin
augratin Author
User level: Level 1
76 points

Cannot back up because the backup was corrupt (??)

I was looking through iTunes today and became puzzled when I noticed it said "Your iPhone has never been backed up to this computer". I know I've backed up my phone quite a few times in the past.


Oh well, I thought I better get a backup going. Clicked on 'back up now' and after a moment, got the message "iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt. Delete the backup for this phone in devices preferences, then try again."



Firstly, this phone supposedly has never been backed-up to this computer before. So what corrupt backup are they referring to?


Secondly, in device preferences the backup field is empty. So I have nothing to delete.



Any suggestions? Please don't suggest reinstalling iTunes because I just did that three weeks ago trying to solve the random-playback-pause problem (which didn't fix it) and I'm not looking forward to spending a few hours of my Sunday doing that again.

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Feb 16, 2020 1:34 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: carrowreagh
carrowreagh
User level: Level 1
4 points

Posted on Feb 25, 2020 5:08 AM

I deleted the file. Restarted but same message. No new file created

View in context

Similar questions

5 replies
User profile for user: Joseph_S.
Joseph_S.
User level: Community Specialist

Feb 18, 2020 1:50 PM in response to augratin

Hello, augratin.


Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.


From what I've read is that you're unable to create or delete a backup in iTunes. I'd be glad to help. You may have to delete the backup manually. Try the steps shown in this article to locate the backup and manually delete it: Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch


Once you remove the backup with this method, try again and let me know the results.


Cheers!

Reply
User profile for user: augratin
augratin Author
User level: Level 1
76 points

Feb 25, 2020 4:41 AM in response to Joseph_S.

The shortcut to the backup folder was broken. When I clicked on it, it said the location does not exist (or words to that effect). I don't know why iTunes didn't just create a new backup folder. Normally, when software goes looking for a folder that's not there, it creates one.


I deleted the shortcut to the backup location, and then iTunes created a new backup folder and the backup went as expected. Now I just have to make fresh backups of all my devices.

Reply

Cannot back up because the backup was corrupt (??)

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.
Learn more Sign up