Can’t get into some iCloud settings, errors occurring

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Level 10

166,645 points

Can’t get into some iCloud settings, errors occurring

I updated my wife’s iPad from 15.6 to 16.3. I can not turn her iCloud backup on again after cancelling a backup that was in progress while the iPad was preparing the update. The backup was not going anywhere so I decided to cancel it. It wouldn’t cancel so I turned off the iCloud backup. I also noticed that her iPad hasn’t backed up since 1/11 and it is set for auto backups. I was able to turn iCloud backups on again while the update was preparing.

Now I can’t turn the backup on again, but it was enabled when I updated the device. I am now getting this message An Unknown Error Occurred. Please try again later.

Not only can I not turn that the backup on again, if I try to enable Access iCloud Data on the Web in the settings and she verifies her identity, it fails as well. I get a message that says, Something went wrong. Try again.

If I try enabling Sync this iPad in the iCloud Drive setting, I get the same unknown error occurred.

Something must be going on with her iCloud account. I’m clueless. Anybody?

Edit - I was able to sign her into iCloud.com account on her iPad if that means anything.

Posted on Jan 23, 2023 5:17 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ishrugged

Level 3

551 points

Jan 27, 2023 10:42 AM in response to Demo

Thank you for the feedback. I had already discovered the alternate backup location and it works for me (at least manually, haven't tried automatic). As you said, maybe that will give peace of mind. MisterMisterMister in the next post reports that he has 2FA on so 2FA might not have a part in this.

A couple things to report:

I gather from your OP that you updated OTA; I updated through a Mac by wire.

Since then, I tried updating using recovery mode, again through the Mac by wire––no joy.

Despite not being able to enable Notes (again, unknown error) in Settings app > iCloud > Apps using iCloud, I was able to both send and receive notes via iCloud using the iPad. iCloud Notes had been enabled and successfully used in the previous OS.

So, iCloud is working. Sounds like a bug.

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Answer 2

faith185

Community Specialist

Jan 25, 2023 1:22 PM in response to Demo

Hey Demo,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you've tried some great troubleshooting so far. We'd recommend looking over If you can't connect or sign in to iCloud - Apple Support which may help further. For instance, if this happens on cellular data, the following section may be particularly helpful.

"If you're not able to sign in using cellular data only

Make sure that your iPhone, iPad, or PC has a strong Internet connection and that you've turned on cellular data on your iPhone or iPad by going to Settings > Cellular or Mobile Data. If this setting is off, you might not be able to access your Apple ID and iCloud when not connected to a Wi-Fi network."

All the best.

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Answer 3

Demo Author

Level 10

166,645 points

Jan 25, 2023 1:49 PM in response to faith185

The iPad in question is a WiFi model only so there is no cellular data to turn on or off.

I don’t think it’s an issue connecting to iCloud. She was able to sign out and sign into iCloud and I found out that her iPad is actually backing up to iCloud. It is the setting where you turn on iCloud that is giving me an error message. Settings>Apple ID>iCloud>iCloud backup. I cannot access that setting.

I discovered that the iPad is backing up, even though the setting shows that it is off. If it could not connect to iCloud it would not be backing up. I also created a manual backup as a test and that worked. I found that I can access another iCloud Backup setting in Settings>Apple ID. At the bottom of the screen where her devices are listed, I tap on iPad and I get to a screen that shows that the iCloud backup is ON and if I tap on iCloud backup, in the next screen it lists the date and time of the last backup.

Rather than copy this and paste it here, you can look at my screenshots in the Water Cooler in this discussion that I started hoping to get help from other senior members. Being a Community Specialist, I assume you have access to the lounge.

Oddity in settings on my wife’s iPad, Part 2

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Answer 4

Demo Author

Level 10

166,645 points

Jan 27, 2023 11:06 AM in response to ishrugged

Yes, I updated OTA. I haven’t updated using my Mac but once since OTA updating was introduced in iOS 5, I believe. My wife has always updated OTA an and backed up to iCloud. I backed up on my Mac for years and by using iCloud. I got off the habit of using my Mac over the past couple of years. I won’t bore you with a long story, but real life health issues played a part in it.

It does appear that iCloud is working as you say and now we have MisterMisterMister stating that he is using 2FA so maybe that’s not a common thread. I believe it is a bug. It should be reported.

Feedback can be submitted here. If you select iCloud feedback, it doesn’t have Bug Report in the drop down menu. The other products do include it. You can always add it into the comments that it’s a bug report if you choose to use the iCloud feedback.

Product Feedback - Apple

Another thing you will notice if you select iPhone or iPad feedback, they still show only iOS 16 rather than the most updated versions. Apple is famous for this. I would just add the iOS 16.3 version in the comments since it is crucial to what we are reporting.

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Answer 5

ishrugged

Level 3

551 points

Jan 27, 2023 7:00 AM in response to Demo

Were you able to resolve this, Demo? [I'll be around if you want to ask any questions.]

I'm getting the same thing after updating to 16.3 from 15.7... on an iPad 9 (WiFi only). I can't enable iCloud Drive, Back Up, Notes etc....Another data point, don't know that it's relevant––I don't have 2 factor turned on.

I'm signed in to my iCloud ID and have the 50 GB plan. I've restarted and have done a soft reset (if that's what it's being called today); no joy.

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Answer 6

ishrugged

Level 3

551 points

Jan 27, 2023 7:22 AM in response to ishrugged

Were you able to resolve this, Demo? [I'll be around if you want to ask any questions.]

I'm getting the same thing after updating to 16.3 from 15.7... on an iPad 9 (WiFi only). I can't enable iCloud Drive, Back Up, Notes etc....Another data point, don't know that it's relevant––I don't have 2 factor turned on.

I'm signed in to my iCloud ID and have the 50 GB plan. I've restarted and have done a soft reset (if that's what it's being called today); no joy.

[[[Edit to add: I can access/download files in Files app which are stored on iCloud Drive. At the Files app home screen footer for iCloud Drive, it's written "Synced with iCloud"]]]

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Answer 7

Demo Author

Level 10

166,645 points

Jan 27, 2023 8:58 AM in response to ishrugged

No, I have not been able to resolve this but I can back her iPad up and it is backing up automatically. I posted this in another discussion and it works for me. Try it and see if it works for you.

This is a copy and paste from my other thread….

My wife isn’t using 2FA an either and I know of other people that are having this problem that do not use 2FA so maybe that is the common thread.

Try this and see if you have the backup turned on in spite of not being able to enable the setting. Go to Settings>Apple ID swipe down to the list of devices that you are signed into. Tap on your phone in the list. You will probably have to enter your Apple ID password. Then you will have to answer security questions in order to verify. After verifying, a window will pop up showing your Phone and if the iCloud backup is turned on, tap on the arrow to see when it last backed up.

You should also be able to create a manual backup. I did that yesterday and her iPad backed up automatically this morning about 24 hours from when I did the manual backup. That is the behavior I expect.

This is not a fix, but it is giving me some piece of mind knowing that the iPad is backing up. It may do the same for you. I don’t see this as a widespread complaint in the community, but filing a bug report may be in order soon.

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Answer 8

ishrugged

Level 3

551 points

Jan 27, 2023 1:43 PM in response to Demo

I sent both iPad and iCloud feedback. I referenced this thread. We shall see. Thanks for the tips on the missing choices; I used comments as you suggested. (Best to you and family.)

MisterMisterMister––I use a passcode.

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Answer 9

Teca57

Level 1

6 points

Feb 1, 2023 2:24 AM in response to Demo

Indeed what Demo explains is the case. I find it disturbing that one has to go the convoluted way to see whether the iCloud back up is on. However, when I go through the list of my devices on my iPhone 14, the phone shows "icloud back up on" but for my iPad it shows " - " which I am assuming it is not on.....

HG

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Answer 10

Feb 3, 2023 1:16 PM in response to Demo

Apple bugged me relentlessly to upgrade iCloud and upgrade "security" to 2-factor. 2-factor is a waste of time for many of us and dangerous for anyone who gets their other device lost, stolen, or broken. I upgraded iCloud only to find out now that I can't backup now because of this 16.3 update. Seems more like blackmail to go to 2-factor. If not fixed in the extremely near future, I'm downgrading to iOS 15.

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Answer 11

Demo Author

Level 10

166,645 points

Feb 3, 2023 7:13 PM in response to BlackCoatsDaughter

I upgraded to 2FA a couple of years ago. I resisted for as long as I could but because I wanted to use Keychain, I was forced to use 2FA. It’s more of a PITA than anything. I am forced to enter codes when it seems ridiculous to do so. For instance, sometimes when I quit Safari or my router reboots, I have to enter a code just to sign into ASC again. That’s crazy to me. We aren’t discussing nuclear secrets or Apple technology secrets here.

Did you read all of my posts in this thread and the other thread that I referenced? You may be backing up even though you can’t get into the iCloud settings. That’s not a fix, just a workaround until Apple fixes this.

We are out of town right now and my wife left her iPad at home so I haven’t checked it in a week or so. I’m sure iCloud is still broken, but I won’t know for sure until I can get home and check it again.

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Answer 12

FjordAmy

Level 1

9 points

Feb 6, 2023 10:28 AM in response to Demo

Upgrading my iPad to 16.3 was a NIGHTMARE! I started my iPhone and iPad at the same time, almost an hour later the iPad still had not finished updating. After a bit over an hour, *CRASH!* I get a graphic of a computer and a cord and an error message that tells me to connect the iPad to my "Mac" because there was an error. I don't have a Mac, I have a PC, so I navigate to the indicated website which proceeds to tell me that I need to download the most recent iTunes and connect my iPad to the computer. Then it tells me it will download the update and attempt to install it on the iPad... "attempt" pretty much terrifies me. It took almost 40 minutes to download the update, during which time I kept getting pop-ups asking if I wanted to reset my iPad to factory settings (and lose EVERYTHING that is on it). When I'd press "Update" instead of "Reset" it would start downloading the update AGAIN, even though it was already downloading. I finally figured out how to turn off the multiple downloads, and once the download was done it updated the iPad just fine... Except that as soon as it finished, and the iPad came back on I got a pop-up on the computer telling me the update failed and my iPad would require a factory reset. As the iPad was actually already up and running, I ignored the popup and disconnected. My iPad is updated and running just fine, but getting there was a headache and a half!

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Answer 13

Feb 6, 2023 5:10 PM in response to Demo

I had the exact same problem after updating my iPad mini five and my iPhone 12 and my husbands iPhone 12. After spending four hours on the phone with Apple Support, and three hours in the store with a genius technician who had me wipe iPad clean and he reinstalled IOS16.3, same problem occurred.

he set up a phone consult for the next morning with Apple Support again. This time I really did get a genius. The technician figured out that I had never set up a pass code. She had me set up a pass code on each device and lo and behold, iCloud came back on. I then went back and removed using the pass code and iCloud was still there. So if you have no pass code, try this workaround, you don’t have to keep the pass code unless you want to. But I am thrilled everything in iCloud is working now on all three devices. I hope this input helps someone else out there. She said she was going to inform Apple of her solution. Good luck to all out there with this problem. FYI I already had two factor authentication turned on before the update but never used a passcode.

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Answer 14

Feb 7, 2023 12:36 AM in response to Demo

Apple is still denying that this is a real and very serious problem happening to many of us. I talked to Apple today for the third time

since I updated my iPhone XR, on the first day iOS 16.3 was offered,about being locked out of iCloud back up.

Today I was not rude, I did not raise my voice, etc. there was just dead silence, and I got disconnected. The tech did manage to tell me before I was disconnected that Apple may be doing this deliberately to those of us who have refused two factor authentication. That makes me quite angry. However, I see in this thread that this is happening to some who already have two factor authentication enabled.

This is a very frustrating problem. I have a back up from over three weeks ago that is getting old and I want to be able to do another back up but Apple has not been the least bit helpful about this. My iPhone drives me crazy continuously telling me that I need to make a new back up but I can’t turn cloud back up on since I got the latest iOS update.

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Answer 15

Feb 7, 2023 12:44 AM in response to Aliza2023

Aliza2023 - We had the same foundation to this problem - 2factor enabled but no passcode was ever set. I'm tempted by the passcode solution, but did this fix it permanently for you or was it just a temporary workaround? i.e. was iCloud still enabled after a device restart?

Also not sure if I should just wait for iOS 16.3.1 and see what happens

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Can’t get into some iCloud settings, errors occurring

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