I need to back up my iCloud (switching carriers) and keep receiving this message. I’ve seen some suggestions saying to click the big bold red words delete iCloud back ups and it will fix the issue. If I do that will it delete all my photos? That’s my biggest fear. I have so many important photos and iCloud is all I have them on.
iPhone 14 Pro
iCloud Photos is different from iCloud Backup, so it's not clear what you mean, exactly. If you don't use iCloud Photos ("Settings>[name]>iCloud>Photos") then your pictures are saved in iCloud Backup-- otherwise not.
The only way to access pictures in iCloud Backup is to completely erase your phone and restore with the backup. Deleting the backup from iCloud won't affect what's on your phone at all, but then you won't have that backup.
If you are using iCloud Photos, deleting iCloud Backup won't affect the pictures at iCloud or on your phone. However, if you delete pictures at iCloud Photos, then they will be deleted on your phone.
There really isn't any system set up where all your pictures are at "iCloud" but not on your phone.
Can you be more clear about what you have and what you need?
destany178 wrote:
I need to back up my iCloud
Presumably you mean you want to back up your iPhone to iCloud, as iCloud data cannot be backed up by you.
If that's true, consider backing up to a computer instead.
How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support
Be certain to set up encryption as approrpiate.
About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
Did you previously install the beta iOS 26?
The solution may be different from what you have read if that was the case.
The last backup cannot be completed because icloud contains backup from a newer iOS version
