User profile for user: ziv129
ziv129 Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

iCloud not syncing after forgetting iPhone screen passcode for old device

Dear community,


I have an issue with "iCloud not syncing after forgetting iPhone screen passcode for old device".


I am aware there is a great post here by Na98sir that solves this by:


"Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Passwords and Keychain, toggling the feature off and back on, and then selecting "Don't know iPhone Passcode?" followed by "Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data".


but when I attempt this, I continue get the "Try Again Later" message and never the "Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data".


I have been stuck on this for days. can anyone help?


iPhone 17, iOS 26

Posted on Feb 2, 2026 10:24 AM

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User profile for user: Mac Jim ID
Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 9
63,800 points

Posted on Feb 2, 2026 12:43 PM

Ok, forgive me as it was a couple of months when I had to go through this. When I tapped "Don't Know Passcode", I believe I had More Options where there was a dialog box like this where I could delete the iCloud data to continue syncing. Note, that this only deletes the encrypted data that you can no longer sync without the passcode and the rest of your data will remain. For me this was all done from Settings after tapping on the prompt telling you iCloud is not syncing the data.


Since you are getting a Try Again Later prompt, it sounds like there is some network connection that is unsuccessful. Is there an other information provided in that prompt? I did not receive that message, so unable to tell you the reason for that or even a proven solution, but this is how I would proceed:

  • Verify network connection and if using WiFi, try Cellular or the other way around.
  • If you are using a VPN, remove it.
  • Not sure if it is due to an issue with iOS 26.1, but I would update it in case it is OS related.
  • And finally, I would perform a Force Restart and try again. The last step of holding the side button could take up to 15 seconds until you see the Apple Logo and you have to ignore anything else on the screen (including the Slide to Power Off). If you don't see the Apple logo, try again as it may take a couple of attempts to get the speed and sequence of the key presses correct.

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Mac Jim ID
Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 9
63,800 points

Feb 2, 2026 12:43 PM in response to ziv129

Ok, forgive me as it was a couple of months when I had to go through this. When I tapped "Don't Know Passcode", I believe I had More Options where there was a dialog box like this where I could delete the iCloud data to continue syncing. Note, that this only deletes the encrypted data that you can no longer sync without the passcode and the rest of your data will remain. For me this was all done from Settings after tapping on the prompt telling you iCloud is not syncing the data.


Since you are getting a Try Again Later prompt, it sounds like there is some network connection that is unsuccessful. Is there an other information provided in that prompt? I did not receive that message, so unable to tell you the reason for that or even a proven solution, but this is how I would proceed:

  • Verify network connection and if using WiFi, try Cellular or the other way around.
  • If you are using a VPN, remove it.
  • Not sure if it is due to an issue with iOS 26.1, but I would update it in case it is OS related.
  • And finally, I would perform a Force Restart and try again. The last step of holding the side button could take up to 15 seconds until you see the Apple Logo and you have to ignore anything else on the screen (including the Slide to Power Off). If you don't see the Apple logo, try again as it may take a couple of attempts to get the speed and sequence of the key presses correct.

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


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User profile for user: ziv129
ziv129 Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Feb 2, 2026 11:04 AM in response to Mac Jim ID

Hey, thanks for your reply.


I do have the red exclamation point with a description that all iCloud content is unable to sync under my account name in General Settings.

When I click on it it leads to a short text window mentioning data is not syncing and account needs to be verified, and the option to press on 'proceed to syncing data' (clickable blue text).

This leads to a request to insert my current phone unlocking code, followed by the request to Enter my Old Passcode.

The only option here apart from entering it (which I do not know) is to click on 'Don't Know iPhone passcode?' (again blue clickable text) which always leads to 'Try Again Later'.


There are no additional options to click on anything else in any of the steps described. My iOS version is 26.1 if it matters.





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User profile for user: Mac Jim ID
Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 9
63,800 points

Feb 2, 2026 10:30 AM in response to ziv129

When you go to Settings, don't you have a red exclamation point with a description that all iCloud content is unable to sync?


If so, when you tap on that you should see two options. One is to enter the Passcode used to create the encrypted content which you do not know, and then you should also see the option to remove the encrypted iCloud data so syncing can continue. That is the option you want to choose.

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iCloud not syncing after forgetting iPhone screen passcode for old device

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