my iPad is frozen with iCloud backup message on screen and slide is unresponsive as is everything else

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You might try a forced shutdown to begin with, hold down the top and home buttons together until the device shuts down, then restart it.

If your back up continually fails, you might try turning off back up on your mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup) and then deleting the backup file from iCloud by swiping the backup file on the mobile device (settings > iCloud > storage & backup > manage…) and then turning back up on again.

Being able to back up to the cloud can be very useful, especially if you don't have access to a computer or have infrequent access to one, however unless you specifically need to use iCloud for back up, you will find backing up to iTunes significantly more convenient and possibly more reliable.

Thanks this worked

Thank you for taking the time to respond to the previous question. Your answer helped me as well.

I tried to give you a "check", but it wouldn't let me.

MY problem is same but my button is unresponsive and use the icon "home" from the assisted menu. Can't power off. Suggestions?

I Use the assistive touch. How do I power off?

Thank you for your help my iPad was frozen and I wasn't holding down the buttons long enough to restart it. Thank you thank you thank you.

yes thank you - i just did that and it works - my machine went off and it's running now.

Thanks, that helped me, too.

Had same problem, and finally found that holding down both the Hold Button (upper right) and Home Button simultaneiously for at least ten seconds powers off the iPad without going through the power-off red-swipe action. That got the iPad turned off and unfrozen.