the backup could not be completed

This may be caused by a corrupt existing backup that needs to be deleted, or by data on your device that is causing the backup to fail. To troubleshoot these, try deleting your last iCloud backup (if you have one) by turning off iCloud Backup in Settings>iCloud>Storage & Backup, then tap Manage Storage, tap your device under Backups, then tap Delete Backup. Then go back and turn iCloud Backup back on and try backing up again.

If it still won't back up, you may have an app or something in your camera roll that is causing the backup to fail. To locate which one, go to Settings>iCloud>Storage & Backup>Manage Storage, tap the name of your device under Backups, under Backup Options tap Show All Apps, then turn them all to Off (including camera roll) and try backing up again. If the backup is successful, then the camera roll and/or one of your apps is causing the backup to fail and you'll have to located by process of elimination. Turn the camera roll On and try backing up again. If it succeeds, turn some of your apps to On and try backing up again. If it succeeds again, turn some more apps to On then try again; repeat this process until it fails. Eventually you'll be able to locate the problem app and exclude it from your backup.

The approach worked for me, at least partially. I turned off camera roll and all apps, backup succeeded. I turned on camera roll, backup succeeded again. I turned on various apps and backups succeed.

I turn on an app called "Big Business Deluxe" and the backup appears to fail to complete. This app has game data that I'd like to see backing up, so how do I figure out what's wrong with the app? I don't trust uninstalling and reinstalling it.

So what can be done, other than excluding the app, when an app causes the backup to fail to complete?

Longs2517 wrote:

So what can be done, other than excluding the app, when an app causes the backup to fail to complete?

All you can do is either exclude it from your iCloud backup, or start backing up to your computer instead of to iCloud.

Can you help me?

I have done all you have put but am still having no luck with my iPad but my iPhone is backing up fine!

ikblick wrote:

I have done all you have put but am still having no luck with my iPad but my iPhone is backing up fine!

In rare cases, you have to restore your device in order to get iCoud backup to work. Suggest you try backing your iPad up to your computer using iTunes (connect it to your computer, open iTunes, then go to File>Devices>Back Up), then turn off Find My iPone in Settings>iCloud and restore it. More details here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1414.