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itunes will not backup my iphone 6

I backup my iphone 5 without a problem. Then I did a restore to my iphone 6... no problem.

Now I cannot backup the iphone 6 using iTunes. I get a general error message.


I then installed iTunes (X64) to my laptop. Same problem. General error message.


I reset my computer, rebooted my iphone. I cannot update to 8.0.2 (from 8.00) because when it unpacks the update, the automatic backup fails.

Posted on Sep 25, 2014 8:48 PM

Reply
51 replies

Nov 2, 2014 2:28 PM in response to madlearning

Delighted to hear your good news!!! I do think you are right on this problem being a software issue.


After I restored my 6 Plus from new I could sometimes back to iCloud or computer once....before my problem kicked back in.

And now I can backup to computer (only - cannot backup to iCloud) as long as I don't include photos or ringtones (contacts seem to present no problem). Today is November 2 and your resolution occurred on November 1....are you sure you have permanent solution? You have done additional backups?


This is what I don't understand. My Plus after a restore as new failed to backup to the iCloud (4 times) with ONLY Apple's base apps loaded. I did decline when asked to setup Apple's iDrive since every Apple rep I spoke to said it would make matters worse. Are you using Apple's iDrive? Is that a possible solution?


Since my Plus fails to backup to iCloud before loading any photos or tones, It doesn't sound like your solution is applicable to my problem....or am I missing anything? I'm grateful for any insights.


Neither Apple's Genius Bar nor phone tech support has not solved my problem.

Nov 3, 2014 5:27 PM in response to cy-pres

I Have similar problem. It sounds like apple had to do a firmware update to phone to get it to back up. If this is case, does not sound like Apple had bugs worked out. This appears to be first positive info on what is going on with phone. I purchased my phone from AT&T and we don't have an Apple Store. Not sure where I will have to take phone to get fixed Assuming The firmware is the problem.

Nov 4, 2014 1:27 PM in response to tzimmermn

You can call Apple Care phone support. If it's a hardware problem, Apple makes shipping easy but I doubt that it is.

Be sure you purchased their Apple Care + extended coverage....well worth the cost.

This week is too busy but next week I am going to tackle the problem again.

Although really hoping someone on the forum solves the problem first!! I keep wondering if the problem is related to iCloud Drive...which I have NOT enabled. Interested if others with this problem have or have not enabled Apple's new iCloud Drive on their devices.


Good Luck!!

Nov 7, 2014 4:00 AM in response to hbryant

It is frustrating... I am on my 21st reset this month... I have bought ballons and a cake and The phone and I are having a party to celebrate.

I now schedule my life around when I want to add music to my phone. Well done Apple... you now are the centre of all our lives

If this isn't sorted out soon, I shall remove said items and applications and software from my life when I next upgrade and never return...Sony looks to be the best option...

Nov 15, 2014 7:33 AM in response to cy-pres

I'm also having a iPhone 6P, restored it from my old iPhone 4 backup and got stuck with this issue. The same issue I'm also having after numerous trials of fixes being discussed over the Web on this topic. Finally I feel I could narrow down the issue or at least one of the causes. On a windows7 m/c the location "C:\Users\kingsuk\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\Logs\DeviceLink" contains a file AppleMobileBackup.exe.00. It's a text file & can be opened in notepad. It looks like the AppleMobileBackup.exe is facing an issue while reading/writing data from the iPhone. Can an experienced apple specialist have a look at this and suggest a fix ? If you delete the old copies of this file a new one gets created every time you start backing up in iTune. Reseting the phone from a DFU mode is not a viable solution as many of the apps are having old datasets which can't be restored if the apps are re-installed afresh from market place.


2014-11-15 08:40:19.527|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:4849072|SocketStreamHandler.c:_SocketLo gCallback| ERROR: SocketRecv (data): return of 0 bytes

2014-11-15 08:40:19.527|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:4849072|StreamHandler.c:_ReadFunc| ERROR: Error reading data: Can't read data

2014-11-15 08:40:19.527|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:4849072|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLHandl erThreadReadMessage| ERROR: Could not receive message: '(null)'

2014-11-15 08:40:19.543|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:61448272|SocketStreamHandler.c:_SocketL ogCallback| ERROR: SocketSend (data): error 2: No such file or directory

2014-11-15 08:40:19.543|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:61448272|StreamHandler.c:_WriteFunc| ERROR: Error sending data: Can't send data

2014-11-15 08:40:19.543|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:61448272|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLSend BytesAndDisconnectOnError| ERROR: Could not send data: 'Error writing data'

2014-11-15 08:40:19.558|AppleMobileBackup.exe|3640:4849072|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLMainT hreadMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Error creating components from read data: 'NULL data returned from read'

Dec 16, 2014 4:03 PM in response to Fly Boy

Here's a recent article I wrote about errors backing up and restoring in iTunes:


http://deciphertools.com/blog/2014_12_09_iphone_could_not_restore_disconnected/


The post itself references a slightly different error message, but the suggested fixes are good for all variations on this mess. 😉 If they don't work, I definitely want to add to my list, so let me know (either here or through the contact link in the article) and we'll keep exploring.


(Note: As I mentioned, I wrote the post I'm linking to. So, I stand to benefit, financially or otherwise, from the recommendations I'm making.)

Dec 16, 2014 7:11 PM in response to Fly Boy

I am having the same issue with my iPhone 5.

The error is:iTunes cannot back up the iPhone because an error occurred. …

When I use iCloud it starts the backup and then says: The last backup could not be completed.


I would like a solution that doesn't cause me to lose my text messages since my last backup.


Any help would be appreciated.

Dec 19, 2014 3:02 PM in response to Fly Boy

Your screenshot looks like Yosemite, is that right? We can see if we have anything useful in the log files.


Open Finder, and select the "Go" menu at the top of the screen. Hold the Option key, and select the "Library" menu option from the Go menu. (On OSX Lion and above, Library will only appear with the Option key held.)


From Library, navigate to Logs -> DeviceLink.


In that DeviceLink folder, hopefully you'll see a log file titled starting with "AppleMobileBackup" that's likely to be the most helpful log. There might be something of interest in there. Here's a glance at mine, so we can see what is semi-normal 😉 and because I believe in posting what I ask others to post.


2014-12-05 11:39:31.671|AppleMobileBackup|1385:2060833552|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLMainTh readMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Error creating components from read data: 'NULL data returned from read'

2014-12-05 11:39:31.672|AppleMobileBackup|1385:63442944|SocketStreamHandler.c:_SocketLogCa llback| ERROR: SocketSend (data): error 32: Broken pipe

2014-12-05 11:39:31.672|AppleMobileBackup|1385:63442944|StreamHandler.c:_WriteFunc| ERROR: Error sending data: Can't send data

2014-12-05 11:39:31.672|AppleMobileBackup|1385:63442944|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLHandlerT hreadMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Could not send disconnect message: 'Error writing length of data'

2014-12-05 11:40:11.370|AppleMobileBackup|1399:85463040|SocketStreamHandler.c:_SocketLogCa llback| ERROR: SocketRecv (data): return of 0 bytes

2014-12-05 11:40:11.370|AppleMobileBackup|1399:85463040|StreamHandler.c:_ReadFunc| ERROR: Error reading data: Can't read data

2014-12-05 11:40:11.370|AppleMobileBackup|1399:85463040|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLHandlerT hreadReadMessage| ERROR: Could not receive message: '(null)'

2014-12-05 11:40:11.370|AppleMobileBackup|1399:2060833552|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLMainTh readMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Error creating components from read data: 'NULL data returned from read'

2014-12-05 11:40:11.371|AppleMobileBackup|1399:85463040|SocketStreamHandler.c:_SocketLogCa llback| ERROR: SocketSend (data): error 32: Broken pipe

2014-12-05 11:40:11.371|AppleMobileBackup|1399:85463040|StreamHandler.c:_WriteFunc| ERROR: Error sending data: Can't send data

2014-12-05 11:40:11.371|AppleMobileBackup|1399:85463040|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLHandlerT hreadMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Could not send disconnect message: 'Error writing length of data'

2014-12-05 11:42:57.718|AppleMobileBackup|1417:2060833552|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLMainTh readMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Error creating components from read data: 'NULL data returned from read'

2014-12-05 11:44:38.880|AppleMobileBackup|1444:2060833552|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLMainTh readMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Error creating components from read data: 'NULL data returned from read'

2014-12-05 11:46:07.331|AppleMobileBackup|1449:2060833552|DeviceLinkConnection.c:_DLMainTh readMessagePortCallback| ERROR: Error creating components from read data: 'NULL data returned from read'

itunes will not backup my iphone 6

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