You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How long does a backup take

My new iPhone SE has been backing up for 2 days is that normal or did it freeze on a backup?

iPhone SE, iOS 9.3.1, iCloud backup

Posted on May 26, 2016 5:52 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 26, 2017 5:12 PM

I had this problem too, but there is hope. I started backing up my almost full 128gb iphone 6 to icloud for the first time. The time remaining kept increasing (for 3 days) to eventually say "2 days remaining". It stayed at this point for another 3 days but the progress bar kept moving along. It was unacceptably slow but after a full 7 days of backing up it did eventually work. I just wanted to get this out there incase anyone else was in my position. I kept searching the web for anyone who posted the outcome after having their phone giving them these huge wait times, but there was nothing out there. So here you go. To anyone that cannot find another faster wifi source, and cant afford to lose all their precious data, the back up does eventually work!! and the restore process is ALOT faster, only took about an hour to get the phone functioning. (Still takes more time to fully upload all photos and data, most was done overnight.)

12 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 26, 2017 5:12 PM in response to Tone 213

I had this problem too, but there is hope. I started backing up my almost full 128gb iphone 6 to icloud for the first time. The time remaining kept increasing (for 3 days) to eventually say "2 days remaining". It stayed at this point for another 3 days but the progress bar kept moving along. It was unacceptably slow but after a full 7 days of backing up it did eventually work. I just wanted to get this out there incase anyone else was in my position. I kept searching the web for anyone who posted the outcome after having their phone giving them these huge wait times, but there was nothing out there. So here you go. To anyone that cannot find another faster wifi source, and cant afford to lose all their precious data, the back up does eventually work!! and the restore process is ALOT faster, only took about an hour to get the phone functioning. (Still takes more time to fully upload all photos and data, most was done overnight.)

May 26, 2016 5:55 AM in response to Tone 213

That is not normal at all. It can take a few hours if it is your very first backup, you haven't backed up in months, or you have an extraordinarily large amount of content to backup. Two days is way too long.


Cancel the backup. Force restart the phone and try again. No data is lost when you do this. To force restart your device, press and hold both the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons for at least ten seconds, until you see the Apple logo.


This may be of some help as well.

Get help backing up your device in iCloud - Apple Support

May 27, 2017 8:42 AM in response to Tone 213

Yes, not uncommon that backup can take days. What you need is a faster internet connection. Do your backup at your workplace or other place w fast internet and it will be done in SECONDS instead of DAYS.


Yes, that's true: Some home internet connections give approximately 1 MB per sec while 500mb per sec is common other places. That is 500 times faster!!!!


So, if it takes, lets say 5 days on a slow connection (120Hours) it will take 15 minutes on a relatively fast connection.


Probably you can find a place with open internet connection that beat what you have in the house.....

Nov 22, 2017 5:50 PM in response to Tone 213

I had this problem too - my first backup on a new iPhone (upgraded from 6S to X). For almost three weeks, it's been getting stuck about half way through the backup that it would try completing over night. On the old 6S, it would complete every third or fourth night, but just wouldn't on the X - the phone was the only thing that had changed. Turned out that for the first backup on the NEW phone, my connection was too slow (admittedly, being in Australia and our terrible internet, I get only between 7 and 11 Mbps and that's considered excellent for ADSL connections. Took it to work where 80 Mbps is a super slow day and the backup was done in minutes. Subsequent backups at home take longer - an hour or two, but they complete without getting stuck, at least.

Jan 2, 2017 12:30 AM in response to Demo

I have been trying to back up my phone for nearly a week now, the first back up failed after 2 days I tried it again and the time remaining was 5 days according to the back up screen so I did the suggested quick reset process and tried again and after being on all night backing up it now has a time remaining of 8 days. Surely this can not be the case as every time you leave the house the back up cancels?

so I will need to leave my mobile phone in doors to back up for 8 days now which means my iPhone 6 is not very mobile. I guess this will teach me to back up my phone more often but if I back it up once a month and it takes 8 days each time I'm without my phone for 3 months out of 12.

Jan 2, 2017 2:46 AM in response to Sparkymk

How are you trying to backup? iTunes? iCloud? I would suggest trying the other way from whatever you have been doing. Maybe try another WiFi network if you are using iCloud. But no matter which way you are trying to backup, you should probably make an appointment at an Apple Store and ask for help. There seems to be something really weird going on and you might do well to have the phone checked out.

Sep 19, 2017 12:15 AM in response to Tone 213

I am a very experienced apple person but this is the first time i have signed up to this, anyway.


If your backup is taking this long I personally suggest you either take it to an Apple Store of try let it do the backup without any disruptions and if it doesn't complete with-in 6 days try resetting your phone fully and then setting up again and try doing backup.

Thanks alot,

James.


P.S. what country are you in because i can give you special email and phone for support

How long does a backup take

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.