parks34

Q: Can't enable iCloud backup on my iPhone

I've spent 3 hours with Apple staff, and I've made no progress.  I'm attempting to backup an iPhone 5 to iCloud.  Under settings>iCloud>Backup, it shows "Off".  iCloud Backup button/switch is greyed out and can't be turned on.  If I connect the phone to my desktop and attempt backup through iTunes, it tells be that Administrator has disabled iCloud backup on the device.

 

At Apple's instruction I've updated the software to 10.0.2 on the phone, I've updated iTunes to the latest version.  I've signed out/in of my  iCloud account, find my phone, etc. twice already, and I've backup up the phone on my desktop twice and I've synced the phone twice.

 

Any ideas how to enable the iCloud Backup switch on the phone or what is preventing it from being enabled?

 

Note all the actions already tried.

 

Thanks!

iPhone 5, iOS 10.0.2

Posted on Oct 1, 2016 6:26 AM

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Q: Can't enable iCloud backup on my iPhone

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  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Oct 1, 2016 7:08 AM in response to parks34
    Level 10 (95,725 points)
    iPad
    Oct 1, 2016 7:08 AM in response to parks34

    parks34 wrote:

     

    If I connect the phone to my desktop and attempt backup through iTunes, it tells be that Administrator has disabled iCloud backup on the device.

    I don't know if I have any ideas yet, but I'm curious about this statement.

    1. Are you the original owner of this phone?
    2. Is it a company phone?
    3. DId Apple have any insight on this at all?
  • by Michael Black,Solvedanswer

    Michael Black Michael Black Oct 1, 2016 7:19 AM in response to parks34
    Level 7 (24,872 points)
    Oct 1, 2016 7:19 AM in response to parks34

    Do you have a company or work email account on the device?  Are you part of a company or work managed deployment?  Either one of those situations allows your employer to over-ride default settings and set in place their own security and settings policy. Many employers will not allow company account information to be stored or backed up on non-company hardware or services.

  • by parks34,

    parks34 parks34 Oct 1, 2016 7:18 AM in response to Demo
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 1, 2016 7:18 AM in response to Demo

    I am the original owner, and it is a personal phone, but I do have a company email account on the phone, so I believe that is the answer.

     

    Apple had no insight, and they moved me up the help ladder to a senior technician, but he was making me go through all the sync, back up, sign in/out processes for the third time, and I had run out of time.  It was clear to me that I was not making progress in solving the mystery.

     

    As Michael Black has noted, I believe the mystery, if not the problem for me, has been solved.

     

    Thanks

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Oct 1, 2016 7:25 AM in response to parks34
    Level 7 (24,872 points)
    Oct 1, 2016 7:25 AM in response to parks34

    Can you backup in iTunes though?  Just an option, if it works, so you can keep a backup of your data for disaster recovery. Otherwise, ask your work IT folks. If they are not familiar with iCloud backups and are worried about security, show them iCloud security and privacy overview - Apple Support so they do understand that iCloud backups are encrypted, and the transmission of the data to and from the device is also over wholly end-to-end encrypted connectIons.

     

    With iTunes backups, their policy certificate is likely to require an encrypted iTunes backup, so make careful note of the encryption password and store it somewhere safe and secure as without it, you can never restore from that backup.

  • by Demo,

    Demo Demo Oct 1, 2016 7:28 AM in response to parks34
    Level 10 (95,725 points)
    iPad
    Oct 1, 2016 7:28 AM in response to parks34

    parks34 wrote:

     

    As Michael Black has noted, I believe the mystery, if not the problem for me, has been solved.

    I agree, but that was what I was leading up to by asking if it was a company phone. If you are able to backup and sync with iTunes, you are covered there.

  • by parks34,

    parks34 parks34 Oct 1, 2016 8:23 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iCloud
    Oct 1, 2016 8:23 AM in response to Michael Black

    Thank you.  I do have company email on my personal phone.  This explains the problem.  I'll have to work with them to solve it.