itunes could not backup the iphone because an error occurred while reading from or writing to the iphone

I had this issue and I found that the restore process took almost 11GB from my hard drive... (I guess this may change depending the size of your backup) leaving me out of space and giving me that error... I cleared some space before restoring my iphone and no errors came up... Hope this helps

Read/write usually happens when permissions don't align. Check your computer for backups of that phone that have different permissions (one would be encrypted, the other wouldn't be). You can find them in iTunes by going to (WINDOWS) Edit > Preferences > Devices (MAC) iTunes > Preferences > Devices and there will be a button to "Delete Backup".

Alternatively, you can locate the files that make up your backup by following Locate backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support and moving the file with the huge random filename to another location on your computer or a USB. This means that you keep your information rather than deleting it, but does the same effect of clearing out iTunes backups folder.

Good luck!

Do you have other options??? I have an iphone and it says it is out of support. Love to buy a new one...but can't if I can't back it up and restore it.

Into hour 5 of trying to get it to work.

Multiple computers. Deauthorized accounts. Upgraded both computer and phone. Etc.

The error is cryptic. Give us more options of what could be happening please. It is backuping 50GB of data...and it is time consuming. Mine is dieing int he last minutes with the same message

"iTunes could not backup the iphone because an error occurred while reading or writing"

I was getting this error when trying to restore from encrypted backup even after updating my iTunes.

The solution that worked for me was:

1: Disable Auto Lock

2: Disable Passcode

3: Have device unlocked when starting the restore

After doing this it worked first try.

Had the same problem and error message and it turned out as another poster said to be the hard drive space had run out. Itunes makes a copy of your backup, so you need TWICE the space of your backup file to be able to restore.

I had this happen to me and I discovered it was because of a lack of hard drive space on the drive where the backup files are located. For some reason, iTunes created 3 duplicates of a single device backup and it ate up my drive space.

Hello bexaloy,

I see from your post that you aren’t able to successfully back up your iPhone to iTunes. You’re getting an error. I know how important it is to back up your phone. I’ll be happy to help.

Take a look at this article: If your iTunes backup couldn't be completed or you can't restore from a backup

Let us know if this helps.

Take care.

Hi there,

After unknown error, is there an option to click on "more information"?

If so, it should give you a code, could even be a 1 digit number.

If you get that number I can certainly try to assist more effectively

For General read/write issues, here are some basic steps and essential ones to have prepared regardless for present and future reference:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht201210

Btw, latest version of iTunes is 12.7.2

I get mine straight from apple.com vs my pc

Search for iTunes update & those who need the update, can find it there (:

Jack,

It just smacked me in the face what may be your issue as I scrolled back up to the message it gave you.

This happened to me previously and others I know.

We uninstalled iTunes AND its related components exactly as the article stated.

It was a lifesaver and much quicker to do than I thought when I first looked at the steps.

This can only help & should resolve this issue and prevent others:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204275

Hi

You need to backup to iCloud Over your wifi without using your pc.

Go to iCloud make sure iCloud back up is on Then backup now over your wifi

When you charge an iphone /ipad it automatically backs up to iCloud Over your wifi.

I haven't used pc for backup for 3 years Almost everything can be done over your wifi.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

Hey so I had the same problem and tried all the suggestions. Nothing worked. I don’t know why but I decided to check my anti virus software. And low and behold that was it! I have Microsoft security essentials on my PC and it was blocking the new version of iTunes to download anything to my computer. Check your antivirus. Shut it off during the iPhone backup. It worked for me. Hope this helps!

HELP! I have tried every single suggestion on this thread and on other websites but I am still getting an error that reads

"Could not backup iphone because an error occurred while reading from or writing to the iphone" does anyone have any other solutions to this problem.

Hi

Don't use your pc

Go to iCloud on iPhone make sure iCloud back up is on Then backup now over your wifi.

When you charge an iphone /ipad it automatically backs up to iCloud Over your wifi.

I haven't used my pc For backup for 3 years All done over wifi.

Cheers

Brian 🇬-1F1E7;

I am also having a problem with backing up Apple devices.

I have tried all listed options here, and elsewhere, and cannot get rid of this most non-descriptive error : "iTunes could not backup the iPad because an error has occurred.", and hence can no longer use my Apple device for its intended purpose. It would make life so much easier if the error can break down further the reasons, so people can have some hope in being able to fix this problem, whatever it is.

I have seen this error in a number of cases, with a few friends, over the last month, and not been able to fix it on their systems either.