Hi damien,
I have three iOS devices that I am backing up to iCloud, and they all are showing the correct info. My iPad 1 doesn't show it under Device Info, of course, since it is running an ancient iOS, and it doesn't show up on the device list, but even on that device, when I look at the iCloud backup info, it is displaying correctly for the iOS that it is running.
Have you tried signing out of iCloud and then back in again on one of your devices that is not displaying correctly? (If you are using iCloud Photo Library, the photos will be deleted and will have to download to your device again, so that's kind of a pain). But when iCloud is acting weird, signing out of and then back into iCloud will usually rectify the issue if neither a restart nor a reset worked.
Best of luck,
GB
Yeah, I would just go to Settings>your name on each device and scroll down to sign out. Once all devices are signed out, then sign each of them back in again, and see if the Backup indicators under Devices is now correct. I would recommend that you have the Backup turned on before you sign out of iCloud. It should remain on when you sign back in, and hopefully will show the correct status once you do.
Best of luck,
GB
All of them say iCloud Backup: On.
What do you see if you go to Settings>your name>iCloud on each device, rather than clicking on the devices? Does it show it as ON there? Here are two screenshots from my iPhone 7:
Under Devices:
Under iCloud:
Cheers,
GB
Well, again, I would suggest that you sign out of iCloud and then back in again on your devices. That may resolve the issue, but it may not. I've not seen this particular issue before, but I do know that when there are weird iCloud issues, signing out and then back in again usually does the trick.
It's a very strange issue, especially if it is "moving" depending on what order you turn the Backup switch back on.
It may take awhile for your iCloud data to re-download, but signing out of iCloud by going to Settings>your name, and then scrolling to the bottom of that screen and tapping on Sign Out.
Cheers,
GB
Well, your next step would be to erase and restore the devices. But before you do that, you may want to contact Apple Support to see if they have any insight into this issue:
iCloud - Official Apple Support
Best of luck! And post back if you get it resolved if you feel like it. I'd love to know what is causing this, and how Apple resolves it.
Cheers,
GB
Just noted that If enabling icloud backup on 1 device only( on 3) the backup status read correctly...
when adding second device the the status read incorrect “unknown “
Seems like a bug. If anyone can confirm if having same behavior with more than 2 iOS devices??
One thing I notice when is that when deleting every backup, toggle off on all devices it works only with the first device:
1) i set backup on iPhone X and immediately the status is “on” on all other devices.
2) i set a second device iPad Pro by example and successfully activate
3) then going into Apple ID the iPhone X is now”unknown “ or “-“ same for the ipad
Thanks for your kind reply!
Indeed I cleared all backup and disable
Reenable iCloud backup. And restarted all devices.. for now only my iPad can see correct iCloud status of my 2 iPhones .
From either other iPhone status is unknown or “-“
Have you similar issue from your I devices??
Hi Gail!
Thanks for your precious input, does it mean under iCloud setting from Apple ID your iOS devices showing “iCloud backup: on”?
Instead of “-“ or “unknown “? By the last backup line at the bottom read correctly: backup yesterday 18:45:
Kind re
Thanks for your continuous support.
Indeed when going on each device iCloud backup is on but when I check other device status through Apple ID everything is messy:
My iPhone SE is “-“
iPad is “unknown “ even though each device seems to backup properly the status read incorrectly.
I did check again
Thanks you so much, indeed it is weird because as you said it seems order of activated devices seems to trigger the issue.
I ll sign out my device today and will update you if it works.
Sign out would erase all data on the phone correct??
No, signing out of iCloud will remove the iCloud data only. Not your Apps or other media. So, anything you have in iCloud (Contacts, Calendars, Notes, Reminders, etc.), iCloud Photo Library, iCloud Drive, or iCloud Music Library (Apple Music), would go away and then would be re-downloaded from iCloud once you signed back in again.
Everything will go back to exactly the way it was before you signed out with the possible exception of Photo Stream if you use it. Photo Stream keeps the last 30 days or 1000 photos, whichever comes first. But on your iOS device, it will keep as many photos as you have in the stream until you either turn it off or sign out of iCloud. Once you do that, it will re-download what is in iCloud and that is only the last 30 days/1000 photos. But if you are using iCloud Photo Library, or if all your photos are on the Camera Roll or have been imported to your computer, then you don't need to worry about what Photo Stream will do, since the Camera Roll would not be affected by the sign out, and imported photos are in a separate library on your computer.
Cheers,
GB
Thanks for your precious details, sure I keep everything in my iCloud but don’t use photo stream.
Any strategy advice to get the things done ? Was thinking to sign out all my devices and reapply in order to see if the iCloud backup status breaks again..
Hi Gail,
I did signed out /restart/sign on all devices unfortunately it didn’t help. Still i get mixed indicators “unknown “or “-“.
Ultimately I did reset my iPad and second iPhone SE but after i set the iPad the issue came back.
I
Try restarting the device you're seeing this on -- Restart your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support.
Icloud backup status unknown on devices
