It is important to make sure that your iPhone is backing up its data to iCloud. If not, try the methods as provided below to fix the problem of iPhone not backing up to iCloud.
iPhone Not Backing Up to iCloud
If iCloud Backups are setup on iPhone, it should automatically back up its data, whenever the phone is plugged in for charging and it is connected to WiFi Network.
However, if your iPhone is not Backing up to iCloud, the problem could be due to Network connectivity issues, Software glitches or simply due to lack of Storage space in your iCloud Account.
Luckily, in most cases the problem can be fixed by using steps as provided below.
1. Make Sure iPhone is Connected To WiFi Network
By default, iCloud backups on iPhone can only happen over a WiFi network. Hence, follow the steps below to make sure that your iPhone is connected to WiFi Network.
Go to Settings > WiFi > make sure that iPhone is connected to your WiFi Network.
If iPhone is not connected to WiFi Network, tap on your WiFi Network Name > when prompted, enter the password to join WiFi Network.
2. Check iCloud Storage Space
A common reason for iPhone not backing up to iCloud is due to lack of storage space in your iCloud Account.
1. Open Settings and tap on your Apple ID
2. On Apple ID screen, tap on iCloud.
3. On the next screen, you will be able to see the amount of storage space remaining in your iCloud Account.
If you have less than 2 ~3 GB storage space remaining, you will have to free up iCloud storage space in order to accommodate the iOS update.
The other option is to buy additional storage space by tapping on Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan > select the storage plan that suits your requirements.
If you believe that you have enough iCloud Storage space, you can try to manually backup your iPhone to iCloud by following the steps as provided in the next method.
3. Manually Backup iPhone to iCloud
Make sure that your iPhone is sufficiently charged (above 50%), it is connected to WiFi Network and follow the steps below to manually backup your iPhone to iCloud.
1. Open Settings > tap on your Apple ID.
2. On Apple ID screen, tap on iCloud.
3. On the iCloud screen, scroll down and tap on iCloud Backup.
4. On the Backup screen, make sure that iCloud Backup is toggled ON and tap on Back Up Now to start the process of Backing up iPhone to iCloud.
4. Sign-Out and Sign-In to Apple ID
Sometimes, the problem of iPhone not backing up to iCloud is related to your iCloud Account not being recognized and other iCloud glitches.
1. Go to Settings > tap on your Apple ID > scroll down to the bottom of Apple ID Screen and tap on Sign Out.
2. On the pop-up, enter your Apple ID password and tap on Turn OFF.
4. On the next screen, you can select the Data to keep a copy on your iPhone and tap on the Sign Out option.
Note: You won’t be losing data, even if you Sign Out without keeping a copy of your data on iPhone.
All the data will be downloaded back to your iPhone, once you sign-in back into your Apple ID.
5. After signing out of Apple ID, sign back into your Apple ID by going to Settings and tapping on Sign in to your iPhone link.
After signing back into Apple ID, see if you can manually backup iPhone to iCloud using steps as provided in method#3 above.
5. Reset All Settings
Follow the steps below to Reset All Settings on your iPhone to Factory Default settings.
1. Go to Settings > General > Reset > tap on Reset All Settings.
2. On the confirmation pop-up, tap on Reset to confirm.
After iPhone Restarts, connect to your WiFi Network and see if you can Manually Backup iPhone to iCloud.
6. Try DFU Mode Restore
In case none of the solutions as provided above are helping, you may have to restore your iPhone using DFU Mode Restore.
DFU Mode Restore will erase all the data and settings on your iPhone and reinstall both iOS operating system and the firmware on your device.
After the DFU Mode Restore is completed, iTunes will provide you with the option to setup your device as New iPhone or Restore it from a stable backup (if available).