• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

AppleToolBox

Tools and Fixes for Mac, iPad, iPhone & iPod

Search posts

  • About
  • Contact

CONNECT WITH US

CATEGORIES

  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • Mac/MacBook
  • Apple Watch
  • Reviews
  • Mac
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Apple Services
  • AirPods

SITE

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise

Search posts

You are here: Home / How-to / iTunes could not backup iPhone because the iPhone disconnected

iTunes could not backup iPhone because the iPhone disconnected

By SK 6 comments Last updated May 22, 2013

Several users have reported that iTunes display “iTunes could not backup iPhone because the iPhone disconnected”; when attempting to create an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch backup. Here is how you can resolve backup errors:

After performing each steps, please check to see if the issue is resolved.

[box type=”info” style=”rounded” border=”full”]

Before doing anything, you may want to back up your backup. Find your back up and copy to a safe place. You can find your back up files:

Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

Windows Vista and Windows 7: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

[/box]

Resolution

  • Restart the computer and the iOS device (iPad, iPod touch, iPhone).
  • Ensure you are using a USB port directly on the computer.
  • Disconnect all USB devices and cables, except your keyboard and mouse and restart your computer and try to back up.
  • Update to the latest available version of iTunes and your computer’s operating system (OS)
  • Try disabling your antivirus program, if any
  • It’s possible that your backup is corrupted, you can try deleting the backup. To do this, launch iTunes > Preferences (Windows: Choose Edit > Preferences; Mac: Choose iTunes > Preferences). this will fix the problem if the backup is corrupt.

Related:

  • iTunes could not back up the iPad/iPhone/iPod because an error occurred error, how to fix
  • iPhone could not backup because backup file was corrupt or not compatible, fix
  • iPad / iPhone /iPod could not be synced because the sync session failed to start; fix
sudz - apple
SK( Managing Editor )

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.

Related Posts:

  • iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them - Troubleshooting Guide
    iOS 13 or iPadOS problems and how to fix them -…
  • How to Merge Contacts on iPhone, iPad, Mac using iCloud
    How to Merge Contacts on iPhone, iPad, Mac using iCloud
  • iOS Files App on Your iPad, The Best Tips and Tricks
    iOS Files App on Your iPad, The Best Tips and Tricks
  • Taking Photo But iPhone Says Storage is Full?
    Taking Photo But iPhone Says Storage is Full?
  • How to know what iPad or iPod model you have
    How to know what iPad or iPod model you have
  • Apple Revolutionizes the Smartphone Market With the New iPhone 12 Lineup
    Apple Revolutionizes the Smartphone Market With the New…
  • iMessage not working iOS 13 or iPadOS? Fix it today
    iMessage not working iOS 13 or iPadOS? Fix it today
  • It Costs a Lot of Money to Repair an iPhone 12
    It Costs a Lot of Money to Repair an iPhone 12
  • Error Occurred Installing iOS 12 on iPhone or iPad, How-To Fix
    Error Occurred Installing iOS 12 on iPhone or iPad, How-To…

Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Show 6 Comments

  1. Sloppy says

    December 29, 2015 at 10:42 AM

    A combination of disabling my antivirus (Malwarebytes) on my PC and resetting the network settings in the general menu section of my iPhone 6 plus did the trick for me.

    Many thanks

    Reply
  2. Julius says

    September 30, 2015 at 7:31 PM

    I fixed the issue when mine kept disconnected by switching to a USB 2.0 port. USB 3 port seemed to be causing the issue, making it disconnect then reboot.

    Reply
  3. Joyll says

    September 25, 2015 at 9:56 AM

    Let me tell you guys what FINALLY worked for me after nearly 14 hours of trying:

    Closed ITunes then disconnected iPhone & deleted old backup in finder. Then deleted ALL contents in lockdown folder but NOT the folder itself (this is VERY important), then rebooted BOTH my MBA & my iPhone 6 Plus & THEN re-connected my iPhone & then (and this is KEY RIGHT HERE I canNOT stress this enough) PUT IPHONE IN AIRPLANE MODE. Then & ONLY then was I FINALLY able to perform a backup (twice now after after just over 14 hours of not once) with NO errors!! The issue seems to be in the network settings interfering with the iPhones’ ability to stay connected to iTunes via your USB port.

    I hope this works for those like myself whom had been BEYOND frustrated with this issue but still loves our iPhones as much as we do!

    Reply
  4. MikeSA says

    May 21, 2014 at 10:11 PM

    Finally!!! A solution that worked! I was getting frustrated that I am not able to have a backup of my iPhone for a couple of months already. I made a copy of the backup folder, then deleted it through iTunes>Preferences, though I also disabled on-access viruscan so either that or the old backup really got corrupted. Doesn’t matter to me anymore because I successfully backed up my iPhone again! Thanks!!!

    Reply
  5. AlexM says

    February 19, 2013 at 12:21 PM

    Hi. I’m with the guys from iPhone Backup Extractor. I will add that the Windows 8 default backup location is the same as Windows 7 (for newly Windows 8 users – like myself) and that if you have previous locally created backups or corrupt ones that you want to extract data from and import it back to your iDevice third party apps can help.

    Reply
    • johnny d says

      January 4, 2015 at 8:58 AM

      hello am having trouble back up my iPhone on windows8 i have instill the new version of iTunes ans it will not back up my iPhone every time i try to back up my iPhone when i connect with a usb it would say that that iTunes cant backup your iPhone because it was disconnected

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • iPhone/iPad: How to Take Screenshot of an Entire Web Page
  • How to Send and Request Money From Apple Cash Card
  • iOS 15 Update Requested? How to Fix Your Stuck iPhone
  • How to Close Apps on Apple Watch
  • macOS: How to Find Your Saved Passwords
  • FaceTime Not Working With iMessage on iPhone? Here’s How To Fix It

Connect with us

Footer

ABOUT

  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use

DEVICES

  • iPhone
  • Mac & MacBook
  • Apple Watch
  • iPad
  • AirPods
  • Apple TV
  • iPod Touch

GUIDES

  • iOS 13 & iPadOS
  • Apple ID
  • iCloud
  • App Store
  • iTunes
  • FaceTime
  • iMessage
  • Siri
  • Books and iBooks
  • Game Center
  • AirPlay

CONNECT

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • FeedBurner
  • YouTube

© Copyright 2010-2022 AppleToolBox · All Rights Reserved

This site and its content are in no way affiliated or endorsed by Apple, Inc. · Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited