Some of you might be preparing for the future by trying to make an iTunes backup of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Others could be failing to reap the rewards of that preparation, struggling to restore their iPhone from a backup file they already made.
Either way, if you’re reading this, you likely received similar iTunes error messages:
“iTunes could not back up the [iPhone] because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the [iPhone].”
OR
“iTunes could not restore the [iPhone] because the backup was corrupt or not compatible with the [iPhone] that is being restored.”
Don’t let the similarity of these error messages mislead you, the troubleshooting steps are quite different.
- Those looking to make a new backup can delete corrupt files and start fresh.
- Users who need to restore data shouldn’t delete anything.
Have no fear, we explain step-by-step what you need to do. And rest assured, it doesn’t matter if you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch — the instructions are the same!
Contents
- 1 Quick Tips:
- 2 What data is included in my iTunes or iCloud backup?
- 3 Why does my iTunes backup fail?
- 4 Troubleshooting Guide: What to do first when you see the error ‘the backup was corrupt or not compatible’
- 5 What to do if iTunes could not back up the device
- 6 What to do if iTunes could not restore a backup
- 7 Still seeing the message that the backup was corrupt or not compatible?
- 8 Wrap Up
Quick Tips:
If you’re trying to make a new backup:
- Update to the latest version of iTunes and iOS.
- Check the connection between your computer and device.
- Disable Windows security or antivirus software.
- Remove existing backups from iTunes.
- Recreate the Backup folder in your system files.
- Remove and reinstall iTunes.
If you’re trying to restore an existing backup:
- Update to the latest version of iTunes and iOS.
- Check the connection between your computer and device.
- Disable Windows security or antivirus software.
- Try restoring from a different backup.
Related articles
- iTunes Backup Now not working after macOS upgrade
- Restore a backup from a newer version of iOS to an older version of iOS
- iTunes backup location: Where is the backup folder located?
- How to find iTunes backup on Windows & Mac
What data is included in my iTunes or iCloud backup?
Let’s start by explaining exactly what data iTunes stores in your backups and then look into how they can become corrupt so easily.
An iTunes or iCloud backup stores almost everything from your device that doesn’t already have a copy elsewhere. That typically includes:
- App data
- Device settings
- Text messages and iMessages
- Photos and videos that aren’t on iCloud
- Apple Watch backups
- And more
It’s equally useful to know what isn’t included in an iTunes or iCloud backup
Backups never include Face ID, Touch ID, or Apple Pay information. And if you don’t encrypt your iTunes backup, those backups also don’t include any of your Activity, Health, or Keychain Password information.
Apple considers this personal data too sensitive to keep a copy of, particularly if that copy isn’t encrypted.
iTunes or iCloud backups also don’t include data that is stored elsewhere. That includes:
- Emails, which are on your email provider’s server
- Data from third-party cloud services, like Google Drive or DropBox
- iTunes, Apple Music, and App Store content, which can be easily re-downloaded
- iCloud data, such as Contacts, Calendars, Notes, and iCloud Photo Library
That last point, iCloud data, is an important one.
Anything you have chosen to sync over iCloud is not stored in your backup.
That’s because there’s already a protected and secure copy of it in the cloud.
Exactly what data syncs to iCloud depends on your particular settings.
You can easily check what is in your iCloud account by logging on to the iCloud website.
And the good news is that you can retrieve any data stored in your iCloud account without using a backup.
So it pays to check iCloud first! You might just discover that everything you care about is in iCloud anyway!
Why does my iTunes backup fail?
There are two reasons you might not be able to make a backup: either a file has become corrupt somewhere or the software on iTunes and your device is not compatible with one another.
If there is a corrupt file, either on your device or in the existing backup, iTunes can’t copy the data and the backup process will fail.
If the software is incompatible, iTunes can’t properly speak to your device and, again, the backup will fail.
How did my backup become corrupt?
iTunes uses incremental backups. That means every time you update your backup, iTunes only copies data the new data.
This is good because it greatly reduces backup time!
Without incremental backups, it’d take an hour or more to update your backup even if nothing had changed from the last one.
However, incremental backups are prone to persistent errors. This is because when a file on your existing backup is incorrectly copied, that bad copy is present on all the following backups as well.
Over time those corrupt files stack up and continue to get copied onto new backups.
How can I fix a corrupt backup?
First, try our troubleshooting guide below. Many readers found success following these steps.
But, if after trying these steps, your backup is still corrupt, there are some third-party options that might help.
We haven’t had the opportunity to test any ourselves, so we don’t recommend any one product. Instead, if you go this route, we encourage you to read user reviews and comments to ensure the product does what you need it to do.
Some popular options with our readers include:
- TunesCare by TenorShare
- TunesFix by iMyPhone
- Decipher Backup Repair by Decipher Tools
There are also some other apps that help extract data from an iTunes backup. These tools may help you recover data, even if you’re unable to restore from the backup.
Again, we haven’t been able to personally test these apps, but here are some of the most popular ones:
- MobiSaver by EaseUS
- Dr.Fone by Wondershare
- Data Recovery for iPhone by Stellar
Apps like this usually come at a cost.
They aren’t easy to develop, and when they work as promised, can save you considerable time and effort — not to mention help retrieve any data that’s at risk.
However, we suggest you try our troubleshooting guide below first, to see if you can resolve an iPhone backup that is corrupt or not compatible for free.
Troubleshooting Guide: What to do first when you see the error ‘the backup was corrupt or not compatible’
Regardless of your specific iTunes error message or backup problems, everyone should follow the first three troubleshooting steps.
These three steps resolve most common causes of corrupt and not compatible iTunes backups for iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Step 1: Update to the latest version of iTunes and iOS.
First, let’s tackle the “not compatible” section of the error message.
Do this by making sure you have the latest version of iTunes on your Mac or PC and the latest version of iOS on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
How do I update the software on my iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Wait for your device to check for updates.
- Download and install any updates it finds.
How do I update iTunes on my Mac?
- Go to Apple > About This Mac > Software Update.
- Wait for your Mac to check for updates.
- Download and install any updates it finds.
How do I update iTunes on my Windows PC?
- Open iTunes and click Help > Check for Updates.
- Download and install any updates it finds.
- If there is no Check for Updates option:
- Open the Microsoft Store and go to More > Downloads and updates > Get updates.
- Download and install any updates it finds.
Step 2: Ensure a good connection and reboot both devices
Now make sure you’ve got a good connection between your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and your computer.
Test your lightning cable, your USB and lightning ports, and finally your iTunes connection. Then restart both devices while keeping them connected.
How do I ensure my lightning cable and ports work?
Start by inspecting your lightning cable for signs of wear and tear. If there are fraying sections or kinks, consider using a new cable. Ensure whatever cable you use is either an official Apple lightning cable or an MFi certified accessory.
Shine a flashlight in the lightning port of your device and the USB port of your computer. Check for debris or lint and clean out any you find using an antistatic brush or a clean, dry toothbrush.
How do I test my iTunes connection?
Connect your device and computer together using the lightning cable. Be sure to use a USB port directly on your computer, not on a USB hub or through an external keyboard.
Open iTunes if it didn’t automatically open. Unlock your iOS device and if a pop-up appears asking whether to trust this computer, tap Trust.
Your device should appear as a small icon in iTunes. If it doesn’t, your devices haven’t recognized each other.
How do I restart my devices?
When you know there’s a working connection, restart both devices while keeping them connected. Use the Shut Down option on your computer and the slide to power off function on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Don’t force restart your device while it is plugged into iTunes or it will go into recovery mode!
Some users have found that restarting both devices 2–3 times worked for them.
Step 3: Temporarily disable your security or antivirus software
Windows users should temporarily disable any security, antivirus, or malware software. These can interfere with iTunes and could be the reason you couldn’t back up or restore your iPhone.
Similarly, if you have third-party security software on your Mac, this should also be temporarily disabled.
Check with the security software’s developer to find out how to disable it. And make sure to turn it on again after you’ve successfully completed a backup.
What to do if iTunes could not back up the device
If you haven’t already, complete the first three troubleshooting steps above.
Then follow the steps below if iTunes could not back up the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible.
Click here if iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible.
Be sure to try making a new backup after each step.
Remove existing backups from iTunes
If your existing backup is corrupt, iTunes can’t update it. For that reason, we’re going to move that backup to your Desktop. This causes iTunes to create an entirely new backup from scratch.
By moving the backup instead of deleting it, you can still use it with third-party backup repair software later.
First, find the iTunes Backup folder on your computer. Then use your device’s UDID (Unique Device Identifier) to locate the correct backup and move it to your Desktop.
How do I find the iTunes backup folder on a Mac?
- Click the magnifying glass in the menu bar or open Spotlight.
- Type: /Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/.
- Hit Enter to open the Backup folder in Finder.
How do I find the iTunes backup folder on a PC?
- Open the Search Bar.
- Type %appdata% or %USERPROFILE% (depending on where you downloaded iTunes from) and press Enter.
- Open the folder called ‘Apple’ or ‘Apple Computer’ > MobileSync > Backup.
Once you’ve found the iTunes Backup folder on your computer, you need to find your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch UDID.
How do I find my UDID?
- Connect your device to the computer and launch iTunes.
- Go to the device Summary page.
- Click on the Serial Number until you see the UDID.
The UDID should exactly match a folder in the iTunes Backup folder. Rename that folder to something clear like “Old [device] backup”. Then move it to your computer’s Desktop.
Next time you try to create a backup, iTunes will think you deleted the old one and it will start afresh. This new backup might take longer than they usually do.
Additionally, if you ever need to recover data from that old backup you’ve still got it on your Desktop.
Recreate the Backup folder in your system files
If the last step didn’t work, or if you were unable to locate the iTunes Backup folder, you can manually create the Folder hierarchy in your system files.
It’s actually much simpler to do than it sounds! It simply means creating a series of new folders with specific names.
How do I recreate the iTunes Backup folder on a Mac?
- Click the magnifying glass in the menu bar or open Spotlight.
- Type: /Library/Application Support/.
- If there is already a MobileSync folder, move it to your Desktop.
- Create a new folder in Application Support called MobileSync.
- Then create a new folder in MobileSync called Backup.
- Try to make a new iTunes backup.
How do I recreate the iTunes backup folder on a PC?
- Open the Search Bar.
- Type %appdata% or %USERPROFILE% and press Enter.
- If there is already an Apple or Apple Computer folder, move it to your Desktop.
- Create a new folder in %appdata% or %USERPROFILE% called Apple Computer.
- Then create a new folder in Apple Computer called MobileSync.
- Finally, create a new folder in MobileSync called Backup.
- Try to make a new iTunes backup.
Remove and reinstall iTunes
You should now have copies of all your existing iTunes backups on your computer Desktop. If you don’t, use the previous two steps to do so.
Completely removing and reinstalling iTunes resolves corruptions in the software. It should not affect other data on your computer, but we still advise you to make a backup first.
How do I remove and reinstall iTunes on my Mac?
- Go to Apple > Shut Down and wait for your Mac to power off completely.
- Turn on your Mac and hold command+R.
- Keep holding both buttons until you see the Apple logo or a spinning globe.
- Enter your firmware password if prompted.
- When the macOS Utilities window appears, select Reinstall macOS.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the reinstallation to finish.
How do I reinstall iTunes on my Windows PC?
The instructions to remove and reinstall iTunes on a Windows PC vary depending on your version of Windows and where you got iTunes from.
For that reason, follow the guide on Apple’s website to remove and reinstall iTunes on a Windows PC.
Use third-party software to repair a corrupt backup
At this stage, you’ve done about everything you can do to resolve software errors by yourself. If you still can’t make a new backup it’s time to turn to the experts at Apple or use one of the third-party tools mentioned above to repair corrupt backups.
Again, we haven’t had the opportunity to test them ourselves, so be sure to conduct some research before paying for one.
What to do if iTunes could not restore a backup
If you haven’t already, make sure you complete the first three troubleshooting steps.
Follow the steps below if iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the backup was corrupt or not compatible.
Be sure to try restoring your backup after each step.
Try restoring from a different backup
It doesn’t sound like a great solution, I know. But if you back up your device regularly or back up other Apple devices, you may have more than one option.
You could restore a different backup without losing anything important.
How do I restore a different backup using iTunes?
If you have multiple Apple devices and you back up all of them to iTunes, you can restore a different backup to your device. The same backups work across iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch devices.
- Connect your device to the computer and launch iTunes.
- Go to File > Devices > Restore From Backup.
- Select an alternative backup to restore from.
How do I restore older backups using Time Machine?
Unfortunately, unless you make manual archives or use Time Machine, iTunes only keeps the most recent backup of each device.
With Time Machine, you can restore your iTunes Backup folder to a time when your backup wasn’t corrupt.
- Connect your Time Machine backup drive to your Mac.
- Click the magnifying glass in the menu bar or open Spotlight.
- Type: /Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/.
- Hit Enter to open the Backup folder in Finder.
- Click the magnifying glass in the menu bar or open Spotlight.
- Type: Time Machine and hit Enter to open it.
- Use the arrows to navigate to a time before your last backup.
- Click Restore and try restoring a backup from iTunes again.
How do I restore a different backup using iCloud?
If you also use iCloud to back up, try resetting your device and restoring from that. Similar to iTunes, you can use iCloud to restore a backup from a different device.
- Go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Contents and Settings.
- Follow the Set Up prompts.
- When given the choice, choose to Restore from iCloud Backup.
- From the Choose Backup screen, you can see the date and device of each backup.
- Restore from a different backup.
Still seeing the message that the backup was corrupt or not compatible?
Unfortunately, there’s not much else you can do yourself if your iPhone backup is still corrupt.
At this point, we suggest you reach out to Apple Support for further instruction.
You could also try using those third-party tools to try and recover your device’s data or repair a corrupt backup. This software normally isn’t free, but it may be the only way you can recover your data.
Once again, we haven’t had a chance to test any of these apps, so be sure to research them yourself before making a purchase.
Wrap Up
After reading this guide, we hope you are able to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup file or update an iDevice backup that was corrupt.
If not, let us know what’s going on in the comments and we’ll be sure to try and help.