10 Steps to Fix iCloud Syncing Paused on iPhone

Is your iPhone showing the ‘iCloud Syncing Paused’ message? Don’t worry, you’re not alone this is a pretty common issue.

While software bugs can be one reason, several other factors can trigger this problem.

In this guide, I will walk you through a few simple steps to help you resolve the iCloud Syncing Paused issue and get everything running smoothly again.

Why is Syncing with iCloud Paused?

When iCloud syncing pauses, it’s often because your device or iCloud account has encountered something preventing the sync from going smoothly. Here are a few common reasons why this happens:

• Low Battery: Syncing may pause automatically if your iPhone is low on power, helping to conserve battery.
• Full Storage: If your iCloud storage is full, the syncing process stops because there’s no room to upload new data.
• Device Settings: Features like Low Power Mode can pause iCloud syncing to save battery life.
• Outdated Software: Running an older version of iOS can cause compatibility issues, leading to syncing interruptions.
• Account Problems: Issues with your Apple ID, such as expired subscriptions or sign-in troubles, can also stop iCloud from syncing.

These are just a few of the potential reasons, but understanding them can help you troubleshoot faster.

Let’s dive into fixing the problem with a simple, step-by-step approach to get your iCloud to sync again without any issues.

1. Check iCloud System Status

Before trying other solutions, it’s a good idea to first check if the issue lies with iCloud itself.

Sometimes, syncing issues occur because iCloud servers are down or undergoing maintenance.

You can visit Apple’s System Status page to see if iCloud and its related services are ‘Available.’

If you see yellow or red indicators next to iCloud services, it means the syncing pause is due to server issues, and there’s nothing you can do but wait.

However, if everything is green, move on to the next steps to fix the syncing problem on your iPhone.

2. Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes, temporary bugs or glitches can cause the iCloud Syncing Paused issue on your iPhone.

One of the simplest ways to resolve these glitches is by restarting your device.

Steps to Restart iPhone 8 and Later:

1. Press and hold either the Volume Up or Down button along with the Side button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone, and wait for a minute.
3. Press and hold the Side button again until the Apple logo shows up on your screen.

Steps to Restart iPhone 7, SE (3rd Gen), and Earlier:

1. Press and hold the Side button until the power-off slider appears.
2. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone.
3. After a minute, press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

3. Check iCloud Storage Space

Running low on iCloud storage can trigger the “Syncing Paused” issue on your iPhone.

To see if this is the culprit, follow these steps to check your current iCloud storage and either free up space or upgrade your plan.

1) Open the Settings app on your iPhone.Tap on your Name at the top of the screen.

3)Select iCloud from the Apple ID page and Tap on Storage.

On the storage screen , you’ll see how much storage you’re using. If you’re close to your limit or have already maxed out your storage, consider deleting some backups or upgrading your storage plan.

4) Tap on Get More storage

Here, you can choose Change Storage Plan and follow the on-screen instructions to upgrade.

Alternatively, tap on an app or service to delete its data if they have taken more storage

5) If you choose to delete data, tap the Delete Data from the iCloud button, and then confirm your selection by tapping the Delete button in the pop-up.

By managing your iCloud storage effectively, you can help resolve the syncing issue and keep your files backed up.

4. Choose Sync Now in Messages in iCloud

If you’re still encountering the “Syncing Paused” issue after checking your iCloud storage and restarting your iPhone, the next step is to manually enable iCloud Sync for your Messages.

This can help resolve the issue if it’s caused by a software glitch.

Here’s how to do it:

1) Open the Settings app on your iPhone. after that Tap on your Name at the top of the screen.

2) Select iCloud from the Apple ID page. Next, tap on See All under the Save to iCloud Section.

3) Tap on Messages in iCloud. Finally, tap the Sync Now button.

Manually syncing your Messages to iCloud might help get things back on track and eliminate the “Syncing Paused” message.

If you’re also facing similar issues with other apps like Photos or Contacts, you can follow the same steps to manually enable iCloud Sync for those apps as well.

5. Check Date and Time Settings

The discrepancy between the date and time settings on your iPhone and your current time zone can also cause the iCloud Syncing paused issue.

Ensuring that your device is set to the correct date and time can help resolve this problem. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on General.
3. Select Date & Time.
4. Enable the Set Automatically toggle.

By enabling this feature, your iPhone will automatically adjust to the correct time zone, which can help eliminate syncing issues with iCloud.

6. Disable Low Power Mode

It’s also worth checking if Low Power Mode is enabled on your iPhone.

This feature conserves battery life by limiting background activities, which include iCloud syncing.

To resolve the issue, you’ll need to turn off Low Power Mode.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Battery.
3. Toggle off the Low Power Mode option.

Disabling this feature allows iCloud to resume syncing your data in the background.

7. Disable Low Data Mode

To ensure a smooth syncing experience with iCloud, it’s crucial to have a stable internet connection.

Low Data Mode can limit background tasks and automatic updates, including iCloud syncing, which may lead to the “Syncing Paused” issue.

While this feature is handy for conserving data, it might be causing the problem.

Here’s how to disable Low Data Mode on your iPhone:

For Wi-Fi:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap on Wi-Fi.
3. Find your connected network and tap the (i) button next to it.
4. Toggle off the Low Data Mode option.

For Mobile Data:

1. Open Settings again and tap on Mobile Data.
2. Select Mobile Data Options.
3. Tap on Data Mode and choose Standard or Allow More Data on 5G—anything other than Low Data Mode.

After making these changes, check if the iCloud syncing issue is resolved. If not, we can explore a few more steps!

8. Reset Network Settings

If the previous fixes didn’t resolve the iCloud syncing issue, resetting your network settings could be the solution.

Your iPhone might have misconfigured network settings causing the iCloud Syncing Paused issue.

Since it won’t be easy to know which network setting is causing the problem, we suggest resetting the network settings.

Important: This action will erase all network-related information, including saved Wi-Fi passwords and VPN settings.

1) Go to Settings and tap on General. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

2) Tap on Reset and choose Reset Network Settings. You’ll need to enter your passcode to confirm.

After the reset, reconnect to your Wi-Fi network.

Once you’ve done this, check if the iCloud syncing issue persists.

Resetting the network settings can often resolve connectivity problems that may be impacting iCloud functionality.

9. Sign Out and Sign Back Into iCloud

Another way to fix the “Syncing Paused” issue is to sign out of iCloud and then sign back in.

Before doing this, ensure that you have a backup of your important data.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on Your Name at the top.
2. Scroll down and tap the Sign Out button.
3. Enter your Apple ID password, then tap the Turn Off button at the top right corner.
4. Select the data that you want to keep a copy of on your device.
5. Tap Sign Out, then tap Sign Out again to confirm your selection.
6. Wait for a few moments after you’ve signed out.
7. Now, open Settings, tap the Sign in to your device option at the top, and enter your Apple ID and password.

10. Update to Latest IOS

If you’re using an outdated iOS version, it could contain bugs that prevent iCloud from syncing data effectively.

Updating your iPhone to the latest version is essential for resolving this issue.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.Navigate to the General option and Tap on Software Update.

If an update is available, tap the Install Now or Update Now button to begin the update process.

Wrapping up

I hope this guide helps you resolve the iCloud syncing paused issue on your iPhone.

If none of the steps fixed the issue for you then I recommend contacting Apple Support for further assistance as the issue might be something else.

If you have any questions or need clarification, please feel free to ask in the comments below.