iPhone 4s iphone can't connect to iCloud for backup, nor perform software update

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iPhone 4s iphone can't connect to iCloud for backup, nor perform software update

Trying to backup my iPhone 4s version 8.4.1 (12H321) to iCloud but it won't connect to iCloud. When I sign into my account on my iPhone 4s, I get the notification on my other devices of a new device accessing my account. When I click "allow" & even get and use the security code I am still unable to access iCloud. I am able to try multiple times without locking my account. I am certain I am using the correct password. I am able to use iMessage, for example.

I just cannot turn on backups, nor can I perform a software update to iOS 9.3.6. When I click "Download and Install" option, it almost immediately goes blue again indicating I can/need to click on it again. I have 19.2 GB available, and the update is only 856 MB.

Has anyone seen this or can suggest a fix? Thanks in advance

Earlier iPhone models

Posted on Apr 20, 2025 2:38 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 20, 2025 2:49 PM in response to BeninTogo

The iPhone 4s, a phone with a 32-bit processor that originally ran iOS 5.0, can only update as far as iOS 9.*. That is not enough to meet the minimum system requirements for iCloud.

System requirements for iCloud - Apple Support

"To use iCloud you need at least iOS 10 on iPhone 5, iPad (4th generation) or iPad mini 2; watchOS 3 on an Apple Watch; macOS Sierra 10.12 on a Mac; tvOS 4 on an Apple TV (4th generation); or visionOS 1 on an Apple Vision Pro."

According to Wikipedia, "iCloud allows users to back up the settings and data on iOS devices running iOS 5 or later" (which suggests that you once could do iCloud backups and restores on an iPhone 4s). The Apple Support article says you need iOS 10 [or later] for iCloud backup and restore.

My conclusion would be that Apple has raised the minimum system requirements for iCloud over the years and that your iPhone 4s is no longer supported.

I believe that you will need to use a Mac or PC to manage your iPhone.

Mac: Use the Finder on macOS Catalina and later, iTunes on earlier versions of macOS.
Windows: Use Apple Devices for Windows or the earlier iTunes for Windows

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Answer 2

BeninTogo Author

Level 1

4 points

Apr 20, 2025 8:56 AM in response to BeninTogo

Trying to backup my iPhone 4s version 8.4.1 (12H321) to iCloud but it won't connect to iCloud. When I sign into my account on my iPhone 4s, I get the notification on my other devices of a new device accessing my account. When I click "allow" & even get and use the security code I am still unable to access iCloud. I am able to try multiple times without locking my account. I am certain I am using the correct password. I am able to use iMessage, for example. After 3 attempts, I do get an option to reset my password but when I try that, the phone attempts to go to iforgot.apple.com but times out with error: "Safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding." Back to square 1 :(

I just cannot turn on backups, nor can I perform a software update to iOS 9.3.6. When I click "Download and Install" option, it almost immediately goes blue again indicating I can/need to click on it again. I have 19.2 GB available, and the update is only 856 MB.

Has anyone seen this or can suggest a fix? Thanks in advance

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iPhone 4s iphone can't connect to iCloud for backup, nor perform software update

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