Unable to back up iPhone

[Glitterbaby71]

I have a new iPhone and need to backup in order to restore data to the new phone.

My phone will not back up (last successful backup Nov 2020 to iCloud). Apple support made various suggestions; however, none were successful. They believe this is because the software on my phone needs updating.

Photos are backed up in iCloud where I have a large amount of storage available. My phone also has nearly half its storage available. The concern is losing my text messages.

Apple are concerned if I update the software on my phone which may fix the backup issue, that there is a slight chance I may lose all of my data in the process. They suggested I screenshot my text messages. As you can appreciate, this would take a great deal of time, and isn't really ideal for storage, and retrieving in future.

I have tried a few third party app's that access and extract data, in order to save all my text messages and what's app messages to date in a readable format. Then I can attempt the software update on my phone with no risk of losing messages.

Unfortunately, this was not successful either. The diagnostic log showed the backup process is failing due to a corrupt voicemail, stat error: Device error (83) at path \"/.ba/mobile/Library/Voicemail/318.amr\”. I was told "The issue is on the iPhone itself. iOS fails to access one of your voicemails to back it up, and then the BackupAgent process stalls." I archived and deleted all voicemails, and the app's still failed.

I'm now told "it looks like an error coming back from the phone’s backup system".

I've also been told that the apps are unable to access and extract data from an iCloud backup, only iTunes backup, which I don't have.

I am desperate to resolve this asap and would be very grateful for any advice. Thanks.

Current phone: iPhone SE, iOS 14

 

[Lifeisabeach]

You can try iMazing to make backups of your messages. It's held in very high regard by most folks here.

iMazing | iPhone, iPad & iPod Manager for Mac & PC

iMazing lets you transfer music, files, messages, apps and more from any iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer, Mac or PC. Manage and backup your iOS device simply without iTunes. (was DiskAid)

imazing.com

As for the risk of losing your messages otherwise, if you have enabled Messages in iCloud, then you "should" be ok. If you have not been using it, then I'm not sure if enabling it now will move everything that exists to that point to iCloud. On your Mac (assuming you have one), this is set in Message's preferences. On your iPhone, in Settings » Messages, iMessage should be on; Send & Receive should be set to your iCloud ID and your phone number; and Text Message Forwarding set to every Apple device you are signed into that you want to read messages from. Also, in Settings » Apple ID (first item on top in Settings), tap iCloud and make sure Messages is toggled on.

 

[ferrarr]

Also, contact you cellular service provider. They may have that feature available.

Is your new "Phone" an iPhone or other?

 

[MacInWin]

I have a new iPhone and need to backup in order to restore data to the new phone.

Maybe not. When I got a new iPhone, it prompted me to put the old one nearby. They found each other and after a confirmation process via the camera on the new (or old, I don't remember exactly), the data from the old was transferred to the new. No "middle man" at all. And all of my texts appeared on the new, just as on the old. I can't say about phone messages, I wipe them out shortly after listening.