During the process of backing up or restoring your iPhone, iPod, or any other iDevice, iTunes can generate some kind of error message. According to a majority of iPhone users, they are experiencing this issue on iDevices that are using all kinds of iOS versions. So, when this error occurs, it states that ‘iTunes could not backup the iPhone because the iPhone disconnected’. But, this error message can also be triggered on your device due to several reasons. On some devices, this notification can appear if the connecting cable is loose or malfunctioned somehow. However, in others, there can be a hardware issue with the USB port, which may not recognize the iPhones while restoring or performing the backup.
So, if you are currently facing this strange error code and don’t know how to restore or backup your iDevice, keep reading this article. Here, you will get to learn some of the effective hacks to remove this error and enable iTunes to complete the backup or restore process. But, before that, let’s discuss a few possible causes, which can prevent iTunes from backing up or restoring your iPhone.
What Can Interrupt with the Backup or Restore Process of iPhones on iTunes?
If you are seeing this error ‘iTunes could not backup the iPhone because the iPhone disconnected’, it indicates your iDevice is having issues to connect with the computer. Now, this can happen due to some of the factors already covered in the introduction like a faulty cable or USB port. But, you can still check out the following points to know a few more causes that can interrupt this backup/restore task for iDevices.
Many users can straightaway get this error message if they are not using an MFi-approved or original USB lightning cable for iPhones. Yes, other than the issues like tear or damage in the connecting cables, using a duplicate cable can disconnect the iPhone while carrying out the restore or backup procedure.
If you have not updated your OS or the iTunes driver for a long time, it can fail to detect the iPhone and generate this error.
Often, users can end up having a stolen or jailbroken iDevice without knowing it. Hence, you try to attempt any backup or restore using iTunes, it can also show you this error message.
How to Remove Error Message “iTunes Could not Backup the iPhone Because the iPhone Disconnected”?
The error of iTunes could not backup the iPhone because the iPhone disconnected 2017 can also appear during the restoring process. Hence, to resolve this error code in iDevices, you need to go through the fixes both for backup and restore phase for a complete solution. So, let’s begin with the technical hacks that you can try when iTunes fails to backup the iPhone due to disconnecting the device. After that, you can check out the steps for fixing this error message during the process of iPhone restore using iTunes.
Instructions to Troubleshoot iTunes Error During Backup of your iPhone
When you are attempting to remove this error code while backing up iPhone and the device disconnects, you can try the following methods to fix it. But, you need to ensure that your iPhone is connected to the proper USB port on the PC. Also, use a genuine USB cable from Apple while connecting both the devices during backup. Another thing that you need to confirm before proceeding is that, the iPhone should not be jailbroken. Otherwise, you may have to consult a technician first and be sure about applying these solutions.
Method 1- Change USB Cable and/or Port
According to many iDevice users, this error code can appear if they are using a defective USB cable or port during the restoring process. Hence, you can check the connecting cable or other power cord and remove the faulty ones successfully. So, you can switch to a new cable or a working USB port to backup your iPhone on iTunes.
Method 2- Reset the Network Settings
To try this fix, first, open the Settings tab on your device and go to the tab of ‘General’. Then click on the ‘Reset’ option and select the button of ‘Reset Network Settings’. After this, wait for your iDevice to erase all the previously set network settings and preferences. Hopefully, you can eliminate this error message simply by resetting the network and connect your iPhone to the computer in order to backup over iTunes.
Method 3- Boot your Mac Device
Another great way to resolve this problem is by booting the Mac-based PC you are connecting to your iPhone. Hence, you need to reboot your Mac device, followed by pressing and holding the ‘Shift’ button. Then, wait for the logo of Apple to appear on your device’s screen before releasing the ‘Shift’ key. After this, you can view the login screen and try to apply the backup on iTunes.
Method 4- Remove Lockdown Folder
This specific folder of lockdown consists of temporary data, which users can delete if the files get corrupted somehow. By erasing this protected folder, it can resume the process of backup without giving error regarding iTunes could not backup the iPhone because the iPhone disconnected 2017.
For Windows Users
So, for applying this solution, open the Start button if you are using Windows OS on your computer. Then go to the search box and find the Apple folder on your system. You can also use the Run dialog box by hitting the Windows logo and R buttons at the same time. Next, write ‘%ProgramData%’ in the text field and hit the ‘OK’ button. After that, locate the folder for Apple and double-click on it.
Now, scroll through the list of folders under this specific folder and select ‘Lockdown’ folder. Then right-click on it and choose the option of ‘Delete’ from the drop-down menu. However, make sure that you are logged into your system as an administrator to delete lockdown folder.
For Mac Users
If you are connecting your iPhone to Mac computer, the steps are a bit different from Windows. Here, you have to click on the Finder box and select the tab for ‘Go’. Next, hit the button for ‘Folder’ and hit the return button after writing /var /db /lockdown.
Now, locate lockdown from the list and click on it to access the files within this folder. Then, select the subfolders and files and delete them one by one. But don’t erase the folder for ‘Lockdown’ by mistake as it can create issues in the computer.
Finally, restart your PC and connect the iDevice to see whether iTunes can backup without causing an error code.
Instructions to Resolve iTunes Error During Restoring your iPhone
If you are getting this error notification while performing a restore of iDevice, you can apply the following fixes.
Fix 1: Make Background App Refresh Off
On many iDevices, iTunes can stop the process of restore is the feature of background app refresh is always on. Hence, you can disable this option and check the condition of backup of the iPhone. For applying this method, click on iDevice ‘Settings’ and go to the ‘General’ tab. Then click on the ‘Background App Refresh’ and select the option of ‘OFF’ to turn it off. Now, when the process of backup is over on your system, turn this feature ‘ON’ again.
Fix 2: Enable Low Power Mode and Airplane Mode
According to some iDevice technicians, if you turn on the feature of flight mode and low power mode, it can make the restore or backup process easier. However, users can also turn on these modes and apply the fix 1 altogether. This will be the simplest method to remove the iTunes error and complete the task of restoring your iPhone.
Fix 3: Remove Backup File
If iTunes is unable to restore iDevice because of corrupted files, you can apply this solution to resolve the error. As any corruption can lead to problems while updating or reading the data before restoring. Hence, you can delete the backup files that have become corrupted somehow.
To apply this fix, locate the application of iTunes and launch the app on your PC. Then click on ‘Preferences’ (if using Mac) and find the tab for ‘Devices’. But, if you are using Windows, then first click on Edit and go to ‘Preferences’ to select ‘Devices’.
Next, you need to choose the backup file that you want iTunes to restore for your iPhone. However, if this error is appearing frequently on your computer’s screen, select the backup file and erase it.
Fix 4: Change the Name of iTunes Backup Folder
This solution is particularly for them who are facing this iTunes error due to corruption in multiple backup files before restoring them. Hence, the most effective way to fix this is by renaming the backup folder, which has become corrupted.
If you are using Mac, access the Finder feature and keep pressing and holding the Option button. Then click on Go tab and select ‘Library’. After this, open ‘Application’ and select the ‘Support’ button.
Next, select the option of ‘MobileSync’ and open the ‘Backup’ button in order to rename the folder.
However, for applying this method in a Windows-based computer, you will have to open the Run dialog box (Windows+R). Then write ‘%appdata%’ in the text field and hit the ‘Enter’ key.
Now, go to the folder of ‘Apple Computers’ and find the option of ‘MobileSync’. After that, navigate to the folder of ‘Backup’ and right-click on it. Then select the option of ‘Rename’ and change it to ‘Backup.2’ or some other name.
In case, you notice that the error ‘iTunes could not backup the iPhone because the iPhone disconnected’ persists even after applying these methods and fixes, you can contact a professional. He/She can suggest advanced solutions in order to carry out the backup or restore process of iDevices using iTunes.
