Backing up the iPad - unexpected error message

[iBozz]

I back-up my 3rd Generation iPad under iOS7.0.4 (11B554a) using a USB cable connected to my iMac which runs under Mavericks OSX.10.9.1 Build 13B42.

I back-up via iTunes v11.1.3 (8) 64-bit using both options: "iCloud, Backup the most important data on your iPad to iCloud" and "This computer, A full backup of your iPad will be stored on this computer".

Progress bars move as expected so my assumption, without any real cast-iron proof, is that the back-ups are working and yet, after backing up I get an error message.

Today's stated: "iCloud back-up, This iPad hasn't been backed up in 9 weeks. Back-ups happen when this iPad is plugged in, locked! and connected to wifi" on my home screen and in the middle of my browser which was the first app I went to after backing up.

But surely I have just backed up?

In the absence of any grey paint which I could watch dry - I watched it do it. (Maybe I should get out more and get a life!)

What is going on? Are my back-ups taking place and if not why not? If they are, then why am I getting the error messages?

How can I check both my iCloud and iMac to see if and when back-ups have taken place?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[leelai]

Have a look at this link and it will illustrate what you should be seeing when your iPad is backed up both via iTunes and iCloud.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

I have gotten that same message myself occasionally and it was because my backup was larger than the free 5gb you get in cloud storage. I'm a photo hoarder! So how large is your backup? If it is too large, it should say this when you go into iCloud in your settings app.

 

[iBozz]

Thanks, leelai.

According to the iPad's Settings I have the standard 5GB allocation of which 3.7GB is free so it seems unlikely that I've run out of space.

I only back up what iTunes calls the most important data, although I confess that I don't know what that is as I've never needed to restore anything from iCloud!

I rely on the back-up to my iMac for security and, in any event, I don't keep anything on the iPad which would cause me heartache if it disappeared.

I note, however, that there is an option to back up to iCloud via iTunes and via the iPad's settings.

The latter was switched off and indeed showed I hadn't backed up since mid November and yet I use the iTunes method every few days.

Are these not one and the same?

I inferred that they both did exactly the same thing and that I needed only to do the iCloud back-up by one of those methods - not both!

 

[leelai]

You can either backup to iTunes or iCloud or both. Some don't have a mac or PC, so the cloud is a great alternative. I myself do both, as like I said before, my photos tend to get out of hand and then my iCloud won't backup as I'm over the limit. It's always a good reminder for me to get my act together and sort it.

Have a look at this link.....it explains it much better than I'll ever be able to.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5262