Backing up your iPhone into a Mac though iTunes should be a ‘piece of cake’ under general circumstances. However, some users have encountered with an error when trying to initiate a backup through iTunes. For instance, some iOS device users have noticed that their iTunes backup not working or no backup option in iTunes. When iTunes backup greyed out, you cannot initiate the backup process. If you have ever experienced this issue afetr Mac OS update, this article will be of great use for you. Even if you have not experienced this annoying issue so far, this writing may be helpful in future.

Part 1: Fix iTunes “Back Up Now” Not Working/Greyed out after Mac OS Upgrade

From this point onwards, let’s take a look at how to fix “iTunes backup now greyed out Mac” issue. Instead of one method, we present top easy methods to fix the said issue.

1Update iTunes to the Latest Version on Mac

Generally, iTunes notifies you in the event of a release of a new version. You can simply click in the popup menu and follow the onscreen instructions to get it done. However, if the notification doesn’t appear and you still want to update iTunes on your mac to fix “iTunes backup not working” issue, you should follow these steps.

  1. Go to App Store.
  2. Go to the “Updates” tab. Select “Software Updates” and click on “More”. 
  3. Locate the button called “Update” next to iTunes.
  4. The new version will be updated automatically.
  5. Launch iTunes to try the newest version.

    6. check-itunes-update

2Restart Both of Your iOS Device and Mac

If the problem doesn’t work even after an update, you should try restarting both the iOS device and Mac to fix “iTunes backup greyed out” issue. Here’s how to do it.

To restart your iPhone X

  1. Hold the Side button with a volume button to get the slider appeared.
  2. Drag it to turn off the phone.
  3. Press and hold the Side button to start the device again.

    4. restart iphone x

To restart iPhone 8 or older devices (including iPads)

  1. Hold the top or side button to get the slider appeared. 
  2. Drag it to turn off the device.
  3. Press and hold the side or top button to start the device. 

    4. restart iphone

To restart Mac

  • Hit Apple key and click on Restart option to restart your Mac.

    • restart-mac

3Change a Workable USB Cable

Sometimes the “iTunes backup now greyed out mac” can occur due to a bad USB cable. In this case, you should replace the USB cable with a new one and give it a try. If the problem persists, you should connect the USB cable into different ports.

check-iphone-usb-cable

4Update Apps on Your iPhone

Sometimes, outdated apps can be the reason behind “no backup option in iTunes” issue. In this case, you have to fix it by updating the apps.

  1. Go to iPhone’s App Store icon.
  2. Tap the Updates icon.
  3. Select “Update All”.
  4. Enter password when prompted. 

    5. update-all-apps-iphone

5Make Sure There’s Enough Space On Your Mac

iTunes backup will not work if you Mac doesn’t have enough space. To check the space, you should:

  1. Go to Apple Menu and select “About This Mac” option.
  2. Select “More Info”.
  3. Click “Storage” to see the available space.

    4. check-mac-storage-space

6Check Your Mac’s Security Software

If the security software blocks iTunes, it will not permit to backup. To check it, you should:

  1. Go to System Preferences.
  2. Security (or Security & Privacy) icon.
  3. Go to the Firewall tab and check if iTunes is blocked. 

    4. deactivate-mac-firewall

7Delete Corrupted Old iTunes Backups on Mac

A corrupted iTunes backup can cause problems and prevent you from backing up iTunes. Here’s how to delete it and fix it.

  1. Go to iTunes and select “Devices” under “Preferences”.
  2. Under Device Backups, you will find the old backup.
  3. Click on it and delete it.

    4. delete itunes backup

8Delete the iTunes Preferences File on Mac

If you have changed the iTunes preferences on the Mac, you will experience some issues in creating backups. You can fix this issue simply by deleting the iTunes preference file. To do this, you should:

  1. Go to Finder.
  2. Press Alt/Option and click on Go.
  3. Go to “Preferences” under “Library”.
  4. Locate com.apple.iTunes.plist file and delete it.
  5. Restart to finish the process.

    6. plist-mac

Part 2: Alternative for iTunes to Make Backup Files on Mac

The methods we mentioned above are basic ones. If none of those methods really work for you, and you have no other way to back up your iTunes, you will have to go for an advanced option using a sophisticated software called iMyFone iTransor which is a professional backup & restore tool (renamed from iMyFone D-Port Pro).

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Main Features of iMyFone iTransor

  • It can backup and restore different types of files separately
  • It supports to only backup and restore files like contacts, messages, WhatsApp and WeChat
  • It can backup iOS devices without affecting the old backups
  • It can restore iTunes, iCloud or even iMyFone backups depending on your need
  • It supports more than 18 data files
  • It is compatible with latest iOS versions like iOS 12/11 and devices like iPhone X/8

How to Selectively or Fully Backup iPhone Data with iTransor

  1. Select Acquire Backup from Device & iCloud (located in the left panel) and then “Back Up Device”.

    2. 1-choose-backup-device

  2. Choose what you need to backup and then click on “Back Up” button.

    3. 3-select-one-or-more-data

  3. Wait until the software creates a backup. At the completion of the backup, you will receive a notice. You are also allowed to restore your device from this backup later on.

    4. 5-back-up-successfully

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We sincerely hope that the above methods will let you fix “iTunes backup not working/greyed out ” issue. If the first 8 methods don’t work, you can use iMyFone iTransor and get the backup created easily. If you have succeeded with any of those methods, that is our pleasure. Please share your thoughts with us.