9 Tips to Fix Downloading Messages from iCloud Stuck Issue

User Concern

“I’m trying to get my messages back from resetting my phone. Everything else is restored but my messages won’t download.”

Is your iPhone downloading messages from iCloud stuck for hours? iCloud is mainly used to sync data. If you have enabled Messages on Settings, the messages sent and received on your iPhone will also appear on other iOS devices signing with the same iCloud account.

If iCloud takes forever to download messages, the sync process will be interrupted. This problem is often caused by the connectivity issue when your device is unable to connect to the internet or the Wi-Fi/cellular network you are using is not strong enough.

Why Is My iPhone Downloading Messages from iCloud Stuck?

Before we explore the solutions, it’s necessary to consider why iPhone stuck on downloading messages from iCloud.

• The iPhone network connection is not stable.
• The network settings is incorrect.
• There is not sufficient space on iCloud.
• iCloud server is not working.
• The device may be connected correctly with the iCloud account.
• Software bugs.

How to Fix iPhone Stuck on Downloading Messages from iCloud?

Change to Another Wi-Fi

Certain iCloud process requires a strong internet connection. So, if you encounter this problem or any other iCloud related problems, it is a good idea to check the Wi-Fi network you are using.

In fact, we recommend that you switch to another Wi-Fi network whose connection is stronger. If you do this and the iPhone is still stuck on downloading messages from iCloud, try our next solution.

Force Quit Messages App

If you can't switch to another Wi-Fi connection or your Wi-Fi is strong enough, you can try to force quit the messages app. Here's how to do it:

• Double tap on the Home button to open the app switcher.
• Locate the Messages app. Swipe up to remove it.

If you are using an iPhone X or later, you can access the app switcher by swiping half-up from the bottom of the screen. Tap on the Messages app once you've found it and when a red circle appears, tap on it to close the app.

Plug Out of iPhone

If this problem appears when you are charging your device, we recommend unplugging the device from the charger. If the iPhone is still stuck on downloading messages from iCloud even after unplugging it, try the next solution.

Check Free Space on iCloud

It is an exhausted thing that iCloud only offers the free storage of 5GB on iCloud account. If your iPhone is stuck on downloading messages from iCloud, the iCloud storage could also be the reason.

To check the iCloud storage, go to iPhone settings > your name > iCloud and check the free storage on iCloud. You can purchase more storage for the iCloud account if possible.

Check Apple System Status

To download messages from iCloud, you will need to communicate with the Apple System Status. When Apple is carrying out maintenance on the servers, Apple System may be down and your device will not be able to communicate the Apple Servers which can cause this problem. Therefore, you can check if the Apple System is "Available" for iCloud backup. If it is not, all you have to do is to try again in a few hours.

Force Restart iPhone

Another simple troubleshooting solution you may want to try is a force restart. This is a good solution since it can easily refresh the device and eliminate any settings that could be causing the downloading message from iCloud issue. To force restart the device, use the following procedures:

• For iPhone 6 and earlier models: Hold down the Home and Power buttons the same time until you see the Apple logo on the screen.
• For iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons until the Apple logo appears.
• For iPhone 8 and later models: Press and then quickly release the Volume Up button and then do the same with the Volume Down button. Now press and hold the power button until the Apple logo shows up.

Turn Off iCloud In Messages and Turn it on Again

If the problem still persists, you should consider turning off Messages from iCloud to stop it. Follow these simple steps to do it:

• Open the Settings on your iPhone and tap on your Apple ID.
• Tap on iCloud and then locate Message.
• Toggle the switch to turn it off. This will usually fix the problem since it stops downloading messages from iCloud.

Reset Network Settings

To work correctly, iCloud needs a good internet connection, if you suspect that your connection is the problem, you may want to reset the network settings.

To do that, go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings and enter your passcode. Now reconnect to your Wi-Fi networks and see if the problem is gone.

Alternative Way to Download Messages from iCloud

If all else fails, you should consider using an alternative way to download messages from iCloud. With a tool like FoneGeek iPhone Data Recovery (iOS 16 supported), you can easily and quickly access your iCloud account and download all the messages on the account. This data recovery program can be used to selectively recover data from your iCloud backup without restoring the device system. This capability makes it the ideal tool to extract messages from iCloud.

To use FoneGeek iPhone Data Recovery to download messages from iCloud, download and install this tool on your computer and then follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Launch the program and then click on "Recover Data from iCloud" on the main interface to begin.

Step 2: Sign in to iCloud using your iCloud credentials. If unfortunately you forget it, you can click on "Forget your Apple ID or password".

Step 3: Now select the data types you want to scan and recover, then click on "Download" to begin downling iCloud data.

Step 4: After the download, you can preview and choose the data you want to restore, then click on "Recover to PC" to save them on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions about Downloading iCloud Messages

Q1. How long does it take for iPhone to download messages from iCloud?

It usually takes about several minutes to 2 hours to download messages from iCloud. However, it may take a longer time if the network is poor or the download process get stuck.

Q2. How to stop iPhone from downloading messages from iCloud?

You can go to iPhone Settings, click [your name] and iCloud to disabled the option of ‘Messages’ to stop iPhone from downloading iCloud messages.

Q3. What will happen if I turn off messages in iCloud?

When you disable ‘Messages’ option in iCloud, the iPhone messages will longer be synced to iCloud.

Conclusion

When you see the "downloading messages from iCloud" error that won't go away, the solutions above can help. Choose one that is compatible with your particular situation. Let us know if you are able to fix the problem in the comments section. Your questions and comments are also welcome.