Facing cannot restore backup the server is currently unavailable on your new iPhone? Try effective 5 fixes.
Cannot Restore Backup on My iPhone
I backed up all of my data from my old iPhone to iCloud. I got my new iPhone 17 Pro and tried restoring the data from my iCloud backup. It gave me an error saying: 'Cannot Restore Backup. The server is currently unavailable. Try again later to finish setting up your iPhone.' Is anyone else having any issues?
- Question from Reddit
You've just unboxed your new iPhone, ready to restore everything from iCloud and pick up where you left off. Then the error pops up: cannot restore backup, the server is currently unavailable. You try again. Same message. The excitement of a new phone turns into frustration.
This error is more common than you'd think, and it usually comes down to two things: an unstable internet connection or a temporary glitch with Apple's servers. Actually, let's just call it the practical reality - it's fixable. This guide walks you through five steps to get past the error, plus a backup plan that doesn't depend on iCloud at all.
Two main reasons trigger this message:
Unstable or slow Wi‑Fi. Restoring from iCloud requires a fast, stable connection. If your network drops or stutters during the download, the restore fails.
iOS system issues. Outdated software, a temporary iCloud server outage, or compatibility problems between your iPhone and iOS can also block the restore.
Neither of these is catastrophic. Let's work through the fixes.
Try these steps in order. Most of them take just a minute or two.
Apple maintains a public page showing the real‑time status of its services. Before you spend time troubleshooting your own setup, rule out an Apple‑side issue.
On any device, go to Apple System Status.
Look for iCloud Backup, iCloud Account & Sign In, and iCloud Drive.
If any of them show a yellow or red indicator, Apple is working on a fix. Wait an hour or two and try again.
If all are green, the servers are fine, move to the next step.
A weak or congested Wi‑Fi connection is the most common culprit.
Switch networks. If you're on public Wi‑Fi (coffee shop, airport, etc.), try a private network instead. Private networks are generally more stable.
Restart your router. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to reboot fully.
Toggle Airplane Mode. Swipe into Control Center, tap the airplane icon, wait a few seconds, then tap it again to reconnect.
Once your network is stable, attempt the restore again.
A simple restart can clear out temporary glitches that interfere with the restore process. The steps depend on your iPhone model.
iPhone 8 and later: Press and quickly release Volume Up. Press and quickly release Volume Down. Then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold the Side button and Volume Down button together until the Apple logo appears.
iPhone 6s and earlier: Press and hold the Top (or Side) button and the Home button together until the Apple logo appears.
After the restart, try the iCloud restore.
An outdated version of iOS can cause compatibility issues with iCloud services.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, tap Download and Install. Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi‑Fi and plugged into power.
After the update completes, attempt the restore again.
If you've tried all the steps above and still see the error, the issue may be more specific to your account or device. Contact Apple Support online or visit an Apple Store. They can check for account‑level issues or hardware problems.
If you're tired of dealing with the "cannot restore backup the server is currently unavailable" message, you don't have to wait. There are third‑party tools that let you transfer data directly from your old iPhone to your new one over a USB connection—no internet required.
AOMEI FoneBackup is one such tool. It's a free Windows application designed for moving data between iPhones and computers. It bypasses iCloud entirely, so network issues won't affect the transfer.
Step 1. Download and install AOMEI FoneBackup on your Windows PC. Connect both your old iPhone and your new iPhone to the computer with USB cables. On each iPhone, tap "Trust This Computer" when prompted.
Step 2. Open AOMEI FoneBackup. On the home screen, click Phone Transfer, then choose iPhone to iPhone and hit Get Started.
Step 3. The tool will detect both devices. Confirm that the source iPhone (the one with your data) is on the left and the target iPhone (the new one) is on the right. If they're reversed, click Flip icon.
If you want to keep sensitive data, such as health records, private, enable Backup Encryption and set a password.
Step 4. Click Start Transfer. The transfer will begin, and you can monitor progress on screen. When it's done, your new iPhone will have all the data from your old one.
Restoration can be affected by Internet. When the network is poor, you will get the error message saying that you cannot restore backup on iPhone. If you have no stable Wi-Fi connection, you may download AOMEI FoneBackup and let it help you transfer data to new iPhone via USB connection.