TouchCopy is stuck while creating a backup of my device

Summary

TouchCopy needs to create a backup of your connected iOS device, to enable you to view and save media such as Messages, Call Logs and Contacts. These backups are created locally on your PC or Mac and can be deleted after exiting TouchCopy.

If TouchCopy starts creating a backup of your device but seems to get stuck during this process, follow the steps in this guide to resolve the issue.

Quick jump to the section you need...

• Creating a backup in TouchCopy
• Managing iOS device backups in TouchCopy
• Troubleshooting
  1. Set permissions
     • Run as administrator (PC)
     • Set Disk Access (macOS Mojave and higher)
  2. Create a new Backup outside of TouchCopy
     • Back up with iTunes
     • Back up with Finder (macOS Catalina and higher)

Creating a backup in TouchCopy

When you attempt to access a section in TouchCopy which requires a backup of your iOS device, TouchCopy will let you know. You can access Music, Photos and Files without the need for a backup.

If you do not currently have a backup of the connected device stored on your computer, TouchCopy will automatically begin the backup process. If you already have a backup of your device stored on your computer, you can tell TouchCopy to read from that, or to create a new backup (this choice is shown in the screenshot below).

Depending on the amount of content stored on your device, it may take some time to create a full backup. For this process to complete, please ensure that:

• you have sufficient free storage space on your computer in which to store the backup of your device.
• your iPhone, iPad or iPod remains connected via USB cable with your computer.
• you enter your device's passcode on-screen, when prompted, in order to trust the connected computer.

Managing iOS device backups in TouchCopy

TouchCopy enables you to manage your existing iOS device backups by clicking on Settings > Backups in TouchCopy for PC, or Preferences > Backups in TouchCopy for Mac. From there, you can also delete your old iOS device backups and create sufficient space on your computer for TouchCopy to create a new backup.

Troubleshooting

Run TouchCopy as administrator (PC version)

If you are using a Windows computer, it may be beneficial to run TouchCopy as administrator, ensuring it has the correct permissions to access your backup.

To do this, make sure TouchCopy is closed. Then, click the Start menu on your computer and search for "TouchCopy". Right-click the TouchCopy app entry and choose "Run as administrator".

Ensure TouchCopy has the correct permissions (Mac Version)

If you are using a Mac computer running macOS Mojave or higher, please make sure that TouchCopy has the correct permissions on your Mac.

To do this:

1. From your Launchpad, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access.
2. Scroll down and click the "+". If prompted, enter your password to allow changes.
   (On macOS Sonoma and earlier, you'll need to click the lock icon before being able to click "+".)
3. Select TouchCopy from the list and click Open to grant Full Disk Access.

This will ensure that TouchCopy has access to all of your latest data.

Create a new backup outside of TouchCopy

If you continue to experience issues creating a backup in TouchCopy after checking your permissions, it may be beneficial to create the backup using iTunes or Finder instead.

Create a backup of your device using iTunes

1. Connect your iPhone to iTunes on your computer.
2. Click your device icon next to the Music drop-down in iTunes.
3. Under the Backups section, ensure that "This Computer" is checked, rather than "iCloud".
4. Tick the option to "Encrypt local backup" to protect your backup with a password. Certain TouchCopy features such as saving your iPhone call logs are only available for encrypted backups. Keep this password safe, as you'll need to enter it in TouchCopy so that it can access your iOS device content.
5. Click "Back Up Now". Please ensure that your computer has enough space to complete a backup of your iOS device.
6. When the backup is complete, close iTunes.
7. Now when you open TouchCopy and choose a section which requires a backup, you'll get the option to read from this backup!

Create a backup of your device using Finder (macOS Catalina and higher)

1. Launch Finder on your Mac.
2. Connect your iPhone.
3. Select your device from the list.
4. Tick the option to "Encrypt local backup" to protect your backup with a password. Certain TouchCopy features such as saving your iPhone call logs are only available for encrypted backups.
5. Choose "Back up all the data on your iPhone to this Mac".
6. Click "Back Up Now".
   
7. When the backup is complete, close Finder and open TouchCopy.
8. Go to "TouchCopy" > "Preferences" and then "Backups". Here, change your backup location to be the "System" backup location rather than TouchCopy. As you have already set TouchCopy to have full disk access, you can click confirm on the message that is displayed.
9. Once set, please connect your iPhone and attempt to access your Messages using TouchCopy.