Resolved iTunes "Back Up Now" button greyed out

[drscripps]

Nice progress, thanks guys! A little feedback from the different contributors helped put together a picture about our issue. I feel much better knowing that I can backup my iPhone and sync it with Outlook again.

 

[ImpetuousRacer]

OMG thanks ImpetuousRacer, you solved my issue too! ^_^

After searching around Malwarebytes forums, you don't need to completely disable "Ransomware Protection", you can just add 2 folders to the "Allow List" as described in that thread, namely

Thanks for the details! I was going to just turn it off for backups then reenable after. I've added those folders to the whitelist for ransomware and it is working. I was about to uninstall Itunes and reinstall, etc, etc.

I could have sworn I disabled Malwarebytes before but it didn't help. However, what I did was "Quit Malwarebytes" rather than disable individual protection features.

FWIW, I'm currently on the same Malwarebytes version as you (4.0.4.49) but my Update package version is newer (1.0.18152). We have the same Component package version (1.0.793).

Have you tried updating to see if your problem goes away at a newer Update package version?

At the time of posting, my package version was up to date. It is now 1.0.18160 and still the same issue.
At least it works for now with this workaround.

 

[angelinelayne]

So I just started having this EXACT issue. Thanks to this thread, MALWAREBYTES IS THE ISSUE!

I turned off everything, and then it shows the breakout instead of Other and also the backup buttons are no longer grayed out.

I found specifically, all I need to turn off is "Ransomware Protection". I'm on Malwarebytes 4.0.4.49, Update Package 1.0.18148, Component Package 1.0.793.

Opening Itunes up, everything working, and then trying to turn ransomware protection back on will cause the backup to fail.

When I turned off Malwarebytes, the "Back Up Now" button became available to use - this was all that worked for me!!! thanks for posting this fix!!

 

[PNutts]

Edit2: Here's the link to the solution in the MWB forum if you don't want to disable Ransomeware protection. This link shows how to do the step below:

Add these two folders to your Allow List and exclude from Ransomeware detection only:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple)


I'm back in the bad state of all iPhone storage is Other, the Backup/Restore buttons are greyed out, and iTunes does not show any previous backups (they are still where they should be). I left my phone plugged in all night and updated to iTunes 12.10.4.2 but those did not resolve the issue.

Edit: Geez. I didn't see that this thread had gone to a second page. I turned of Malwarebytes Ransomeware Protection and can now see iPhone storage normally and am able to back up. I'll go over to the MWB forum and report it if nobody has already and open a support case. Thank you to everyone.

 

[iFurnby]

So I just started having this EXACT issue. Thanks to this thread, MALWAREBYTES IS THE ISSUE!

I turned off everything, and then it shows the breakout instead of Other and also the backup buttons are no longer grayed out.

I found specifically, all I need to turn off is "Ransomware Protection". I'm on Malwarebytes 4.0.4.49, Update Package 1.0.18148, Component Package 1.0.793.

Opening Itunes up, everything working, and then trying to turn ransomware protection back on will cause the backup to fail.

Thank you so much!!! Spent hours trying every suggestion I could find but nothing worked until I found your post and followed the steps listed by wolnavi to exclude the Apple directories!

 

[JimProuty]

OMG thanks ImpetuousRacer, you solved my issue too! ^_^

After searching around Malwarebytes forums, you don't need to completely disable "Ransomware Protection", you can just add 2 folders to the "Allow List" as described in that thread, namely

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple

and

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple

reason being that it might be somewhat more risky to completely disable Ransomware Protection as opposed to just allowing 2 folders, though it still is somewhat of a risk but if you need to backup your iPhone, then this is the current workaround until Malwarebytes fixes this

----------
For anyone else who needs a step by step guide:

1. Open Malwarebytes
2. Click on the "gear" icon around the top right hand corner
3. Click on "Allow List"
4. Click on the blue "Add" button
5. Click "Allow a file or folder"
6. Click on the blue "Select a folder" button
7. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple
8. Click "Select Folder" button
9. Choose "Exclude from detection as ransomware only"
10. Click the blue "Done" button

Now repeat steps 6 to 10 again for the C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple folder

Once again thank you ImpetuousRacer

I now also remember why I earlier said that the computer without Malwarebytes also had the same issue, it turns out I had Malwarebytes "Anti-Ransomware Beta" installed there, which might have caused it...

If anyone needs to know, I'm on
- Malwarebytes version 4.0.4.49
- Update package version 1.0.18154 (I don't think this matters as this is something like the "definition" updates)
- Component package version 1.0.793 (I think this version is the issue because the topic starter on Malwarebytes forum is also having the same Component package version and it is also released around the time where I started experiencing the issue...)

I registered just to "like" this post, because without it I would never have known why I couldn't backup my iPad on Windows 10. Excellent work!

 

[l90m]

Had to register and say a big thank you for the malwarebytes recommendation!

I owe you a beer!

 

[newbe175]

Malwarebytes Ver 4 (Windows) has issues. It was causing browsers (Chrome and Edge) to time out while browsing.

I‘ve using Malwarebytes for several years and never had any problems until now. It started with sync issues in iTunes. I contacted them and they send me the same solution you posted above. Lately the browsers would time out. This was happening on two Windows 10 computers. I kept having to disable the Web Protection to make it usable. I finally deleted it on both computers due to the iTunes and browsing issues. I hope they figure it out....

 

[Andrew Is H]

I've also just registered simply to say thanks for the Malwarebytes solution. Being unable to back up or sync my iPad has been driving me nuts all day. I've been a user of Malwarebytes for years but I'm pretty unimpressed with their complete lack of communication with users about this.

 

[Scott Schalon]

OMG thanks ImpetuousRacer, you solved my issue too! ^_^

After searching around Malwarebytes forums, you don't need to completely disable "Ransomware Protection", you can just add 2 folders to the "Allow List" as described in that thread, namely

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple

and

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple

reason being that it might be somewhat more risky to completely disable Ransomware Protection as opposed to just allowing 2 folders, though it still is somewhat of a risk but if you need to backup your iPhone, then this is the current workaround until Malwarebytes fixes this

----------
For anyone else who needs a step by step guide:

1. Open Malwarebytes
2. Click on the "gear" icon around the top right hand corner
3. Click on "Allow List"
4. Click on the blue "Add" button
5. Click "Allow a file or folder"
6. Click on the blue "Select a folder" button
7. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple
8. Click "Select Folder" button
9. Choose "Exclude from detection as ransomware only"
10. Click the blue "Done" button

Now repeat steps 6 to 10 again for the C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple folder

Once again thank you ImpetuousRacer

I now also remember why I earlier said that the computer without Malwarebytes also had the same issue, it turns out I had Malwarebytes "Anti-Ransomware Beta" installed there, which might have caused it...

If anyone needs to know, I'm on
- Malwarebytes version 4.0.4.49
- Update package version 1.0.18154 (I don't think this matters as this is something like the "definition" updates)
- Component package version 1.0.793 (I think this version is the issue because the topic starter on Malwarebytes forum is also having the same Component package version and it is also released around the time where I started experiencing the issue...)

OMG!!!! Thank you SO much!! This was starting to drive me barmy.......tried your solution and problem solved!
Malwarebytes is gonna get an earful! Gracias again, jefe!

 

[pat100]

Many thanks to the wonderful people who provided this fix for iTunes backup. I would never have worked this out for myself. You stopped me from wasting a huge amount of time. Malwarebytes seem to be dragging their feet!

 

[wolnavi]

Many thanks to the wonderful people who provided this fix for iTunes backup. I would never have worked this out for myself. You stopped me from wasting a huge amount of time. Malwarebytes seem to be dragging their feet!

The issue has already been fixed about a month ago with Malwarebytes version 4.1.0.56, Component version 1.0.854, please ensure you have updated your Malwarebytes

Thanks

 

[brian5]

This command:

iTunes.exe /setPrefInt DeviceBackupsDisabled 0

enabled the "Back Up Now" button for me in Windows 10 with iTunes v12.10.6.2 and iPhone 11 iOS v13.4.5 👍👍