If you're receiving the error "iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files", this guide covers why it happens and offers effective solutions to fix it. Learn to resolve common causes, from storage limitations to software glitches, and prevent future archive issues with simple tips.
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iCloud Photos failing to archive
I get this message: "iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files in D:\Pictures\......... and cannot start. Please restart your computer." This is on a Windows 10 Home Edition PC. I have tried restarting and it still happens.
Whenever I try to open a folder in OneDrive (it contains photos, but I am not expecting them to be backed up to iCloud) I get the same message and Windows File Explorer hangs. I have to use the task manager to stop it. How do I clear this problem?
- Question from discussions.apple.com
If you are stuck on the problem "iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files" just like the user above, it could be frustrating. Many users report that the error message occurred in Windows 11, or Windows 10 computer. Don’t worry, here you can find the best solution to fix it. And find another way to protect your iCloud Photos in advance.
The error message "iCloud Photos Failed to Archive Existing Files" usually occurs when iCloud Photos is unable to back up or move existing photo files to a designated archive location. This can be due to different reasons:
After knowing the possible reasons for iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files, you can find the proven fixes in the following part. Try to resolve this problem.
To fix this problem when using iCloud Photos on Windows 11, or Windows 10 computer, try the following solutions below one by one until you fix it.
This way you might need to try first, because many users report it’s working. Here it is:
1. Please open the Windows File Explorer, then click the Pictures folder.
2. Right-click the iCloud Photos, and choose Delete to delete this folder.
Note: The iCloud Photos folder is usually located on your C:\Users\YourUserName\Pictures or maybe on another drive, depending on how you set iCloud Photos up on your Windows PC. Do NOT delete the "Pictures" folder, or any other subfolders in the Pictures folder.
3. Log in to your iCloud Photos app and then set up to sync iCloud Photos to your computer.
4. Then check if iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files is persist.
If your iCloud storage space is full, iCloud Photos might stop working and can’t sync files anymore. So, check your iCloud Photos storage space, how much space in iCloud Drive, and other available space first. If the storage is almost full, free up space by deleting unnecessary files or upgrading your iCloud storage plan if needed.
Sometimes, the iCloud Photos glitches might cause the iCloud Photos archive problem. Try the following steps:
Ensure you have a stable internet connection, and try reconnecting to Wi-Fi or restarting your router. Then try to use iCloud Photos to sync photos on your computer.
Try identifying any problematic files by syncing smaller batches of photos at a time. Remove or back up the problematic files manually if necessary.
Make sure your Windows version and iCloud Photos version are up to date. Or some bugs might cause the "iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files and cannot start" problem. Updating may resolve bugs or compatibility issues.
Try turning iCloud Photos off and on in your settings. This can refresh the connection and often resolves minor syncing issues.
Remember to back up your files before making changes to avoid any accidental data loss.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consider contacting Apple Support, as there may be a deeper issue with your iCloud account or the iCloud Photos service.
In case of data loss, it’s highly recommended to backup iCloud Photos before troubleshooting iCloud Photos failed to archive existing files problem. To backup iCloud Photos effectively, here comes the professional web-based multiple cloud storage manager - MultCloud to help you out.
So, how to backup iCloud Photos with MultCloud, here we will going to show you how to sync iCloud Photos to Google Photos with simple clicks, just check it out:
1. Create a free MultCloud account and log in to MultCloud Dashboard.
2. Hit Add Cloud > iCloud Photos, then follow the guide to add. Then add Google Photos accordingly.
3. Select Cloud Sync, choose iCloud Photos as the source and a directory in Google Photos as the destination.
Tip: If you would like to sync iCloud Photos to Google Photos all the time, You can choose Real Time Sync from the top tab.
4. Press the Sync Now button to sync iCloud Photos to Google Photos directly.
Tips:
Until now, you might have fixed iCloud Photos failed archive existing files issues. To protect your iCloud Photos files, MultCloud is a wise choice. Just protect iCloud Photos now. Besides, you can learn how to access iCloud Photos on PC, recover iCloud Photos even permanent deleted, etc.