8 Quick Solutions to iCloud Photos Stuck at 1 Percent

Photos didn’t upload to iCloud because iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percecnt? This issue can result from many aspects. Read this guide to learn why and how to fix iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percent.

Demi by Demi Updated December 15, 2023
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When all factors remain constant, uploading photos or videos to iCloud Photos should proceed without issues. However, in specific situations, you may encounter the iCloud Photos stuck at 1% error. This means that your iPhone is unable to proceed with uploading photos to iCloud due to some setbacks.

icloud photos stuck at 1

What are the main causes of this issue, and how can you best solve them? This article aims to provide answers by outlining the possible reasons for the iCloud Photos upload stuck error and describing the seven best solutions to address it.

Why is iCloud Photos is stuck at 1?

In the absence of errors, your iPhone should smoothly upload photos and videos to iCloud Photos. However, if iCloud Photos gets stuck at 1% or fails to initiate, it indicates an underlying issue. Some causes of iCloud Photos getting stuck include:
❌ Unstable internet connection.
❌ Low battery power.
❌ Insufficient cloud storage.
❌ Bugs in your operating system.
❌ Depleted iPhone storage.

To ensure iCloud Photos works correctly and make iCloud Photos upload faster, addressing these issues is essential. The following section will outline potential solutions to resolve the iCloud Photos stuck at 1% uploading problem.

Solutions to iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percent uploading

As iCloud Photos may get stuck for various reasons, we've compiled several solutions to address the problem. If you are in a hurry, we also offer you a quick fix in the next part, enabling you to manually upload photos and videos to iCloud Photos. Let's explore each solution along with its detailed steps.

1# Check your iCloud storage

iCloud Photos might stall at 1% due to insufficient cloud storage. If you've used up the free 5GB, consider upgrading to a premium plan. Here's how to check your iCloud storage.

Navigate to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap [your name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage (or Manage Storage in iOS 15 and earlier).

icloud manage storage

More info available to free up iCloud storage space: 5 Best Ways to Free Up iCloud Storage on iPhone/Mac.

2# Turn off Low Power Mode

When your iPhone is in low power mode, it limits functions like uploading photos to iCloud. This can occur due to low battery or accidental activation. To resolve, disable low power mode or charge your iPhone.

Here are the steps to turn off low-power mode: Navigate to Settings > Battery > Turn off Low Power Mode if it is enabled.

low power mode

3# Check & Reset network settings

iCloud automatically syncs your pictures, videos, and data with a reliable internet connection. If syncing stops, check your Wi-Fi connection or reconnect to Wi-Fi or another network to resume synchronization.

Occasionally, network settings can impact iCloud Photos uploading. To resolve network issues, consider resetting network settings by going to iPhone Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.

reset network settings

4# Optimize iPhone storage

Insufficient iPhone storage space often causes iCloud to get stuck during data updates. If you encounter an error regarding insufficient space, optimizing your phone's storage is the solution. Here’s how to fix iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percent by optimizing iPhone storage.

Go to the Settings app > Select Photos > Choose Optimize iPhone Storage. This will optimize your storage and start uploading your photos to iCloud. 

check optimize iphone storage

5# Force restart iPhone

When iCloud Photos upload stuck at 1, restarting your iPhone can quickly resume all functions and aid in syncing your data. Follow the steps below to restart your iPhone:

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button > Quickly press and release the Volume Down button. Finally, press and hold the Side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the button.

force restart iphone

6# Disable & re-enable iCloud Photos

If iCloud Photos stuck at 1% percent consistently when uploading photos or videos, turning it off and then one can resolve the issue. There might be a minor bug causing the problem. You can disable and re-enable it with the following steps:

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Scroll down to choose Photos > Toggle off the switch next to iCloud Photos.

turn off icloud photos iphone

7# Sign out & in iCloud account

iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percent uploading may due to errors or bugs from connected devices can be resolved by temporarily signing out of your iCloud account on all devices, including the one you're currently using.

Go to the Settings app > Tap [your name] > Scroll down and tap Sign Out. When asked, do what is required and follow the on-screen instructions to sign out.

sign out apple id

Quick fix: Manually upload photos to iCloud Photos via FoneTool

If the above solutions do not resolve the issue, you can consider a quick fix: manually uploading photos to iCloud Photos using FoneTool, a versatile tool that offers a comprehensive solution for managing data on iOS devices and your iCloud account.

This manual method ensures that your photos are uploaded to iCloud without relying on the automatic sync process. It's a practical workaround if the automatic iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percent uploading.

Download this freeware to your computer by clicking the button below. Here's how you can use FoneTool to manually upload photos to iCloud Photos.

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Step 1. To upload iPhone photos to iCloud, firstly go to Phone Transfer in FoneTool > iPhone to PC > Choose photos to transfer from iPhone to PC.

choose photos to transfer

Step 2. Go to My iCloud > Sign in with your iCloud account > Click the Manage iCloud option.

choose manage icloud

Step 3. Choose Photos > Click the Upload button to preview and select the photos you’d like to upload > Click Open to begin the task.

start upload photos

FoneTool is also a powerful data backup tool for iOS devices. Instead of spending money and time buying and freeing up limited iCloud storage, it is highly suggested to try its Selective Backup and Full Backup functions to keep your data safe.

Conclusion

While iCloud Photos stuck at 1 percent during the uploading process can be frustrating, the solutions provided in this article address common issues that may cause the delay.

By following the recommended steps, hope you can troubleshoot and overcome the hurdle of iCloud Photos being stuck at 1 percent, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted experience when managing your photo libraries across your Apple devices.

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