access to iCloud backups. One potential obstacle could be an error message, specifically one that states “device cannot be transferred.” You may see this notification when trying to activate or adjust iPhone features and settings, or it might appear as you attempt to open an app. No matter when this error appears, there are a few reasons you could be receiving this alert in the first place.
Often, your iPhone indicates that data cannot be transferred because you have an excessive number of devices with purchase permissions linked to your Apple account. If you’ve recently acquired a secondhand iPhone — whether bought used or received as a gift — you might also see this error message if the device is still connected to the former owner’s Apple account. Whatever the situation, we have created this guide to help you navigate some troubleshooting techniques and possible solutions.
As time goes by, your Apple account may become cluttered with inactive devices you might not even recall using. This could include anything from an old MacBook to a malfunctioning iPad. Unfortunately, you can only associate 10 Apple devices for purchases with your Apple account simultaneously, with only five of those being computers. Even if you merely utilized an Apple product to purchase a few movies on iTunes years back, your account will still retain a record of that device, counting it against your limit. One Reddit user experienced these precise issues: “I faced something similar when I got my new phone last year. … However, I discovered that even though I had been removing my older phones/table
