iCloud Is Greyed Out

iCloud has become a cornerstone of the Apple user experience ever since its introduction in 2011. Considering how crucial many people find the tool for storing images, notes, and contacts, your day-to-day life can become hampered if iCloud is greyed out.

If you can’t click on iCloud in Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, it can mean that servers aren’t working, you aren’t connected to the internet, or something more severe. Regardless of why, though, I’m here to help you get back on track.

Keep reading to discover how you can troubleshoot the iCloud greyed out issue, along with a suite of solutions to try.

Before we begin

 

While I’ve included a broad range of solutions in this guide, I can’t guarantee that all of them will work for you. Sometimes, you might need additional help—and MacKeeper’s Premium Services is a good port of call when this becomes necessary.

 

MacKeeper’s Premium Services team is available 24/7, allowing you to fix your problem faster. You can get free checkups, personalized problem-solving, and more. Here’s how to use the service:

1. Download MacKeeper
2. Go to Premium Services in the MacKeeper app
3. Click on Chat Now
4. Type your problem, and our team will help you fix the issue.

Why is iCloud greyed out?

Before I reveal how to fix iCloud sign out is greyed out, let’s look at some of the reasons you might be suffering from this issue in the first place.

• Buggy iOS or macOS: If your iOS or macOS software is experiencing glitches, many services—such as iCloud—may not work properly. Glitches can occur after major updates, and in the worst-case scenario, they can also be a possible sign of malware.
• Apple’s servers are down: Apple has excellent servers, but they won’t necessarily work 100% of the time. When they’re down, you won’t be able to access iCloud. Usually, Apple mends the problem before too long.
• Not connected to your Wi-Fi: If you’re not connected to your Wi-Fi or mobile data, you won’t be able to access iCloud. You may also notice that you can’t use the feature if you’re connected to your Wi-Fi, but your network isn’t working.
• An outdated version of iOS or macOS: Keeping your operating systems updated is essential for maximizing your device performance. If you haven’t upgraded to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS, you might have difficulties using iCloud and numerous other features.
• Activated Content & Privacy Restrictions: Content & Privacy Restrictions is useful for blocking inappropriate content and numerous other things. However, it can also stop you from accessing your iCloud account.

How to fix iCloud greyed out?

Seeing “this Mac can’t connect to iCloud” or similar problems is annoying at the best of times, but don’t worry—you’ve got plenty of ways to start using the tool again.

• Check Apple System Status
• Make sure to connect to Wi-Fi or enable the cellular data feature
• Sign out and in again with Apple ID
• Update iOS or macOS
• Check for any installed security certificates or profiles
• Check for restrictions
• Look at iCloud backup settings
• Remove connection conflict
• Turn off Screen Time and Content & Privacy settings
• Reset network settings
• Remove device management profile.

Keep reading to find out what you can do if you can’t open iCloud in Settings.

Check Apple System Status

Before trying more drastic solutions, check to ensure that iCloud is up and running. First, go to https://www.apple.com/support/systemstatus/.

When on the System Status website, you can see whether iCloud’s various features are working or not. The green circle signals that they’re online.

Make sure to connect to Wi-Fi or enable the cellular data feature

Have you verified that iCloud is up and running, but you still can’t access iCloud from Mac or your other devices? The next step is to ensure that you’re connected to the internet. We’ll split this section into three different parts.

To connect to your iPhone or iPad Wi-Fi:

1. Open your Settings app and select Wi-Fi
2. Switch the Wi-Fi toggle on
3. Connect to your preferred Wi-Fi network.

To connect to your cellular data on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Cellular
2. Switch the Cellular Data toggle on.

To connect to your Mac Wi-Fi:

1. Go to the Wi-Fi icon in the toolbar at the top
2. Toggle Wi-Fi on
3. Choose the network you want to connect to and enter the necessary details.

Sign-out and sign-in Apple ID

Signing out and back into your Apple ID account can help you reset any possible glitches that stop you from using iCloud.

To sign out and in of Apple ID on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Apple ID
2. Select Sign Out at the bottom of your screen
3. At the top of the Settings app, click on the banner to sign back into your account
4. Enter your Apple ID login details.

To sign out and in of Apple ID on Mac:

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings
2. Select your Apple ID in the top left-hand corner
3. Hit Sign Out at the bottom of your screen
4. Click on the banner in the top left again
5. Sign into your Apple ID account.

Update iOS or macOS

Updating your device’s software will help patch technical faults that had previously stopped you from using iCloud on your device. Here’s how to upgrade iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

To update iOS and iPadOS:

Updating iOS and iPadOS is an identical process. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Settings > General
2. Select Software Update
3. Hit Download and Install if you have a new software update
4. Enter your passcode
5. Wait for the software to install on your device
6. Enter your passcode when your iPhone or iPad restarts, and you’re back on the home screen.

To update macOS:

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings
2. Click on General > Software Update
3. Select Update Now if you need to update your software
4. Hit the Agree button on the Apple licensing agreement
5. Wait for Apple to download the new version of macOS on your computer.

Check for any installed security certificates or profiles

Security certificates and profiles might stop iCloud from working properly in some cases. Checking for them will help you identify the problem better.

To check for installed security certificates and profiles on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > General
2. Select Certificate Trust Settings.

To check for installed security certificates and profiles on Mac:

1. Go to Spotlight and search for Keychain Access
2. Open the Keychain Access app
3. Go to Certificates. You can also check the My Certificates tab.

Check for restrictions

Some restrictions might stop you from using iCloud, and it’s worth checking for them to verify if this is why you can’t use the feature.

Check for restrictions on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time
2. Select Content & Privacy Restrictions. Here, you’ll see the different restrictions that might stop you from using iCloud.

Check for restrictions on Mac:

1. Open System Settings and go to Screen Time
2. Choose Content & Privacy
3. Look through the different settings to see what is and isn’t allowed on your device.

Look at iCloud backup settings

iCloud backup settings can help you restore your data if you lose or buy a new device, but it’s worth checking to see if these issues are stopping you from using the service correctly.

Look at iCloud backup settings on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Apple ID
2. Select iCloud
3. Choose iCloud Backup.

Look at iCloud backup settings on Mac:

1. Open System Settings and select Apple ID
2. Choose iCloud
3. Choose Manage next to Account Storage
4. Go to Backups.

Remove connection conflict

Removing possible connection conflicts can help to get your iCloud working again, but it’s often something that you’ll need to wait for and allow to naturally occur. You can try resetting your network settings, as I’ll mention later. Alternatively, you can contact your internet provider for assistance.

Turn off Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions settings

Switching off your Content & Privacy Restrictions settings can ensure that any possible restrictions that were holding you back are removed.

Turn off Screen Time and Content & Privacy Restrictions on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time
2. Select Turn Off Screen Time. Doing this will automatically switch off your Content & Privacy Restrictions settings at the same time.

Turn off Screen Time and Content & Privacy on Mac:

1. Open System Settings and select Screen Time
2. Toggle Screen Time off at the top of the screen. You’ll also turn off your Content & Privacy settings.

Reset network settings

Resetting your network settings can help you start from scratch if your iCloud is still greyed out. You’ll reset VPNs, Wi-Fi, and more.

Reset network settings on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > General
2. Click on Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad
3. Hit Reset.

Reset network settings on Mac:

1. Go to System Settings > Network
2. Select Wi-Fi
3. Choose Advanced
4. Look for a Wi-Fi network and select the circle with three dots
5. Hit Remove From List
6. Confirm that you want to remove your Wi-Fi connection from the list.

Remove device management profile

Sometimes, extra profiles can get in the way of you using iCloud properly on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Remove the device management profile on iPhone and iPad:

1. Go to Settings > General
2. If you don’t see Profiles & Device Management, you don’t have any profiles of this kind. If you do, click on this option
3. Hit the x button
4. Confirm that you want to delete the app and profile in question.

Remove the device management profile on Mac:

1. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security
2. Select Profiles
3. Hit the - button next to any profiles you want to remove and confirm your decision if asked to.

If your iCloud is greyed out, use these solutions to fix the problem

Being unable to access iCloud can result in irritating situations, such as not being able to use files you’ve stored in your system. Despite these annoyances, you’ll likely start using iCloud again if you successfully implemented one of the above-mentioned solutions.

Should none of these work, you can contact MacKeeper’s Premium Services team. You’ll get personalized and dedicated support round-the-clock, helping you to use your Apple devices as you originally wanted to.