Some iCloud users have reported that after upgrading to the new iOS 16.3 version, apps like iCloud Drive and Photos are unable to sync. Foreign tech media AppleInsider initially believes that the lack of two-factor authentication is the cause.
In Apple’s official support forums and Reddit community, many users have reported that iCloud has been experiencing sync failures after upgrading to iOS 16.3. Services including iCloud Drive and iCloud Backup receive an “An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later” error alert.
iOS 16.3 introduces a new Apple ID security key feature. Apple says the optional security feature is designed for individuals who want “extra protection against targeted attacks like phishing or social scams.
When enabled, logging into Apple ID requires entering the user’s account password and then using a FIDO-authenticated security key to complete two-factor authentication instead of the traditional six-digit authentication code from another Apple device.
The majority of users who have reported these sync failures have not enabled two-factor authentication. Follow-up reports indicate that enabling two-factor authentication for Apple IDs may be a workaround, but not everyone will want to enable this security feature on their accounts.
