Apple's CloudKit: Developers report problems
CloudKit, which Apple uses to enable developers to easily synchronize app data, seems to be malfunctioning with iOS 26.4. Fixes are missing.
iCloud logo: Something is rotten in the state of CloudKit.
(Image: Apple)
Users and developers currently seem to be experiencing problems with certain iCloud functions. There are various complaints about this in forums, blogs, and social media. The synchronization of apps appears to have been affected. Apparently, this primarily impacts iOS 26.4, which was released last week. However, it could also be cloud-side errors. Apple's system status website currently shows no disruptions.
It's no longer synchronizing
According to developer Michael Tsai, who has summarized various developer messages on his blog, Apple should urgently release an iOS 26.4.1 update. The error pattern reportedly does not occur in the already available beta of iOS 26.5. The affected SDK CloudKit is used to enable apps to synchronize easily via iCloud, thus keeping data consistent across iPhones, iPads, or Macs.
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For this purpose, notifications invisible to the user are sent to the devices. The class CKSubscription appears to be the problem: it no longer reliably triggers synchronization. This then leads to apps no longer receiving the current status. In some cases, there also seem to be issues with a throttle function on Apple's side, which limits sync notifications.
Data loss possible
Since CloudKit is part of countless apps, issues with it can lead to massive difficulties if the user has multiple devices in use – but also if you, as a single-device user, thought your data was already safely in iCloud. Noted developer and leak expert Steve Troughton-Smith believes there is at least the potential for catastrophic data loss.
However, nothing is currently known about this. In the Mac & i editorial office, the issues could not initially be reproduced, but for several editors, the synchronization of the Notes app has been causing difficulties for a few days. Apple has not yet made any statement about the errors. It remained unclear why they appeared on the devices with iOS 26.4 specifically and whether macOS 26.4 is also affected. If possible, users should create local backups. However, this is not possible at all for some iCloud-supported apps.
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