You're trying to check your Notes or sync a photo, and there it is. That annoying little red badge in Settings or a pop-up on your Mac saying sync is disabled. you must accept new apple terms to keep things moving. It feels like a roadblock. Honestly, most of us just want our tech to work without reading twenty pages of legalese, but Apple has recently updated their "Apple Account" (formerly Apple ID) and iCloud agreements, and they aren't kidding about the lockout.
If you don't click "Agree," your devices basically stop talking to each other. Your Reminders won't update. Your Safari tabs won't follow you from iPhone to iPad. It’s a mess.
Why is Apple forcing this update?
It isn't just a random whim. In early 2026, Apple finalized a major shift in how they handle user data and child safety. These new terms specifically address the rebranding of "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" and include much stricter language regarding the storage of harmful content. If you're using iCloud+, there are also updated clauses about Private Relay and how your IP address is masked.
Apple’s legal team requires a fresh "handshake" with every user to ensure these privacy protections are legally binding. Until you give the thumbs up, the servers are programmed to put a "hold" on your data streams. This is why you see the "Sync is disabled" warning. They aren't deleting your stuff—they're just pausing the delivery.
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The "Cannot Complete Action" loop
The most frustrating part isn't the terms themselves; it's the bug. Many users report hitting "Agree" only to see an error message: “Cannot Complete Action. This action cannot be completed at this time.” This usually happens because your device is running an older version of iOS or macOS that doesn't quite know how to talk to the updated 2026 authentication servers. If you’re stuck on iOS 17 or an early version of Sequoia, the "Accept" button might literally be broken.
How to break the cycle
- Update your software first. It sounds like a cliché, but it works. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s a point-release waiting for you, install it. Often, the update itself includes the fix for the terms-and-conditions loop.
- The iCloud.com trick. If your iPhone is being stubborn, go to a laptop. Log into iCloud.com with your Apple Account. Often, the web interface will pop the new terms immediately. Once you click "Agree" on the website, it propagates to all your devices within minutes.
- Sign out and back in. This is the "nuclear" option for your settings. Tap your name at the top of Settings, scroll to the bottom, and hit Sign Out. Restart the phone. Sign back in. This forces the device to pull a fresh token from Apple's servers, which almost always triggers the terms prompt correctly.
Special steps for Apple Business Manager
If you're an IT admin and you see sync is disabled. you must accept new apple terms in your Microsoft Intune or MDM dashboard, the fix is a bit different. This usually happens when Apple updates the terms for Apple Business Manager (ABM) or Apple School Manager.
Your managed devices won't be able to enroll or sync until the "Agent" (the person who set up the account) logs into business.apple.com. You usually have to click on "User Groups" or "Preferences" to trigger the pop-up. Once you've accepted them there, you might need to go back to Intune and manually hit "Sync" on your enrollment program tokens. It doesn't always happen instantly. Sometimes it takes about 24 hours for the "T_C_NOT_Signed" error to clear.
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What happens if you just ignore it?
Nothing catastrophic happens immediately, but your digital life gets fragmented. Your "Find My" might still work for a while, but backup services usually stall. If you lose your phone and your last backup was three weeks ago because you didn't accept the terms, you're out of luck.
Also, watch out for scams. Because this "accept terms" thing is a real issue, hackers are sending out phishing emails. They’ll tell you your account is "disabled" and provide a link to a fake login page. Never click a link in an email. Always go directly through your device's Settings app or the official iCloud website.
Quick Fix Checklist
- Check Apple System Status online to make sure iCloud isn't actually down.
- Toggle your Wi-Fi off and use Cellular data to accept; sometimes DNS issues block the "Agree" signal.
- If you have multiple Apple Accounts on one device (like a work and personal one), check Settings > Mail > Accounts. You might need to accept terms for each individual account.
Accepting these terms is basically the "price of admission" for staying in the ecosystem. Once you clear that red notification, your sync should resume automatically, and your files will start moving again.
Next Steps:
Navigate to your iPhone Settings, tap your Apple Account name at the top, and look for a prompt labeled iCloud Terms and Conditions. If it isn't there, log into iCloud.com on a browser to force the agreement screen.