If you don’t want to save your data in the cloud, there are other ways to back up your iPhone. Read the full article below to discover all the “hows” and “whys” of backing up your iPhone. Keeping your phone’s data safe is important. That’s where iPhone backup strategies come into play.
Where Should You Back Up Your iPhone?
When it comes to iPhone backups, you have a few choices. You can send your data to the cloud (iCloud) or keep a copy safe and sound in a more down-to-earth location (your computer). Some people save a backup in both places. This redundancy offers peace of mind, and the ability to restore data under almost any circumstance.
How to Back Up iPhone to iCloud
To back up your iPhone to iCloud, you must have an iCloud account tied to an Apple ID. If you do, here’s how to do the backup: Keep in mind that you need to stay connected to your Wi-Fi for the entire backup process, otherwise your data might not be stored correctly or completely. You’ll also need to have enough iCloud storage space for the backup file.
iCloud backups: pros and cons
Choosing to back up iPhone to iCloud has its advantages, but also comes with some downsides. We’ve listed them in the table below.
How to Back Up iPhone to a Computer
Apart from saving your files in the Cloud, you can also store them locally, on your own device. If you have a Mac, there are two possible ways you can back up iPhone to your computer, depending on the version of your operating system. If you have a PC, there is only one option.
Mac running OS Catalina 10.15 or later: use the Finder feature to back up iPhone. Mac running OS Mojave 10.14 or earlier: use iTunes to back up your iPhone. PC: use the iTunes for Windows app.
We’ll describe the processes for both Finder and iTunes down below.
How to back up iPhone on Mac using Finder
If you’re running OS Catalina 10.15 or later, you can use Finder to back up your iPhone to your Mac. You’ll now have a backup of your iPhone data on your Mac computer.
How to back up iPhone using iTunes
If your Mac is running OS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, use iTunes to back up your iPhone. If you’re backing up to a PC, use iTunes for Windows. You can download this from the Microsoft store. The process is virtually the same for both Mac and Windows. A copy of your iPhone data will be stored locally on your computer.
Computer backups: pros and cons
If backing up to your computer seems preferable, be sure to weigh the benefits and costs. *Typically, these services provide a larger amount of data storage than is available through your free iCloud account.
Other Ways to Back Up iPhone
While the backup options provided by Apple are free and the easiest to use, there are options from third-party app makers as well. These apps may provide features such as backup of contacts, recovery of deleted data, and the ability to browse backup data. Popular examples of these apps include iMazing, Phone Rescue, and iBackup Viewer. Unfortunately, most of them come with a hefty price tag to get full functionality. However, for users willing to pay, the added convenience and features of these apps make them attractive.
Why You Should Back Up Your iPhone
The fact that there’s a World Backup Day on March 31st each year shows that many people find it important to back up their data regularly. This isn’t without reason: keeping a replicated copy of your most current information “just in case” can save you a lot of stress. There are several good reasons why you should regularly back up your iPhone. Here are a couple of situation in which you’ll be glad to have a backup of your data.
You are protected if your iPhone is lost, stolen, or damaged
Photos and videos are irreplaceable. Messages and voicemails can’t be replicated. These are just a few important things that will be lost when your phone breaks or disappears. Whether you leave it in the back of an Uber, a pickpocket steals it, or you accidentally drop it on an unforgiving tile floor, there are many ways your phone can unexpectedly exit your life. While replacing your iPhone will be easy (not counting the dent in your pocketbook), replacing your pictures and messages is not. Without a current backup of your phone’s data, all the information in your old phone is likely gone forever.
Your phone’s data is consolidated into a single backup file
If you’re not super technical, how and where your data is saved can be confusing. Gmail calendars, iCloud contacts, WhatsApp messages – everything promises to be stored someplace safe “in the cloud.” But the cyber sky is filled with clouds, and your backups are scattered among them. What’s even more confusing is that not every piece of information you save in your phone goes up to the cloud at all. Some data is stored only on your phone – unless you back it up. Regularly backing up your iPhone consolidates nearly all of your phone’s data in one place, making it easy to get your phone’s data back quickly and with less stress.
Your data is more protected against cybercrime
Although nobody wants to believe they could be targeted by cybercriminals, the chances aren’t as small as you might imagine. While huge incidents tend to make the news, individuals can fall victim to cybercrime, too. Whether it’s phishing, malware, or ransomware, your mobile device is not bulletproof. If your phone is implicated in a cybercrime attack, having a backup of your important settings and data stored somewhere else can be a lifesaver.
How to Restore iPhone From a Backup
If the unthinkable happened and you have to replace your iPhone, follow these steps to restore your phone’s data from a backup.
Restore iPhone from iCloud
Once the download of your backup is complete, you can start using your new phone. However, some content will continue restoring in the background. This could take several hours or even days, depending on how much data is involved. It will only restore while you are connected to Wi-Fi and power, so it’s a good idea to do a restore when your phone will have continuous access to both.
Restore iPhone from computer
On a Mac running OS Catalina 10.15 or later, open Finder. For Macs running an earlier OS and for all PCs, open iTunes.
Protect Your Apple Data
Chances are that someday you will need to restore a backup to your iPhone. It’s better to take the time now to create a regular backup program, than wish you had when it’s too late. Take a few minutes to secure your important information on your iPhone today. While you’re in a backup frame of mind, don’t forget to protect and back up the data on your Mac and your iPad, too. If you want to protect your data and your privacy against others, now is also a good time to review the privacy settings on your iPhone. Once you get everything tweaked to your preferences, you can sleep better at night knowing your phone’s important data is secure. Learn more about iCloud security and how Apple handles user data before you back up on Apple’s iCloud service. If you have a PC, you’ll need to download iTunes for Windows. For Mac users, you’ll either use Finder (OS Catalina 10.15 or later) or iTunes (OS Mojave 10.14 or earlier). Read our full article for detailed steps on how to do each type of backup.
If you are using a Mac and are running OS Catalina 10.15 or later, you use the Finder feature. For older macOS, iTunes is the way to go. All PCs use iTunes for Windows to back up iPhone.
Backup instructions for each are detailed in our full article.
macOS Catalina 10.15 and later – use Finder to back up iPhone. macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier – use iTunes to back up iPhone.
Step-by-step instructions for completing each type of backup can be found in our full article. If your backup file is larger than the storage space you have on your iCloud account, you’ll need to purchase a storage subscription with Apple.
