Table of content
Published on: 31.03.2024 | updated on: 20.05.2024
In this digital age, our smartphones, especially iPhones, have become an integral part of our lives. We don’t only use our devices for communication and performing day-to-day tasks, but also to capture beautiful memories to cherish later. But what if one day, your iPhone sustains irreversible damage, and you lose all of those moments that you captured along with valuable information? Frustrating, isn’t it? But before you panic about the situation, remember that, there are ways to backup your iPhone to be on the safe side when such incidents happen.
In this article, we will answer all your questions about backups, how to perform them, and how long they take to complete!
Your iPhone can sustain issues for many reasons. But severe damages can leave your device not usable and in some cases, you can leave all of your data and files stored on your iPhone. That’s why it’s very important to take a backup of your iPhone from time to time to ensure that your data is safe if an accident happens. One of the best features of iPhones is that you can easily replicate your older device onto your new device without even losing a single byte of data by simply restoring the backup. This not only protects your data but also keeps all your data backed up, so you don’t miss out on beautiful memories or valuable information.
The time it takes to back up an iPhone typically depends on the following factors;
Backup method (iTunes or iCloud).
Internet speed.
Amount of data being backed up.
iPhone model.
Generally, an iCloud backup can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, while an iTunes backup is usually faster, taking around 15-30 minutes for most devices.
If you have a lot of data on your device, it is a wise decision to regularly backup your device so you can both free up space and protect your data. Here is how you can prepare an iPhone for backup;
Ensure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, download and install it.
Connect your iPhone to a wifi network.
Plug your iPhone into a charger during the backup process to prevent it from running out of battery.
Check the storage space on your iCloud account (for iCloud backups) or on your computer (for iTunes). Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage or check the available space on your computer’s hard drive.
Choose whether you want to back up to iCloud or your computer using iTunes/Finder.
iCloud is the best option to back up your data especially if you own multiple devices on one Apple ID. You can easily access, back up, and restore data from iCloud at any time. Although iCloud is a paid service, users get 5GB of free storage and can extend their plan up to a max capacity of 12TB.
You can back up your iPhone to iCloud automatically by turning the iCloud Backup option on, or you can do it manually by following this method:
Go to Settings.
Tap ‘iCloud’.
Tap ‘iCloud Backup’.
Tap ‘Back Up Now’ and wait for the process to finish.
iCloud automatically backs up your iPhone daily when connected to the charger, wifi and locked. To enable automatic iCloud Backup, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and turn on iCloud Backup.
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Storage > Manage Storage, and select your device.
Here you will be able to see the latest backup.
If you do not wish to pay for iCloud, you can also back up your iPhone locally on your computer or laptop through iTunes. Here is what to do;
Connect your iPhone to your computer.
Open iTunes.
Select your iPhone and click on 'Back Up Now' to start the backup process.
After the backup is complete, you can view the date and time of your latest backup listed under the ‘Backups’ section.
Here is how you can backup iPhone to an external hard drive;
Connect an external hard drive to your computer.
Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
Click on the iPhone icon in the top left corner of the iTunes window.
Under the "Backups" section, select "This computer" instead of iCloud.
Click "Browse" and select your external hard drive as the destination for your backup.
Check the "Encrypt backup" box if you want to protect your data with a password.
Click "Back Up Now" to start the backup process.
iTunes will create a backup folder on your external hard drive containing your iPhone data, such as photos, messages, app data, and settings. This backup method doesn't require iCloud storage and allows you to store a local backup on your external drive for safekeeping. Just do not remove the external drive while the iPhone is backing up.
If you want to learn how to backup from computer to an iPhone, here is how you can do so;
Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
Click on the iPhone icon.
Select "This computer" under the "Backups" section,
Click on the "Encrypt backup" box if you wish to protect your data.
Click "Back Up Now" to start the process.
Once the backup is done, you'll have a local backup of your iPhone data on your computer's hard drive.
Struggling with how to backup iPhone on a MacBook, here are simple steps to follow;
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using the lightning cable.
Open the Finder application on your Mac,
Click on the iPhone icon In the Finder sidebar under "Locations."
Click on the "General" tab in the main window.
Scroll down to the "Backups" section and select "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac."
Check the "Encrypt backup" box if you want to secure your backup with a password.
Click the "Back Up Now" button to back up.
Here is how to back up your iPhone on Windows;
Open iTunes on your computer.
Connect your iPhone to the computer using a cable.
Click the iPhone icon.
Click "Back Up Now" to start the process.
Restoring your iPhone can be a great solution If you have just bought a new device or accidentally erased crucial data.
Listed below are the steps on how to restore an iPhone from iCloud backup;
Make sure your iPhone is connected to Wi-Fi.
Follow the setup process on your new/reset iPhone until you get to the "Apps & Data" screen.
Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup."
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Choose the backup you want to restore from the list.
Stay connected and wait for the restore process to complete.
Here is how to restore your iPhone from iTunes/Finder;
Connect your iPhone to the computer you sync with.
Open iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and select your device.
Click "Restore Backup" in iTunes or "Restore from this backup" in Finder.
Select the backup you want to restore from the list.
Click "Restore" and wait for the process to finish.
Follow the steps below to learn how to restore the iPhone from the backup after setup;
On your newly set-up iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest iOS version, if available.
Once updated, go to Settings > General > Reset and tap "Erase All Content and Settings."
After the iPhone restarts, follow the setup process until you get to the "Apps & Data" screen.
On the "Apps & Data" screen, tap "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore from Mac or PC".
Sign in with your Apple ID if required.
Select the backup you want to restore from the list of available backups.
Tap "Restore" and enter your backup password if required. Keep your iPhone connected to Wi-Fi or computer and plugged into power.
Your iPhone will now start restoring
After it finishes, your iPhone will restart, and all your data, settings, and apps from the backup will be restored.
Here is how to backup contacts on your iPhone;
Open the Settings app and tap on your name at the top.
Tap iCloud > iCloud Backup and make sure it's turned on.
Scroll down and tap "Back Up Now" to back up your contacts to iCloud.
Alternatively, you can sync contacts to your computer via iTunes/Finder (follow the steps mentioned above)
Here is how to backup text messages on iPhone
Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud and make sure Messages is turned on.
Go to Settings > Messages and tap "Message History".
Select "Keep Messages" and choose Forever to keep all messages backed up to iCloud.
You can also backup via iTunes/Finder by encrypting your backups.
Here is how to backup photos on iPhone;
Go to Settings > Photos and make sure iCloud Photos is turned on.
You can also backup photos by going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now.
Connect your iPhone to a computer and use the Photos app (Mac) or Image Capture (Windows) to back up your photo library.
Alternatively, you can backup photos selectively to your computer by connecting your iPhone and copying the DCIM folder.
Managing how to backup iPhone with broken screen can be quite difficult, but here is how you can do so depending upon the following circumstances;
Go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup
Make sure iCloud Backup is turned on
Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network
Tap "Back Up Now" to start the backup process
Stay connected to Wi-Fi until the backup is complete
You can check the progress and verify when the backup finished successfully
Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes.
Click on the iPhone icon.
Select "This computer" under the "Backups" section,
Click on the "Encrypt backup" box if you wish to protect your data.
Click "Back Up Now" to start the process.
Backing up your iPhone with a non-responsive touch screen can be much more difficult. To do so, you would require a USB keyboard and a Lightning to USB converter. Next, follow these steps;
Connect the keyboard to your iPhone using the converter.
Unlock your iPhone using Face ID or the button. You can also enable Voice-Over using Siri to enter the password manually.
Use Voice-Over to enter the password and unlock your iPhone.
Head to iCloud settings.
Use the right cursor key on your keyboard to go through the different settings and select iCloud by pressing CTRL+ALT+SPACE.
Do the same to select “iCloud Backup.”
Repeat the process to enable the “Back Up Now” option.
Alternatively, you can also backup on iTunes, but for that, you would have to connect a Bluetooth keyboard from the iPhone settings and then connect your device to the computer.
Backing up a locked iPhone, especially if you've forgotten the passcode or the device is disabled, presents a significant challenge due to Apple's strict security measures. Generally, if your iPhone is locked and you cannot unlock it, your options for backing it up are limited. However, the following are some possible solutions:
If iCloud Backup was enabled before the iPhone was locked, it would automatically back up when connected to Wi-Fi, plugged into a charger, and locked.
If you've previously synced your iPhone with iTunes or Finder, you might be able to back up your iPhone without unlocking it, provided you use the same computer.
Connect your iPhone to the computer and open iTunes or Finder, then initiate the backup process.
Here is how to load a backup on an iPhone;
During iPhone setup, look for the "Apps & Data" screen.
Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" or "Restore from Computer".
Sign in with your Apple ID.
Select the backup you want to restore from the listed backups.
Stay connected and wait for the restore process to complete.
Here is how to delete iPhone backup;
Connect your device to your Mac.
Open Finder, and select your device in the sidebar.
Under the "General" tab, click "Manage Backups."
Right-click on the backup you want to delete, then choose "Delete" or "Archive."
Open iTunes and navigate to Edit > Preferences > Devices.
Select the backup you wish to remove, then click "Delete Backup."
Here is how to transfer the backup to the new iPhone;
Follow the on-screen setup instructions on your new iPhone.
Select "Restore from iCloud Backup" from the "Apps & Data" screen.
Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID and choose the backup you want to restore.
Connect your old iPhone to your computer and open iTunes/Finder.
Select your device and click "Back Up Now."
After the backup is complete, disconnect your old iPhone and connect your new one.
Follow the on-screen setup steps on your new iPhone, and select "Restore from iTunes Backup" when you reach the "Apps & Data" screen.
Select "Restore from this backup” and choose your recent backup.
The best way to restore deleted call history on your iPhone would be to use a recovery tool or you can also get in touch with your phone carrier.
Here is how to recover deleted notes on an iPhone without backup;
Open the Notes app.
Navigate to the "Folders" screen.
Tap on the "Recently Deleted" or "Trash" folder.
Select the note(s) you want to recover and move them back to your desired folder.
As with notes, you can attempt to recover deleted contacts from your iPhone using third-party recovery tools, but be mindful of the privacy of your data.
Here is how to recover permanently deleted photos on iPhone with backup;
Connect your iPhone to the computer you've backed it up with.
Open iTunes or Finder.
Select your device and choose "Restore Backup."
Pick the backup that contains your deleted photos.
You can recover photos from the "Recently Deleted" album.
Simply connect your iPhone 11 to Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, and tap "Back Up Now". Alternatively, you can also connect the iPhone 11 to a computer to create a local backup.
The process is identical to backing up an iPhone 11 - use iCloud Backup over Wi-Fi or create a local backup by connecting your iPhone 12 to a computer.
The best way to backup an iPhone 13 is through iTunes or Finder. However, if you have bought an upgraded iCloud data plan, backing up here can also be a great option.
Connect iPhone 14 to Wi-Fi. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Tap "Back Up Now." Alternatively, use iTunes/Finder on a computer, select the device, and click "Back Up Now."
You can backup iPhone 15 by connecting to Wi-Fi, then navigating to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and selecting "Back Up Now." You Can also connect to a computer and use iTunes/Finder.
Backing up your iPhone regularly is very crucial whether you wish to simply protect your valuable data or want to set up your new device similar to the previous one. Apple mainly provides two ways to backup: iCloud and iTunes/Finder.
While iCloud backups are convenient and wireless, they require a paid iCloud storage plan for larger backups. On the other hand, iTunes/Finder backups are free but require a computer and wired connection. Regardless of the method, it's important to enable backups so if you ever need to restore your iPhone, you can easily recover your data from a recent backup.
Tech Writer | Photographer
LinkedIn: Madiha Khadim
Madi is a dynamic tech writer with a passion for simplifying complex concepts. Her expertise lies in creating clear and concise guides, blogs, manuals, and tutorials that empower users to navigate the technological landscape with ease. Throughout her career, Madi has worked with numerous leading tech companies, collaborating with engineers, developers, designers and marketers to create user manuals, FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and tech articles, on the websites such as "Technology Castle" and "Bilzimo". She can transform intricate technical jargon into user-friendly language, empowering users to understand and utilize products effectively.
State
Discover a stores nearby
Search by a zip code|city|state
Search in 17 partners, 9 state