The two ways to back up your iPhone

You can back up your iPhone to a computer in two ways: through iCloud (Apple's cloud storage), which works wirelessly, or through iTunes or Finder (depending on your Mac or Windows version), which requires a cable connection. iCloud backs up automatically once a day if your phone is plugged in, on Wi-Fi, and locked. A wired backup through your computer gives you a complete copy stored locally on your hard drive, which is faster and more reliable if you have spotty internet or want a second backup location.

Most people use iCloud because it requires no setup beyond turning it on. But if you have a large phone (256 GB or more), a slow internet connection, or you want a backup that stays entirely on your computer, the wired method is worth the extra step. You can also use both methods at the same time — they do not interfere with each other.

Key Takeaways

  • iCloud backs up wirelessly and automatically once per day, but you need an active iCloud+ subscription if your phone storage exceeds your free iCloud space.
  • Wired backup through Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows) creates a complete copy on your computer and does not require an iCloud subscription.
  • A wired backup is faster than iCloud for phones with large amounts of data and gives you a backup that stays on your computer.
  • You can use both iCloud and wired backup at the same time for extra protection.

How to set up iCloud backup on your iPhone

Open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Turn on the toggle next to iCloud Backup. Your phone will start backing up when ready if it is plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, and locked. After the first backup, it will back up automatically once per day under the same conditions.

Check how much iCloud storage you have left by going to Settings > your name > iCloud and looking at the storage bar at the top. If your phone uses more storage than your iCloud plan includes, you will need to either delete files from your phone, delete old backups, or upgrade your iCloud+ plan. iCloud+ starts at 50 GB per month and includes automatic backups of your entire phone.

If you have multiple Apple devices, each one gets its own backup in iCloud, so a family with three iPhones and two iPads will need enough iCloud storage for all of them. You can see which backups are taking up space by going to Settings > your name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups.

How to back up your iPhone with a cable on Mac

Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder (not iTunes — Finder handles backups on Mac running Monterey or newer). In the Finder sidebar, click your iPhone under Locations. Click General at the top of the window. Under Backups, select Back Up All of the iPhone Data to This Mac, then click Back Up Now.

The backup will take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how much data is on your phone and how fast your Mac is. You will see a progress bar. Do not unplug your phone until the backup is complete. Once it finishes, you can unplug and use your phone normally. Future backups will happen automatically when you plug in your phone, or you can back up manually by opening Finder, clicking your iPhone, and clicking Back Up Now again.

If you want to encrypt your backup (so passwords and health data are included), check the box next to Encrypt Local Backup before you start. You will need to set a password, and you will need that password to restore from this backup later.

How to back up your iPhone with a cable on Windows

Connect your iPhone to your Windows computer with a USB cable. Open iTunes (read it from the Microsoft Store if you do not have it). Click the phone icon in the top left of the iTunes window. Under Backups, select This Computer, then click Back Up Now.

The backup will take a few minutes to an hour depending on your phone's storage and your computer's speed. You will see a progress bar at the top of iTunes. Do not unplug your phone until it finishes. Once complete, you can unplug and use your phone normally. Future backups will happen automatically when you plug in your phone, or you can back up manually by opening iTunes, clicking the phone icon, and clicking Back Up Now.

If you want to encrypt your backup, check the box next to Encrypt iPhone Backup before you start. Set a password and remember it — you will need it to restore from this backup. Encrypted backups include passwords, health data, and home automation settings that unencrypted backups do not.

Where your backups are stored on your computer

On a Mac, backups are stored in a hidden folder. You do not need to find them — Finder and iTunes handle them automatically. If you want to see where they are, open Finder, click Go in the menu bar, hold down Option, and click Library. Navigate to MobileSync > Backup. Each backup appears as a folder with a long string of letters and numbers.

On Windows, backups are stored in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Apple\MobileSync\Backup. You can navigate there using File Explorer, but again, you do not need to — iTunes manages them for you. If you want to back up your backups, you can copy the entire Backup folder to an external drive.

Restoring from a backup

If you get a new iPhone or need to restore your current one, you can restore from either an iCloud backup or a computer backup. During iPhone setup, you will see the option to Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac/PC. Choose the backup you want and follow the prompts. Restoring from iCloud takes longer (usually 30 minutes to several hours depending on your internet speed), while restoring from a computer backup is faster.

If you are restoring to a phone that already has data on it, you will need to erase it first. On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. Then set up the phone again and choose to restore from your backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my iPhone without iCloud or a computer?

No. Your only options are iCloud (wireless, cloud-based) or a wired backup to a Mac or Windows computer. Some third-party apps claim to back up your phone, but they do not create a complete backup the way iCloud and iTunes do — they only back up specific data like photos or contacts.

How often should I back up my iPhone?

If you use iCloud, it backs up automatically once per day when your phone is plugged in, on Wi-Fi, and locked. If you use a computer, back up at least once a week, or more often if you take a lot of photos or make important changes. You can back up manually anytime by plugging in your phone and clicking the backup button.

What happens if I back up to both iCloud and my computer?

Nothing bad — they work independently. You will have two separate backups, which is actually a good idea. If one backup gets corrupted or you lose access to one, you still have the other. They do not sync with each other, so if you restore from iCloud, your computer backup will not update automatically.

Do I need to pay for iCloud backup?

You get 5 GB of iCloud storage free, which is enough to back up a phone with very little data. If your phone uses more than 5 GB, you need an iCloud+ subscription (50 GB for $0.99 per month, 200 GB for $2.99 per month, or 2 TB for $9.99 per month). Computer backups are free and unlimited — you only need enough space on your hard drive.

Is a computer backup more find than iCloud?

A computer backup is more private because it stays on your device and does not go to Apple's servers. iCloud backups are encrypted in transit and at rest, but they are stored on Apple's servers. If you want maximum privacy, use a computer backup. If you want convenience and automatic daily backups, use iCloud. You can use both.