How to back up your iPhone to iCloud or a computer

A backup is the difference between a lost or broken iPhone being an annoyance and being a disaster. It takes a few minutes to set up, and after that iCloud does it every night on its own. Below are both methods, iCloud and computer, what each one saves, how to check your last backup, and how to fix a backup that keeps failing.

iCloud or computer: which should you use?

• iCloud: automatic, daily and works from anywhere. The catch is space: the free 5 GB is rarely enough, so most people need an iCloud+ plan.
• Computer: free and not limited by iCloud storage, and an encrypted backup saves passwords and Health data. The catch is that you have to remember to plug in and do it.
• Best: use iCloud Backup every day, and make an encrypted computer backup before big events such as an iOS update, a repair or a new phone.

How to back up iPhone to iCloud

On iPhone 12 and later models with 5G, you can also allow backups over cellular data in the iCloud Backup screen. It uses a lot of data, so leave it off unless you have an unlimited plan. If you see a message that there is not enough iCloud storage, see what to do when iCloud storage is full.

The first backup can take a while, especially with many photos when iCloud Photos is off. Later backups only copy what changed and are much faster. Keep the cable connected and the computer awake until it finishes. The Apple Devices app for Windows is free in the Microsoft Store. On a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, backups live in Finder, not iTunes.

What an iPhone backup includes

A backup includes app data, settings, the Home Screen layout, messages, and photos if iCloud Photos is off. It does not include things already synced to iCloud, such as contacts, calendars and iCloud Photos, because they are stored there already. Apps themselves are downloaded again from the App Store when you restore.

• Not in a normal backup: Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay cards, and media you synced from a computer.
• Only in encrypted computer backups: saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, call history and Health data. iCloud backups are encrypted too and include Health data.
• Apps with their own backup: WhatsApp saves chats to iCloud separately in WhatsApp › Settings › Chats › Chat Backup. Check it is on, or your chats may not come back. Signal and some banking and authenticator apps need their own transfer steps too.

How to check your last backup

Go to Settings › [your name] › iCloud › iCloud Backup. Under Back Up Now you will see when the last successful backup finished. If it says days or weeks ago, something is stopping it. For a computer backup, open Finder or the Apple Devices app with the iPhone connected and look for Last backup to this computer.

iPhone backup failed? Try these fixes

• Not enough iCloud storage: delete old device backups or turn off backup for large apps in the Backups screen, or upgrade your plan.
• Wi-Fi problems: backups need a stable connection. Try another network, or restart your router.
• Stuck on estimating time: restart the iPhone and try Back Up Now again while it is charging.
• The last backup could not be completed: update iOS in Settings › General › Software Update, then try again. If it keeps failing, sign out of iCloud and back in, which does not delete your data from iCloud.
• Computer does not see the iPhone: unlock the iPhone, tap Trust, and try another cable or USB port.

Back up without iCloud storage or a computer

No spare iCloud space and no computer? You cannot make a full iPhone backup, but you can protect what matters most:

• Photos and videos: install Google Photos or Amazon Photos and turn on backup. Google includes 15 GB free, and Amazon Prime members get unlimited full-resolution photo storage.
• Contacts and calendars: keep them in iCloud, which uses very little space, or sync them to a Google account in Settings › Apps › Contacts › Accounts.
• Chats: WhatsApp’s own backup uses your iCloud storage, so trim other data to make room for it.
• Files: save important documents to iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox.

When you can, borrow a computer for one full encrypted backup. It is the only free way to keep everything, including app data and settings.

How long does Apple keep an iCloud backup?

Your latest backup stays in iCloud as long as the device keeps backing up. If a device does not back up to iCloud for 180 days, Apple may delete its most recent backup. That matters if an old phone sits in a drawer, or if you stop paying for iCloud+ and backups stop. Computer backups stay until you delete them, so they are a good long-term copy for a phone you are retiring.

Is an iCloud backup secure?

iCloud backups are encrypted, and your account is protected by your Apple Account password and two-factor authentication. For the strongest protection, turn on Advanced Data Protection in Settings › [your name] › iCloud. It extends end-to-end encryption to backups, Photos and iCloud Drive, so only your trusted devices can read them. The tradeoff is that Apple cannot help you recover the data if you lose access, so you must set up a recovery contact or recovery key first.

Managing old computer backups

Each computer backup can take many gigabytes. To delete old ones on a Mac, open Finder with the iPhone connected, click Manage Backups, select a backup and click Delete. In the Apple Devices app on Windows, the same option is in the backup section of the device’s General tab. Keep at least your most recent backup for each device you still own.

When you should always back up first

• Before installing a major iOS update.
• Before a repair. A screen or battery repair usually keeps your data, but not always. See also what to do if your phone gets wet.
• Before selling or trading in your iPhone, then erase it. See how much your iPhone is worth.
• Before moving to a new iPhone, if you are not using Quick Start directly between the two phones.
• Before switching to Android. A backup keeps a safety copy while you move photos, contacts and chats across, in case anything is missed.

A good habit is to glance at the last backup time once a month. If it is from the last day or two, you are covered. If not, fix it that day, before you need it.