Creating an iPhone or iPad backup should be routine for most users, as it's a simple procedure and the easiest way to recover your data if your device is replaced, lost or stolen.

itunes icloud
There are two types of backup available to iOS users. iCloud backups are encrypted automatically and stored in the cloud, and you can create and use them anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection. iTunes backups on the other hand are created and stored on your Mac or PC, encryption is optional, and you have to connect your device to your computer to restore one.

How to Create an iCloud Backup

  1. Connect your iOS device to a Wi-Fi network.
  2. Launch the Settings app.
    how to back up ios device

  3. Tap your name in the top banner.
  4. Tap iCloud.
  5. Tap iCloud Backup.
    how to back up ios device 1 1

  6. Toggle the iCloud Backup switch to the green ON position.
  7. Tap Back Up Now and wait for the process to complete.

Once you've switched on the toggle next to ‌iCloud‌ Backup, your device will automatically back up each day, so long as the device's screen is unlocked and it's connected to a power source and a Wi-Fi network. Also make sure that you have enough available space in ‌iCloud‌ for the backup. ‌iCloud‌ comes with 5GB of storage for free, but most users will quickly eat that up. Fortunately, plans start at just $0.99 for 50GB of storage.

How to Create an iTunes Backup

The following step-by-step instructions on how to create an iTunes backup are given for ‌iPhone‌, but apply to ‌iPad‌ and iPod touch too. The second set of steps shows you how to archive the backup if needed.

  1. Connect your iOS device to a Mac or PC using a Lightning to USB cable.
  2. Open iTunes.
  3. Click the device's icon in the top-left menu.
    backup ios device 1
  4. Under Backups, click This computer.
  5. Tick the Encrypt iPhone backup checkbox if you want to back up your login credentials and any Health and HomeKit data.
    backup ios device 2
  6. Click Back Up Now and wait for the backup process to finish. It will take around five minutes to complete depending on what's installed on your ‌iPhone‌.

Archive the Backup

An archived iTunes backup saves the current state of your iOS device and prevents it from being accidentally overwritten by subsequent backups. Creating an archived backup is useful if for example you want to install a public beta of iOS, since if something goes wrong with the beta, you can use it restore your device to its previous operating system version. The following steps show you how to archive the iTunes backup that's created using previous steps.

  1. Click iTunes -> Preferences… in the macOS menu bar.
  2. Click the Devices tab.
    backup ios device 3
  3. Right-click (or Ctrl-click) the new backup, and select Archive from the contextual dropdown menu.

Backing up should be done on a a regular basis. If you're using ‌iCloud‌, it will be done automatically, but if you're using iTunes, make sure to initiate a backup every week or two so you don't lose important data.

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
iOS 19 Roundup Feature

iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday April 15, 2025 7:37 am PDT by
The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update. Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September. Below, we recap the key...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...