{"id":68827,"date":"2026-11-06T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=68827"},"modified":"2026-11-05T16:52:36","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T11:22:36","slug":"how-to-back-up-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Back Up iPhone: iCloud, Mac and Windows PC (Complete Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here is how to back up iPhone the three ways Apple supports: to iCloud over Wi-Fi, to a Mac with Finder, or to a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app. This guide shows the exact steps from Apple Support for each one, what a backup saves and what it leaves out, how to fix &#8220;not enough iCloud storage&#8221;, when to use an encrypted backup, and how to restore your iPhone from a backup.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-to-back-up-iphone.webp\" alt=\"Bright white clouds in a blue sky, a picture of keeping an iPhone backup safe in iCloud\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" \/><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> To back up iPhone to iCloud, connect to Wi-Fi, open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud, tap iCloud Backup, then tap Back Up Now. To back up to a computer, connect the iPhone with a cable, open Finder (Mac) or the Apple Devices app (Windows), select your iPhone and click Back Up Now. Tick &#8220;Encrypt local backup&#8221; if you want to keep saved passwords, Health and Activity data.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aedf2204862a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aedf2204862a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Which_iPhone_backup_should_you_use\" >Which iPhone backup should you use?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#How_to_back_up_iPhone_to_iCloud\" >How to back up iPhone to iCloud<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Back_up_now_manual\" >Back up now (manual)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Turn_on_automatic_iCloud_backups\" >Turn on automatic iCloud backups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#How_to_back_up_iPhone_to_a_Mac\" >How to back up iPhone to a Mac<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#macOS_Catalina_1015_or_later_Finder\" >macOS Catalina 10.15 or later (Finder)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#macOS_Mojave_or_earlier_iTunes\" >macOS Mojave or earlier (iTunes)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#How_to_back_up_iPhone_to_a_Windows_PC\" >How to back up iPhone to a Windows PC<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#What_an_iPhone_backup_includes_and_leaves_out\" >What an iPhone backup includes (and leaves out)<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#iCloud_backups\" >iCloud backups<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Mac_and_PC_backups\" >Mac and PC backups<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Encrypted_backups_when_to_use_one\" >Encrypted backups: when to use one<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#If_iCloud_says_there_isnt_enough_storage\" >If iCloud says there isn&#8217;t enough storage<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Buying_a_new_iPhone_Get_free_temporary_iCloud_storage\" >Buying a new iPhone? Get free temporary iCloud storage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Backup_failed_or_stuck_What_to_try\" >Backup failed or stuck? What to try<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#How_to_restore_iPhone_from_a_backup\" >How to restore iPhone from a backup<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#From_iCloud\" >From iCloud<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#From_a_Mac_or_PC\" >From a Mac or PC<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#A_simple_backup_routine\" >A simple backup routine<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#How_do_I_know_if_my_iPhone_is_backed_up\" >How do I know if my iPhone is backed up?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Can_I_back_up_my_iPhone_without_iCloud\" >Can I back up my iPhone without iCloud?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Does_an_iPhone_backup_save_my_photos\" >Does an iPhone backup save my photos?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#How_do_I_back_up_my_iPhone_when_storage_is_full\" >How do I back up my iPhone when storage is full?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Does_backing_up_my_iPhone_free_up_space_on_the_phone\" >Does backing up my iPhone free up space on the phone?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/11\/how-to-back-up-iphone\/#Should_I_encrypt_my_iPhone_backup\" >Should I encrypt my iPhone backup?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_iPhone_backup_should_you_use\"><\/span>Which iPhone backup should you use?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple gives you two kinds of backup. Many people use both: iCloud for automatic daily backups, and a computer backup before a big change such as a new phone or a repair.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th><\/th>\n<th>iCloud backup<\/th>\n<th>Mac or Windows PC backup<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Where it is stored<\/td>\n<td>Apple&#8217;s iCloud servers<\/td>\n<td>Your Mac or PC<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Space<\/td>\n<td>Your iCloud storage plan (up to 12 TB, or 14 TB with Apple One Premier)<\/td>\n<td>The free space on your computer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Encryption<\/td>\n<td>Always encrypted<\/td>\n<td>Optional, off by default<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Where you can back up<\/td>\n<td>Anywhere with Wi-Fi<\/td>\n<td>At your Mac or PC, with a cable<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Automatic?<\/td>\n<td>Yes, when the iPhone is charging, on Wi-Fi and locked<\/td>\n<td>iTunes backs up automatically when you connect; otherwise click Back Up Now<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Best for<\/td>\n<td>Hands-off daily protection<\/td>\n<td>A full local copy, no iCloud storage needed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Source: Apple&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backup methods for iPhone or iPad<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_back_up_iPhone_to_iCloud\"><\/span>How to back up iPhone to iCloud<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Back_up_now_manual\"><\/span>Back up now (manual)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>Settings<\/strong>, tap <strong>your name<\/strong>, then tap <strong>iCloud<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <strong>iCloud Backup<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <strong>Back Up Now<\/strong>. Stay on Wi-Fi until it finishes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>When it is done, the date and time of your last backup appear under Back Up Now. That is the quickest way to check that a backup worked.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Turn_on_automatic_iCloud_backups\"><\/span>Turn on automatic iCloud backups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <strong>Settings &gt; [your name] &gt; iCloud &gt; iCloud Backup<\/strong> and make sure <strong>Back Up This iPhone<\/strong> is on.<\/li>\n<li>Connect your iPhone to power.<\/li>\n<li>Connect to Wi-Fi.<\/li>\n<li>Lock the screen.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Apple says the iPhone backs up on its own when all three are true: it is charging, on Wi-Fi and locked. Plugging it in at night is usually enough. Steps from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108366\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to back up your iPhone or iPad with iCloud<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_back_up_iPhone_to_a_Mac\"><\/span>How to back up iPhone to a Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"macOS_Catalina_1015_or_later_Finder\"><\/span>macOS Catalina 10.15 or later (Finder)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable.<\/li>\n<li>If asked, allow the accessory to connect.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>Finder<\/strong> and select your iPhone in the sidebar.<\/li>\n<li>If asked, trust this computer, then tap <strong>Trust<\/strong> on the iPhone and enter your passcode.<\/li>\n<li>To keep Health and Activity data, select <strong>Encrypt local backup<\/strong>, create a password, enter it again and click <strong>Set Password<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Back Up Now<\/strong> and wait. The date and time of the last backup appear when it is finished.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"macOS_Mojave_or_earlier_iTunes\"><\/span>macOS Mojave or earlier (iTunes)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Open iTunes, select your iPhone, then follow the same trust, encrypt and <strong>Back Up Now<\/strong> steps. iTunes also backs up the iPhone automatically when you connect it. Steps from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108796\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to back up your iPhone or iPad with your Mac<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_back_up_iPhone_to_a_Windows_PC\"><\/span>How to back up iPhone to a Windows PC<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Open the <strong>Apple Devices<\/strong> app on your PC. If you don&#8217;t have it, open iTunes instead.<\/li>\n<li>Connect your iPhone to the PC with a USB cable.<\/li>\n<li>If asked for your passcode or to trust this computer, follow the steps on screen.<\/li>\n<li>Select your iPhone, then click <strong>General<\/strong> in the Apple Devices app (or <strong>Summary<\/strong> in iTunes).<\/li>\n<li>To save Health and Activity data, select <strong>Encrypt local backup<\/strong> and create a password. Keep it somewhere safe.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Back Up Now<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>When the backup finishes, the date and time of the latest backup appear in the window. Steps from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108967\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to back up your iPhone or iPad with Windows<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_an_iPhone_backup_includes_and_leaves_out\"><\/span>What an iPhone backup includes (and leaves out)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A backup is not a copy of everything on the phone. It skips things that already live safely somewhere else, so it stays smaller.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"iCloud_backups\"><\/span>iCloud backups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An iCloud backup holds the information and settings on your iPhone that don&#8217;t already sync to iCloud. It does not include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Photos, if iCloud Photos is on (they are already in iCloud)<\/li>\n<li>Messages, if you sync Messages with iCloud<\/li>\n<li>Notes already stored in iCloud<\/li>\n<li>Data from other cloud services, such as Gmail and Exchange mail<\/li>\n<li>Apple Mail data<\/li>\n<li>Apple Pay information and settings<\/li>\n<li>Face ID or Touch ID settings<\/li>\n<li>iCloud Music Library and App Store content<\/li>\n<li>Offline maps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mac_and_PC_backups\"><\/span>Mac and PC backups<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A computer backup includes almost all of your iPhone&#8217;s data and settings. It does not include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>iTunes Store, App Store and Apple Books content<\/li>\n<li>Content synced from your computer, such as imported MP3s, CDs, videos, books and photos<\/li>\n<li>Data already stored in iCloud, such as iCloud Photos, iMessages and SMS\/MMS messages<\/li>\n<li>Face ID or Touch ID settings, Apple Pay information and settings, Apple Mail data and offline maps<\/li>\n<li>Activity, Health and Keychain data, unless you make an encrypted backup<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So if iCloud Photos is on, your photos are protected by iCloud Photos itself, not by the backup. Both lists come from Apple&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backup methods<\/a> page.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Encrypted_backups_when_to_use_one\"><\/span>Encrypted backups: when to use one<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>iCloud backups are always encrypted. Computer backups are only encrypted if you tick <strong>Encrypt local backup<\/strong>. According to Apple, an encrypted backup can include things a normal one can&#8217;t:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Saved passwords<\/li>\n<li>Wi-Fi settings<\/li>\n<li>Website history<\/li>\n<li>Health data<\/li>\n<li>Call history<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Face ID, Touch ID and device passcode data are never included. To check that a backup is encrypted, look for the ticked <strong>Encrypt local backup<\/strong> box on the General or Summary tab; a lock icon also shows next to your device in the list of backups.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don&#8217;t lose the password.<\/strong> Apple says you can&#8217;t recover an encrypted backup without it. Save it in a password manager. If you forget it, Apple&#8217;s page explains your options, such as using iCloud to back up and restore instead. Details: <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108353\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">About encrypted backups<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_iCloud_says_there_isnt_enough_storage\"><\/span>If iCloud says there isn&#8217;t enough storage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A full iCloud plan is a common reason an iPhone backup fails. Check how big the next backup will be first:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>Settings<\/strong> and tap <strong>your name<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <strong>iCloud<\/strong>, then <strong>Storage<\/strong> or <strong>Manage Account Storage<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Tap <strong>Backups<\/strong>, then tap your iPhone and look at <strong>Next Backup Size<\/strong>. It can take a few minutes to calculate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If the backup is bigger than your free iCloud space, you have three choices:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Make room:<\/strong> remove data you no longer need from iCloud. Apple&#8217;s guide <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108922\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Manage your iCloud storage<\/a> shows where the space goes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Upgrade to iCloud+:<\/strong> follow the steps on screen when the &#8220;not enough storage&#8221; alert appears.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Back up to your computer instead:<\/strong> a Mac or PC backup doesn&#8217;t use any iCloud storage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Old backups of phones you no longer use also take space. Go to <strong>Settings &gt; [your name] &gt; iCloud &gt; iCloud Backup<\/strong>, tap the old device and choose to delete its backup. Deleting a backup also turns off iCloud Backup for that device, so only do it for phones you have retired. Apple adds that when you turn off iCloud Backup for a device, its backups are kept for 180 days before being deleted (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/guide\/icloud\/view-and-manage-backups-mm122d3ef202\/icloud\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View and manage iCloud device backups<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Buying_a_new_iPhone_Get_free_temporary_iCloud_storage\"><\/span>Buying a new iPhone? Get free temporary iCloud storage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If your iCloud plan is too small to back up your current iPhone before you move to a new one, Apple can give you temporary storage for the move:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Update your current iPhone to the latest iOS.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>Settings &gt; General &gt; Transfer or Reset iPhone<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Under <strong>Prepare for New iPhone<\/strong>, tap <strong>Get Started<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If you see &#8220;iCloud Backup is Turned Off&#8221;, tap <strong>Turn On Backup to Transfer<\/strong>. If you don&#8217;t have enough storage, tap <strong>Continue<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Wait for the backup to finish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>You then have 21 days to restore it to the new iPhone, and you can extend that by another 21 days with <strong>Keep My Backup Longer<\/strong> if the phone hasn&#8217;t arrived. Don&#8217;t erase the old iPhone until the restore is finished. Details: <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/104980\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get temporary iCloud storage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Backup_failed_or_stuck_What_to_try\"><\/span>Backup failed or stuck? What to try<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>&#8220;Last backup could not be completed&#8221;:<\/strong> check Wi-Fi in Settings, install any update in <strong>Settings &gt; General &gt; Software Update<\/strong>, try a different Wi-Fi network, and check your iCloud storage as above.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Backup taking much longer than expected:<\/strong> check your Wi-Fi and upload speed, then leave the iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi for 24 hours.<\/li>\n<li><strong>iCloud Backup is greyed out:<\/strong> a restore may still be running (wait for it to finish), or a profile may be limiting it; check <strong>Settings &gt; General &gt; VPN &amp; Device Management<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Computer backup won&#8217;t work:<\/strong> see Apple&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/108346\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">If you can&#8217;t back up your device to a computer<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The iCloud fixes are from Apple&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/102563\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">If you can&#8217;t back up to iCloud<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_restore_iPhone_from_a_backup\"><\/span>How to restore iPhone from a backup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_iCloud\"><\/span>From iCloud<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>If the iPhone is already set up, erase it first (a restore from iCloud happens during setup).<\/li>\n<li>Turn it on and follow the setup steps until you reach <strong>Transfer Your Apps &amp; Data<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose to restore from iCloud and sign in with your Apple Account.<\/li>\n<li>Pick the backup you want, checking its date and size.<\/li>\n<li>Sign in again when asked so your apps and purchases come back.<\/li>\n<li>Stay on Wi-Fi and power until the progress bar finishes, then finish setup.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"From_a_Mac_or_PC\"><\/span>From a Mac or PC<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Open Finder (macOS Catalina or later) or the Apple Devices app (Windows 10 or later).<\/li>\n<li>Connect the iPhone with a USB cable and select it.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Restore Backup<\/strong>, choose the most recent backup and enter its password if it is encrypted.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Restore<\/strong> and keep the iPhone connected until it restarts and syncs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Steps from <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/118105\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Restore your iPhone from a backup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_simple_backup_routine\"><\/span>A simple backup routine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Leave <strong>Back Up This iPhone<\/strong> on and charge the phone on Wi-Fi at night.<\/li>\n<li>Every few weeks, open <strong>iCloud Backup<\/strong> and check the date of the last backup.<\/li>\n<li>Before a repair, a trade-in, a new phone or a big iOS update, tap <strong>Back Up Now<\/strong>, or make an encrypted backup on your computer.<\/li>\n<li>Keep your encrypted backup password in a password manager.<\/li>\n<li>If you lose your phone, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2012\/04\/find-lost-iphone-ipad-ipod-mac\/\">Find My can locate or erase it<\/a>; your backup is what gets your data back on the next one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Running low on space? Clearing out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/how-to-clear-cache-on-iphone\/\">the cache on your iPhone<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2026\/10\/how-to-cancel-subscriptions-on-iphone\/\">cancelling subscriptions you no longer use<\/a> (including an iCloud+ plan you don&#8217;t need) are good next steps.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_know_if_my_iPhone_is_backed_up\"><\/span>How do I know if my iPhone is backed up?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Go to Settings &gt; [your name] &gt; iCloud &gt; iCloud Backup. The date and time of the last successful backup show under Back Up Now. For a computer backup, the date appears in Finder, the Apple Devices app or iTunes next to your iPhone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_back_up_my_iPhone_without_iCloud\"><\/span>Can I back up my iPhone without iCloud?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Back up to a Mac with Finder or to a Windows PC with the Apple Devices app. A computer backup doesn&#8217;t use iCloud storage and is limited only by your computer&#8217;s free space.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_an_iPhone_backup_save_my_photos\"><\/span>Does an iPhone backup save my photos?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If iCloud Photos is on, your photos are not part of the backup because they are already stored in iCloud Photos. If iCloud Photos is off, an iCloud backup includes them, which can make the backup much larger.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_back_up_my_iPhone_when_storage_is_full\"><\/span>How do I back up my iPhone when storage is full?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Check Next Backup Size in Settings &gt; [your name] &gt; iCloud &gt; Storage &gt; Backups, then remove data you don&#8217;t need, upgrade to iCloud+, or back up to your computer instead. If you are moving to a new iPhone, use the free temporary iCloud storage under Settings &gt; General &gt; Transfer or Reset iPhone.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_backing_up_my_iPhone_free_up_space_on_the_phone\"><\/span>Does backing up my iPhone free up space on the phone?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. A backup is a copy; it doesn&#8217;t remove anything from the iPhone. You need to delete or offload content separately to free up space.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_I_encrypt_my_iPhone_backup\"><\/span>Should I encrypt my iPhone backup?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For a computer backup, yes, if you want to keep saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, call history and Health data. Just don&#8217;t lose the password: Apple can&#8217;t recover an encrypted backup without it. iCloud backups are always encrypted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to back up iPhone to iCloud, a Mac or a Windows PC with Apple&#8217;s own steps, what each backup leaves out, encrypted backups, storage-full fixes and restoring.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":68825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[49],"class_list":["post-68827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple","tag-tutorials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68827"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69535,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68827\/revisions\/69535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68827"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}