Losing your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch can be a nightmare, especially if you had not backed up your data. All the information on your device, from photos and contacts to notes and settings, could be lost forever. That’s why creating a backup of your Apple device is crucial. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of iPhone, iPad, and iPod backup and how to do it.
Why Is iPhone, iPad, and iPod Backup Important?
In the event that your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is ever replaced, lost, or damaged, you will still have a copy of your data if you knew how to back up your Apple device.
Before we create an actual backup copy, you should realize that while you follow a guide below you may see some differences on your iPhone (due to iOS version or so).
Backup using iCloud
To back up some data or files to iCloud needs some steps to take. But don’t worry, all of them are easy to do if you follow these steps below carefully.
- Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network.
- Tap Settings > [your name], and tap iCloud. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings, then scroll down and tap iCloud.
- Scroll down, tap iCloud Backup. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, tap Backup. Make sure that iCloud Backup is turned on.
- Tap Back Up Now and stay connected to your Wi-Fi network until the process completes.
- Make sure that the backup finished: Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Storage > Manage Storage, then select your device — the backup should appear in the details with the time and backup size. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, your path is Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage.
After doing the steps of how to back up iPhone to iCloud above, now your iPhone will back up your data to your iCloud account. So, all of your data will be safely saved in it.
Automatically with iCloud Backup
- Make sure that iCloud Backup is turned on in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. If you’re using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > Backup.
- Connect your device to a power source.
- Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network.
- Make sure that your device’s screen is locked.
- Check that you have enough available space in iCloud for the backup.
Once iCloud Backup is turned on, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch will automatically backup when it is charging and connected to Wi-Fi with the screen locked. It’s also a good idea to review what you have iCloud backing up from time to time.
iTunes Backup
Many consumers are more familiar with iTunes because this what they used to buy apps, music, and books from the Apple Stores. To back up with iTunes, plug your iPhone into your PC or Mac, open iTunes, and sync your files between your PC or Mac and iPhone.
- Open iTunes and connect your device to your computer
- If a message asks for your device password or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps (If you forgot your passcode, get help from Apple Support)
- Select your iPhone, iPad, or iPod when it appears in iTunes
What is stored in backup?
Your iPhone is full of information. A backup copy created for iCloud is very different from one created for Computer. Here is the stuff you can find in a Computer version of backup:
- Photos and wallpapers
- Contacts and call history
- Messages (iMessage, SMS, MMS including images and video)
- Notes
- Safari bookmarks, cookie files, web surfing history, etc.
- E-mail accounts settings
- Parameters, settings and data of all apps, including documents
- In-App Purchases
- Game Center account data
- Installed profiles
- Calendars
- Autofill data
- Network settings (passwords for Wi-Fi hotspots, VPN settings, network settings)
- Home screen layout
- Keychain information
- Location Services settings
- Bookmarks for Maps (as well as search history and current location on the map)
- Information about Bluetooth devices linked to your iPhone
Conclusion
Backing up your Apple device is not an option, but a necessity. With the risk of losing your device or having it damaged, creating a backup ensures that all your important data is safely stored in a secondary location. Using iCloud or iTunes, you can easily create a backup of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and have peace of mind knowing that you can retrieve your data whenever you need it. So, don’t wait until it’s too late, make a backup now and protect your valuable information.
