iTunes backups store your iPhone data on your computer

An iTunes backup is a copy of your iPhone's data — photos, contacts, messages, app settings, and more — saved to your Mac or Windows computer. When you connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes (or Finder on newer Macs), you can create a backup that lets you restore your phone if something goes wrong or if you switch to a new device.

iTunes backups are different from iCloud backups. iTunes stores data locally on your computer; iCloud stores it on Apple's servers. You can use one, both, or neither — they don't interfere with each other. This guide covers the iTunes method only.

Key Takeaways

  • Connect your iPhone to your computer with a USB cable, then open iTunes (Windows and older Macs) or Finder (newer Macs running Big Sur or later).
  • Select your iPhone from the device list, click the General tab, and choose "Back Up Now" under the Backups section.
  • Encrypted backups include passwords and health data; unencrypted backups do not, so choose based on what you need to restore.
  • Your backup file lives on your computer's hard drive, so make sure you have enough free space — backups can be several gigabytes.
  • To restore from a backup later, connect your iPhone, select it in iTunes or Finder, and choose "Restore Backup" instead of "Back Up Now".

What you need before you start

You need a USB cable that connects your iPhone to a computer, a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes installed, and enough free storage space on that computer. Check how much space your iPhone uses by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage on your phone — your backup will be roughly that size, though sometimes smaller.

On a Mac, check which version of macOS you have. Macs running Big Sur (11.0) or later use Finder instead of iTunes to back up iPhones. Older Macs use iTunes, which you can download from the Apple website if you don't have it. On Windows, download iTunes from Apple's website or the Microsoft Store.

How to back up on a Mac running Big Sur or later

Plug your iPhone into your Mac with a USB cable. Open Finder and look for your iPhone in the sidebar under Locations — it appears with a phone icon and your device name. Click it once.

In the window that opens, you'll see a section labeled "Backups" with a button that says "Back Up Now". Click that button. Finder will begin copying your data to your Mac. The time this takes depends on how much data is on your phone — anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes for a full backup.

When the backup finishes, Finder shows the date and time of the most recent backup below the "Back Up Now" button. Leave your iPhone connected until the backup is complete; disconnecting early can corrupt the backup file.

How to back up on older Macs or Windows

Connect your iPhone with a USB cable and open iTunes. Your iPhone appears in the upper left corner of the iTunes window, usually with a phone icon next to your device name. Click it.

In the left sidebar, click "General". Under the "Backups" section, you'll see "Back Up Now" — click it. iTunes begins backing up your phone. Like Finder, this can take several minutes depending on how much data you have. Keep your iPhone connected until the backup finishes.

When it's done, iTunes shows the backup date and time below the "Back Up Now" button. You can now safely disconnect your iPhone.

Encrypted versus unencrypted backups

When you click "Back Up Now", iTunes or Finder asks whether you want an encrypted backup. This choice matters because encrypted backups include passwords, health data, and home automation settings; unencrypted backups do not.

If you check "Encrypt iPhone backup", you must create a password to protect the backup file. Write this password down — if you forget it, you cannot restore from that backup. If you leave the box unchecked, the backup is faster and requires no password, but restoring it will not bring back your saved passwords or health information.

Most people choose encrypted backups to preserve everything. If you're backing up a phone you're about to sell or give away, an unencrypted backup is simpler because you won't need the password later.

Where your backup is stored

iTunes and Finder don't show you where the backup file lives on your computer, but knowing the location helps if you ever need to move it or check how much space it uses.

On a Mac, backups are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/. On Windows, they're in C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\. You can navigate to these folders using Finder (Mac) or File Explorer (Windows) if you need to see the backup files directly.

How to restore from an iTunes backup

When you need to restore your iPhone from a backup — whether after a factory reset, switching to a new phone, or recovering from data loss — the process is straightforward. Connect your iPhone to the same computer where the backup is stored, open iTunes or Finder, and select your device.

In the General tab, you'll see "Restore Backup" instead of "Back Up Now". Click it, choose the backup you want (if you have more than one), and enter the backup password if it's encrypted. Your iPhone will restart and restore all the data from that backup. This process can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data is being restored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my iPhone without a computer?

Yes, but not with iTunes. iCloud backups happen automatically over Wi-Fi without needing a computer. If you want to use iTunes specifically, you need a Mac or Windows PC with a USB connection. The two methods work independently, so you can use iCloud, iTunes, both, or neither.

What happens if I disconnect my iPhone during a backup?

The backup stops and may become corrupted. If this happens, the next time you try to back up, iTunes or Finder will overwrite the incomplete backup with a new one. It's safe to try again — just leave your phone connected until the backup finishes.

Do I need to back up every time I connect my iPhone?

No. iTunes and Finder only back up when you click "Back Up Now". Connecting your iPhone doesn't automatically create a backup. You decide when to back up, though doing it regularly — weekly or monthly — means you won't lose much data if something goes wrong.

Can I back up multiple iPhones to the same computer?

Yes. Each iPhone's backup is stored separately, so you can connect different phones and back them all up to the same Mac or Windows PC. iTunes and Finder keep the backup files organized by device, so restoring always brings back the correct phone's data.

What if my backup file is taking up too much space?

Delete old backups you no longer need. In iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Devices and you'll see a list of all backups on your computer with their dates. Select an old one and click "Delete Backup". On a Mac with Finder, the same option is in Finder > Settings > Devices. Deleting a backup doesn't affect your iPhone — it only removes the backup file from your computer.