The two ways to back up your iPhone
You have two real options: iCloud, which stores your backup in Apple's servers and works over WiFi, or Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on Windows), which stores your backup on your computer. iCloud is simpler if you want to restore on a new phone without a computer nearby. A computer backup gives you more control and works if your internet is unreliable.
Both methods back up the same things: your photos, messages, contacts, calendar, app data, and settings. Neither backs up your actual apps themselves — iOS reinstalls those from the App Store when you restore. Both take time on the first run, especially if you have thousands of photos or a lot of app data.
You can use both methods at once. Many people do: they keep an iCloud backup for convenience and a computer backup for safety. If one fails, the other is there.
Key Takeaways
- iCloud backups happen automatically over WiFi if you turn on iCloud Backup in Settings, but you need enough iCloud storage space — Apple gives you 5 GB free, and backups often exceed that.
- Computer backups (Finder on Mac, iTunes on Windows) store everything locally and don't count against your iCloud storage, but require plugging in your phone.
- To restore from either backup, you erase your iPhone, turn it on, and choose "Restore from Backup" during setup — the process takes 15 minutes to an hour depending on backup size.
- Encrypted backups protect your passwords and health data, but if you forget the encryption password, Apple cannot recover it for you.
- Backups do not include your phone's operating system — iOS reinstalls automatically during restore, so you always get the current version.
Setting up iCloud backups
Open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Turn on the toggle next to "iCloud Backup". Your phone will start backing up automatically whenever it is plugged in, locked, and connected to WiFi.
Check how much iCloud storage you are using first. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage. If your backup is larger than your free space, you will need to buy more storage or delete old backups. Apple charges $0.99 per month for 50 GB, $2.99 for 200 GB, or $9.99 for 2 TB. The 50 GB plan is enough for most people unless you store a lot of photos or videos in iCloud Photos.
iCloud backups happen in the background, but only when your phone meets three conditions: it is plugged in, locked, and on WiFi. If you unplug your phone before the backup finishes, it will resume the next time those conditions are met. You can see the backup status in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage — it shows the date and time of your last backup.
Setting up computer backups with Finder or iTunes
On a Mac with macOS Catalina or newer, plug your iPhone into your computer with a USB cable. Open Finder, click your phone's name in the sidebar, and click "Back Up Now". On a Windows PC or older Mac, use iTunes instead: plug in your phone, click the phone icon in iTunes, and click "Back Up Now" under the Summary tab.
The first backup takes longer — often 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data you have. Later backups are faster because they only save changes. You can set backups to happen automatically: in Finder (Mac), check "Back up automatically when this iPhone is connected". In iTunes (Windows), check "Automatically sync when this iPhone is connected" or "Automatically back up".
By default, computer backups are encrypted, which means they include your saved passwords and health data. If you want to turn off encryption, uncheck "Encrypt local backup" in Finder or iTunes. Unencrypted backups are smaller and faster, but they do not save passwords or health information — you will have to re-enter those after you restore.
Restoring from an iCloud backup
Restoring from iCloud works only during the initial setup of a new iPhone or after erasing your current one. If you are setting up a new phone, turn it on and follow the prompts until you reach "Apps & Data". Tap "Restore from iCloud Backup", sign in with your Apple ID, and choose which backup to restore from. The phone will download your data and apps over WiFi — this can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on backup size and internet speed.
If you are restoring to your current iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, tap "Erase All Content and Settings", and follow the prompts. This erases everything on your phone, so make sure your backup is recent. After the erase completes, the phone will restart and ask you to set it up again. Choose "Restore from iCloud Backup" and sign in.
During restore, your phone downloads your backup in the background while you set up Face ID or Touch ID and other basic settings. You can use your phone while the restore is happening, but it will be slower until the download finishes. Apps reinstall from the App Store automatically — you do not have to download them yourself.
Restoring from a computer backup
Plug your iPhone into your computer and open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Click your phone's name, then click "Restore Backup". Choose the backup you want to restore from — the list shows the date and size of each one. Click "Restore" and enter your computer password if prompted. The restore process takes 15 to 45 minutes depending on backup size.
If your backup is encrypted, you will be asked to enter the encryption password you set when the backup was created. This is not your Apple ID password — it is a separate password you chose in Finder or iTunes settings. If you forget this password, you cannot restore that backup. You will have to erase your phone and set it up as new, then restore from iCloud or a different backup instead.
During restore, your phone will restart several times and show a progress bar. Do not unplug it until the process finishes completely. After restore is done, your phone will restart and show your home screen with all your apps and data. Apps that were not installed from the App Store (like apps from TestFlight or sideloaded apps) will not restore — you will have to reinstall those manually.
What gets backed up and what does not
Both iCloud and computer backups save: your photos and videos (unless you use iCloud Photos separately), messages and attachments, contacts, calendar events, reminders, notes, voice memos, health and fitness data, home automation settings, and app data. They also save your WiFi passwords, which is why you do not have to re-enter them after restore.
Neither backup method saves: the actual app files (iOS reinstalls apps from the App Store), your Apple Watch data (that backs up separately to your watch), physical SIM card information, or eSIM data (you may have to reactivate your carrier plan). If you use iCloud Keychain, your passwords and credit cards are backed up separately through iCloud, not through your backup file.
Photos and videos are a special case. If you use iCloud Photos, your photos are stored in iCloud and do not take up backup space — they restore automatically when you sign into iCloud on your new phone. If you do not use iCloud Photos, your photos are included in your backup file, which is why backups get large quickly.
Troubleshooting common backup and restore problems
If iCloud backup keeps failing, check that you have enough storage space and that your phone is on WiFi. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage and look for the message "Backup Failed". If it says you are out of storage, delete old backups or buy more space. If your WiFi is weak, move closer to your router or try again later.
If a computer backup fails, make sure your USB cable works by trying a different one. Some third-party cables do not support data transfer. Also check that your phone is not asking for permission to trust the computer — if you see "Trust This Computer?" on your phone, tap Trust and try the backup again. If Finder or iTunes does not recognize your phone, restart both your phone and computer.
If you restore from a backup and some apps do not reinstall, check your internet connection — the App Store needs to download each app. If an app fails to install, open the App Store, search for it, and tap the cloud icon to reinstall it manually. Some apps may not restore if they were deleted from the App Store or if you no longer have permission to use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I back up my iPhone without WiFi?
iCloud backups require WiFi, but computer backups work over USB and do not need internet. If you have unreliable WiFi, use a computer backup instead. You can also use your phone's hotspot to back up to iCloud, but this uses your cellular data.
What happens if I restore from an old backup?
You will get your phone back to the state it was in when that backup was made. Any photos, messages, or app data created after the backup date will be gone. iCloud shows you the backup date before you restore, so you can choose the most recent one.
Do I need to keep my old backup after I restore?
You can delete old backups to save space. On iCloud, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups, tap a backup, and tap "Delete Backup". On a computer, open Finder or iTunes, right-click the backup, and choose Delete. Keep at least your most recent backup in case you need to restore again.
Can I restore a backup from an older iPhone to a newer model?
Yes. You can restore a backup from any iPhone to any other iPhone, regardless of model or age. The restore process is the same. Your apps will reinstall from the App Store, so you may see newer versions than what was on your old phone.
What if I forgot my backup encryption password?
Apple cannot reset or recover an encryption password for you. If you forgot it, you cannot restore that backup. You will have to erase your phone and set it up as new, then restore from iCloud or a different unencrypted backup if you have one. Write down your encryption password somewhere safe if you create one.