How to Back Up an iPhone to a Computer (Mac or Windows)

Cloud backups are convenient, but they depend on having enough paid storage and a fast connection. A backup on your own computer avoids both. It takes a cable, a few clicks and some free disk space, and it can be restored in one sitting when a phone is replaced, repaired or reset.

The short version: connect the iPhone with a cable, open Finder on a Mac or the Apple Devices app on Windows, select the phone, choose to back up to this computer, tick Encrypt local backup and click Back Up Now.

Before you plug anything in

• A cable that carries data, not only charge. If the computer does not see the phone, the cable is the first suspect.
• Enough free space on the computer. A backup can be large on a phone full of photos, so check the iPhone's storage screen and leave a comfortable margin.
• Up-to-date software. On a Mac, Finder handles backups on macOS Catalina and later; older Macs use iTunes. On Windows, the Apple Devices app is the current option, and iTunes for Windows still works on many PCs.
• The phone's passcode, because the phone will ask you to trust the computer.

Backing up on a Mac

1. Plug the iPhone into the Mac and unlock the phone.
2. Open a Finder window and click the iPhone in the sidebar, under Locations.
3. If asked, click Trust on the Mac, then tap Trust on the phone and enter the passcode.
4. In the General tab, select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
5. Tick Encrypt local backup and set a password you will remember.
6. Click Back Up Now and leave the cable connected until the progress indicator finishes.

Backing up on a Windows PC

1. Install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store if it is not already on the PC, or open iTunes if that is what the computer uses.
2. Connect the iPhone, unlock it and accept the trust prompt on both screens.
3. Select the iPhone in the sidebar of Apple Devices (in iTunes, click the small phone icon near the top left).
4. Under Backups, choose to back up all of the data on your iPhone to this PC.
5. Tick Encrypt local backup, choose a password, then click Back Up Now.

Once it finishes, the last backup date and time appear in the same window. Checking that line is the simplest way to confirm the copy really exists.

Why the encrypted option matters

An unencrypted local backup leaves out some of the most useful data. Ticking the encryption box adds saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, call history and Health data to the copy. It also protects the file if someone else gets hold of the computer.

The trade-off is the password. Without it, an encrypted backup cannot be restored, and there is no way to recover it. Store it in a password manager or somewhere equally safe; the advice in how to create a strong password you can remember applies here too.

What a computer backup includes, and what it skips

Included	Not included
Most settings, home screen layout and app data	Apps themselves, which download again from the App Store
Photos and videos stored on the phone	Items already kept in iCloud, such as iCloud Photos when that feature is switched on
Messages, unless they already sync through iCloud	Face ID or Touch ID settings
Passwords, Wi-Fi networks and Health data (encrypted backups only)	Apple Pay cards, which are added again on the restored phone

If you are not sure where your photos actually live, it helps to understand the difference between syncing and backing up; what cloud storage is and whether you need it explains why a synced library is not the same as a second copy.

Restoring from the backup

Connect the phone, select it in Finder or Apple Devices and click Restore Backup. Pick the backup by date, enter the encryption password and keep the phone connected until it restarts and finishes syncing. If the phone has Find My switched on, you may be asked to turn it off before restoring onto the same device.

A new iPhone can be restored from a computer backup during setup, by choosing the option to transfer from a Mac or PC.

Mistakes to steer clear of

• Unplugging too early. An interrupted backup may not be usable. Wait for the progress indicator to finish.
• Relying on one copy. The backup lives on the computer's drive. If that drive fails, the phone backup goes with it, so protect the computer as well; how to back up a computer covers simple ways to do that.
• Forgetting to repeat it. A backup from last spring will not hold this month's photos. Make a fresh one before updates, repairs or a sale.
• Deleting old backups blindly. The Manage Backups list shows each copy with its date. Keep at least the latest one before removing anything.

Common questions

How often should I back up to a computer?

Before any big change, such as an iOS update, a repair or handing the phone on, and otherwise on a rhythm that matches how much new data you create. Someone who takes lots of photos benefits from more frequent copies.

Can I keep iCloud Backup and a computer backup?

Yes. Choosing to back up to the computer switches off automatic iCloud backups for that phone, but you can switch them back on later and simply make computer backups by hand whenever you connect.

I am about to sell the phone. Is the backup enough?

Make the backup, check its date, then follow the steps in how to erase an iPhone before you sell or give it away.