Cloud-resistant? To avoid losing everything in case of iPhone problem or change, here is how to create a local backup of your iPhone content to your computer hard drive to easily restore all your data.
When it comes to data backup, there are two schools of thought: those who swear by the Cloud, and the more daring who prefer good old backups made on physical media. If the process of backing up iPhone content to the Cloud has become trivial, because almost entirely automated, then create a backup device data on a PC or Mac requires several actions on your part.
The operation, which was once quite natural, has evolved, and creating a backup of an iPhone to a PC or Mac is an exercise that you are probably not used to anymore.
If you are using a Windows PC, the operation remains the same as it was a few years ago since you will have to go through iTunes, Apple’s multimedia player which is also used to synchronize data on iPhone, iPad and other iPods.
On Macs, however, the process may differ depending on your version of macOS: on Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey, everything happens directly in the Finder, while on macOS Mojave and earlier, you’ll have to resolve to use iTunes. .
Here is everything you need to know to save your iPhone content locally on your computer.
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On windows
1. Download and install iTunes
To back up your iPhone to your Windows PC, you will absolutely need to download iTunes. Apple’s media player is also used to manage, synchronize and back up iPhone, iPad and iPod data.
You can download and install it directly from the Microsoft Store or download iTunes as an executable file to install it manually on your Windows.
2. Connect your iPhone to PC
Using your Lightning cable, connect your iPhone to your PC and launch iTunes. Accept the Trust this computer permission by selecting Yes on your iPhone and then entering your unlock code.
Click Continue in iTunes on your PC to allow the computer to access your iPhone information.
3. Start the backup
In iTunes, click the iPhone button at the top left next to the Music drop-down menu.
You are now on the management page of your iPhone. In the Backup section, select This computer and then click the Back up now button. iTunes should then start the process of backing up your iPhone to your computer.
Note that you will need to check the Encrypt local backup and create a password box first if you want to be able to include your health and activity data stored on your iPhone (and Apple Watch) in the backup.
Be patient with your troubles, the operation can take several tens of minutes depending on the amount of data stored on your device. When the backup is complete, iTunes will automatically display the date and time of the backup under the Last backup label.
On macOS Catalina, Big Sur and Monterey
1. Open a Finder window
If you have a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, backing up an iPhone is done directly from Finder.
Connect your iPhone to your Mac using the Lightning cable and open a Finder window. In the left column, in the Locations section, select your iPhone.
2. Start iPhone backup
If you plan to include health and activity data stored on your iPhone (and Apple Watch) in your backup, select the Encrypt local backup checkbox and create a password.
Then select the option Back up all your iPhone data to this Mac and click on the Back up now button.
Now be patient as the backup process can take several tens of minutes depending on the amount of data stored on your iPhone. When the backup is complete, it should say Last backup on this Mac followed by the date and time of the backup.
On macOS Mojave and earlier
1. Connect your iPhone and open iTunes
First, launch iTunes and connect your iPhone to your Mac using its Lightning cable.
Your iPhone may display a Trust this computer pop-up. If so, select Yes and enter your unlock code.
Likewise on your Mac, you may need to click Continue in iTunes to allow the machine to access your iPhone information.
2. Go to the iPhone’s management panel
At the top left of the iTunes window, click the button for an iPhone, right next to the Music drop-down menu. You are now facing the window for managing the synchronization and the backup of the iPhone.
3. Start the backup
If you want to include health and activity data stored on your iPhone (and Apple Watch) in your backup, select the Encrypt iPhone backup checkbox and create a password.
Then select the This computer option and click on the Back up now button to start backing up your iPhone content.
Go have a cup of coffee while the backup is done, the process can take several tens of minutes depending on the amount of data to be backed up. When the backup is complete, the Last backup line should display the date and time of the backup you just made.
Now that your iPhone is backed up locally on your computer, you can restore all of its data to a new device, or to your current iPhone if you just reset it. The procedure for restoring the backup is similar to that for creating the backup. The only difference is that you will have to click on the Restore Backup button to re-inject all the backed up data on your new device.