Backup iPad/iPhone

There are two ways to back up your iPad or iPhone. You put a copy on the Mac or Windows computer, or you use iCloud.

In the article ‘Exchange files between iPhone/iPad and Mac’ we discuss how to put a copy of the iPad/iPhone on the Mac. If you have a Windows computer or a Mac computer with the operating system macOS 10.14 Mojave or lower, you can use iTunes. Read more about that in the articles ‘iTunes: Sync iPad or iPhone‘ and ‘Sync iPad or iPhone via iTunes (Mac)‘.

Perhaps the least worrying way is backing up your iPhone or iPad via iCloud. That’s what the rest of this article is about.

With the online storage service iCloud, back up your data without using a computer. When the iCloud feature is turned on, the information from the iPad or iPhone is automatically saved online. So you don’t have to think about it yourself. Apple offers 5 GB of free storage. If you have a lot of photos, videos, and other information on your device, the available storage space can quickly fill up. You can expand iCloud storage space. For 50 GB iCloud storage you pay 99 cents, for 200 GB 2.99 euros and 2 TB costs 9.99 euros per month.

If you’re not already using iCloud, you’ll need to activate the feature first. To sign in to iCloud, use your Apple ID. That’s the email address you also use to sign in to other Apple services, such as the App Store. Don’t have an Apple ID yet? In the tip ‘Create an Apple ID’ we describe how to create one.

Check if you are logged in as follows:

• Tap on Institutions.
• If your name is at the top of the window, you are logged in. If your name is not there, tap Log in to your iPad or Sign in on your iPhone.
• Next to ‘Apple ID’, tap E-mail and type the email address associated with your Apple ID.
• Tap on Next one.
• Enter your password and tap Next one.
• If an additional verification has been set up, copy the verification code from another Apple device or the text message that you receive on your phone.
• If there is a passcode set for the iPad or iPhone, enter it now.

Once iCloud is on, you can adjust the settings and create a backup.

• Tap the app Institutions.
• Tap your username at the top of the window.
• Tap on iCloud.
• Here are all the settings around iCloud. In the window you will see an overview of apps and functions. If the slider behind the app name is green, or you see the text ‘On’ behind the app, then the data from this app is being saved. Adjust the setting by tapping the slider or the text.
• Tap on iCloud backup.
• Turn on the backup by tapping the slider behind iCloud Backup so it turns green. If the slider is already green, you don’t need to do anything.
• Tap on OK.

From now on, iCloud makes daily backups via WiFi automatically. Do you want a copy to be made immediately? Then tap Back up now. A copy is immediately started. This will take some time.

The iCloud Drive service is part of iCloud. This does not make a backup, but allows you to store documents online. You can then view these documents with any device with internet access. Turn on iCloud Drive like this:

• Tap the app Institutions.
• Tap your username > iCloud.
• Tap the slider behind ‘iCloud drive’ if it isn’t already green.

All documents in the Files app are stored in iCloud. You can read how you also have the documents on other devices in the tip ‘Sync files with iCloud Drive’.

For photos, Apple also has a separate service within iCloud.

• Tap the app Institutions.
• Tap your username > iCloud > photos.
• If desired, turn on three options here by tapping the sliders behind ‘iCloud Photos’, ‘(Upload to) My Photo Stream’ (not always available) and ‘Shared albums’.

The first option is especially important for securing your photos. With iCloud Photos, your photos and videos are stored in iCloud and you can access your entire photo collection anytime, anywhere. You can read more about this in the article ‘Working with iCloud Photos on iPhone or iPad’.

Read how to restore a backup to the iPad/iPhone in the article ‘Restoring a backup on the iPad’.