Backing up your iPhone is essential in case of a loss or accident that destroys your phone. With contact information being stored digitally more and more, losing your phone can mean losing important phone numbers, addresses, messages and emails, as well as special photos, reminders and notes.
Apple provides two easy ways to back up content from iPhones, each of which comes with advantages and disadvantages: iCloud and iTunes backups. Both are relatively simple processes that anyone can start and maintain to protect their data.
The main advantage of using iCloud as a backup service for your iPhone is that it provides unlimited storage for anything purchased from the App Store:
It also includes 5 GB of storage for contacts, photos, and other data on your phone. Storage upgrades are available for users who need more space for a small monthly fee. Current pricing is available on Apple’s website, and additional storage can be purchased directly from the iCloud settings. Alternately, the iTunes backup option is limited by the space available on your computer instead and may be a better choice if you don’t need access to your photos or other data on the go.
In addition to free storage of purchased media, iCloud backups are also created automatically while your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. Finally, iCloud backups are always encrypted.
The process for backing up to iCloud is straightforward, and it can be completed directly from your phone.
Default apps that you can select for backups include:
Other apps may also have backup options for their data. All the apps on your iPhone that are available will appear on the list under Manage Storage Keep in mind that backing up data from those apps counts toward the free data storage limit of 5 GB.
Data that’s already stored in the cloud won’t be part of your iCloud backup, such as email in Gmail accounts. Additionally, Apply Pay information, Touch ID settings, and any imported music or video files that didn’t come from the iTunes Store or App Store won’t be backed up.
Automatic backups will be created daily as long as your device’s screen is locked, it’s plugged in, and it’s connected to a Wi-Fi network.
The second option for backing up your iPhone is using iTunes. Data will be stored on your computer, and can be used to reset your phone to a backup point, or to install your apps, settings and data on a new iPhone by connecting that device to your computer with the cable that came with your phone.
With iTunes backups, there are no restrictions on the amount of data you can back up, and many of your photos and contacts will be accessible from your computer in addition to your iPhone. Backups through iTunes aren’t automatic, however, and you’ll have to remember to back up your iPhone periodically to protect new contacts and photos.
There are two options when using iTunes to create backups: encrypted or not. Encrypted backups require a password, and there’s no way to recover the password or the backed up data if you forget the password. However, encrypted backups allow you to save information that’s not saved by any other kind of backup.
Before using iTunes to create your backup, make sure it’s been updated to the latest version. You’ll be notified if an update is available when you open iTunes, or you can check for updates manually from within iTunes.
In order to save Health and Keychain data, encrypted backups will have to be enabled in iTunes. Like iCloud backups, iTunes backups won’t store any Touch ID settings or Apple Pay information, or anything that’s already stored in the cloud.
To encrypt iTunes backups, follow the steps one through four above, then perform the following steps.
Related: Best Online Backup Services of the year
Data that’s only saved using encrypted backups includes:
Backing up your iPhone regularly can save hassle and headaches when replacing a lost or damaged device or setting up a new iPhone. The two different backup types each have advantages and disadvantages, but together can suit any backup needs. Keep in mind that you can create both an iCloud and iTunes backup for a single device, taking advantage of the good things about both backup types and mitigating the disadvantages.
