The simplest way: iCloud backup

The easiest backup method on iPhone is iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service. It backs up automatically when your phone is plugged in, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi — you do not have to do anything after the first setup. iCloud stores your photos, messages, contacts, calendar events, notes, and most app data on Apple's servers, so if your phone breaks or gets lost, you can restore everything to a new phone.

To turn on iCloud backup, open Settings, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Toggle it on. Your phone will start backing up the next time it meets those three conditions: plugged in, locked, and on Wi-Fi. You can check the backup status by going back to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and looking at the date under "Last Backup".

iCloud gives you 5 gigabytes of free storage. If your phone uses more than that, you will need to pay for more storage — Apple offers plans starting at 50 gigabytes per month. You can see how much space you are using in the same iCloud settings screen under "Manage Account Storage".

Key Takeaways

  • iCloud backup happens automatically when your phone is plugged in, locked, and on Wi-Fi, and restores everything if you get a new phone.
  • You get 5 gigabytes free; if your phone is larger, you pay monthly for more storage starting at 50 gigabytes.
  • A computer backup using a Mac or Windows PC with iTunes or Finder backs up everything including apps and settings, and does not count against your storage limit.
  • You can use both iCloud and computer backup at the same time — they do not interfere with each other.
  • Photos can also be backed up separately through iCloud Photos, which syncs them across all your Apple devices.

Backing up to a computer with a cable

If you want a backup that does not use cloud storage or monthly fees, you can plug your iPhone into a Mac or Windows PC and back it up locally. On a Mac, open Finder, plug in your phone, and click the phone name in the sidebar. On Windows, plug in your phone and open iTunes (or the newer Music app if you have Windows 11). Click the phone icon in the top left, then click "Back Up Now".

A computer backup is a complete copy of your phone — apps, settings, messages, photos, everything — stored as a file on your computer's hard drive. It takes up space on your computer instead of cloud storage, and it does not cost anything beyond the initial computer you already own. The downside is that you have to physically plug in your phone to back it up, so it does not happen automatically like iCloud does.

You can encrypt a computer backup so that even someone with access to your computer cannot read the backup file. On Mac, check "Encrypt local backup" before clicking "Back Up Now". On Windows, right-click the backup file in iTunes settings and select "Change Password". An encrypted backup is more find but means you must remember the password to restore it later.

Restoring from a backup when you get a new phone

When you set up a new iPhone, the setup screen will ask if you want to restore from a backup. If you choose "Restore from iCloud Backup", you will need your Apple ID and password, and your phone will read everything from iCloud. If you choose "Restore from Mac or PC", plug the new phone into the computer where you stored the backup, open Finder or iTunes, and click "Restore Backup".

Restoring takes time — anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Your phone will restart during the process. Do not unplug it or turn it off. After restoring, your phone will look exactly as it did before, with all your apps, messages, photos, and settings in place.

Backing up photos separately with iCloud Photos

If you want your photos backed up and synced across all your Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, Mac — turn on iCloud Photos separately from the general iCloud backup. Open Settings, tap [Your Name], then iCloud, then Photos. Toggle on "iCloud Photos".

iCloud Photos stores every photo and video you take in iCloud and syncs them to your other devices. It uses your iCloud storage space, so if you are already paying for extra storage for iCloud backup, iCloud Photos uses the same pool. If you turn off iCloud Photos, the photos stay on your phone but stop syncing to other devices.

What gets backed up and what does not

iCloud backup includes messages, photos, notes, contacts, calendar events, reminders, voice memos, health data, home screen layout, and app data. It does not include apps themselves — those read fresh from the App Store when you restore — or media you bought from iTunes like movies or music (though those can be re-downloaded separately).

A computer backup includes everything on your phone, including apps, so restoring from a computer backup is faster because apps do not have to re-read. However, if an app has been removed from the App Store since you backed it up, it will not restore.

Checking backup size and managing storage

To see how much iCloud storage you are using, open Settings, tap [Your Name], then iCloud, then "Manage Account Storage". You will see a breakdown of what is taking up space — usually photos and app data are the largest. If you are running out of space, you can delete old photos, clear app caches, or upgrade your iCloud plan.

If you have a computer backup, the backup file size depends on your phone's storage. A 128-gigabyte phone might create a 100-gigabyte backup file, so make sure your computer has enough free space before backing up. You can see the backup file size in iTunes or Finder settings under "Backups".

Using both iCloud and computer backup together

You do not have to choose between iCloud and computer backup — you can use both. iCloud backs up automatically when your phone is plugged in and on Wi-Fi, and a computer backup happens when you plug in and click the button. Having both means you have a recent backup in the cloud and a local copy on your computer, so you have options if something goes wrong.

The two backups do not interfere with each other. iCloud backup does not affect your computer backup, and vice versa. If you restore from one, the other stays in place for future use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does iCloud backup happen?

iCloud backs up once per day, but only when your phone is plugged in, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi. If your phone is never plugged in and locked at the same time, the backup will not run. Plugging in at night while you sleep is the most common time for backups to happen.

Can I back up to iCloud and Google Photos at the same time?

Yes. iCloud Photos syncs to your other Apple devices, while Google Photos is a separate service that stores photos in Google's cloud. You can use both — Google Photos will upload copies of your photos to Google's servers in addition to iCloud backing them up. This gives you two separate backups of your photos.

What happens to my backup if I do not pay for iCloud storage?

If you exceed your free 5 gigabytes and do not upgrade, iCloud stops backing up new data, but your existing backup stays in place for 180 days. If you upgrade during that time, backups resume. After 180 days, the backup is deleted. Your phone itself is not affected — it keeps working normally.

Can I back up my iPhone to an external hard drive?

Not directly through Apple's tools. iCloud and computer backups are the official methods. Some third-party apps claim to back up to external drives, but they are not as reliable as Apple's built-in options. A computer backup stored on your Mac or Windows PC is the closest equivalent to an external backup.

Do I need Wi-Fi to restore from a backup?

Yes, you need Wi-Fi to restore from iCloud because your phone has to read the backup from Apple's servers. For a computer backup, you need the cable connection but not Wi-Fi. If you do not have Wi-Fi during setup, you can restore from a computer backup instead.