Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes, then choose whether to back up to that computer or to iCloud

iTunes is Apple's media and device management software for Windows and Mac computers. When you connect your iPhone to a computer running iTunes, you can create a backup file that stores your photos, messages, settings, app data, and other information on that computer's hard drive. This backup stays on your computer until you delete it, and you control exactly when it happens.

The process takes about five to fifteen minutes depending on how much data is on your phone. You will need a USB cable that fits your iPhone model, a computer with iTunes installed, and enough free space on that computer's hard drive — typically at least as much space as your iPhone uses.

Key Takeaways

  • iTunes creates a backup file on your computer that contains your photos, messages, app data, and settings, which you can restore to the same iPhone or a different one.
  • You must connect your iPhone with a USB cable to a computer running iTunes; wireless backup through iTunes is not available on current iPhone models.
  • iTunes asks whether to encrypt your backup, which protects passwords and health data but means you cannot restore without remembering the encryption password.
  • After backing up to your computer, you can also turn on iCloud backup in iPhone settings so your data syncs automatically without plugging in a cable.

What you need before you start

read iTunes from Apple's website if you do not have it already. On a Mac running macOS Catalina or newer, the backup feature moved into the Finder app instead — you will use the same steps but open Finder rather than iTunes. On Windows, iTunes is a separate process you can read from apple.com/itunes.

You will also need a USB cable compatible with your iPhone. iPhones from 2019 onward use USB-C; older models use the Lightning connector. The cable must be in working condition — a damaged cable may cause iTunes to not recognize your phone.

Check that your computer has enough free storage space. Your backup file will be roughly the same size as the amount of data on your iPhone. If your iPhone shows 64 GB used, you need at least 64 GB free on your computer.

How to create a backup in iTunes on Windows or Mac

Plug your iPhone into your computer using the USB cable. If this is the first time you have connected this iPhone to this computer, your phone will ask "Trust this computer?" — tap Trust and enter your iPhone passcode. This step lets iTunes communicate with your phone.

Open iTunes on Windows, or open Finder on a Mac running Catalina or newer. Your iPhone should appear in the sidebar or in a window. Click on your iPhone's name to open its settings page.

Look for a "Back Up Now" button or similar option. On Windows iTunes, this appears in the main window under the Backups section. On Mac Finder, it appears in the General tab. Click this button to start the backup.

iTunes will ask whether you want to encrypt the backup. Encrypted backups protect your passwords, health data, and home automation settings — information that an unencrypted backup does not save. If you choose to encrypt, you must create a password and remember it, because you cannot restore the backup without that password. Most people choose to encrypt for security, but it is optional.

The backup will begin and show a progress bar. Do not unplug your iPhone until it finishes. When the backup is complete, iTunes will show the date and time of the most recent backup.

Where iTunes stores your backup file

On Windows, iTunes stores backups in a hidden folder. The location is usually C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup. You do not need to find this folder to use your backup — iTunes manages it automatically — but knowing where it is can help if you need to move backups to a different computer or external drive.

On Mac, backups are stored in ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup. Again, you do not need to access this folder directly. Finder and iTunes handle all the work.

Each backup appears as a folder with a long string of letters and numbers as its name. If you create multiple backups, each one is stored separately, and you can restore from any of them.

How to restore from an iTunes backup

Connect your iPhone to the computer with the backup you want to restore. Open iTunes or Finder and click on your iPhone's name. Look for a "Restore Backup" or "Restore from Backup" button.

iTunes will show a list of available backups with the date and time each was created. Select the backup you want and click Restore. If the backup is encrypted, iTunes will ask for the encryption password you created.

The restore process will erase your iPhone and replace everything with the data from the backup. This takes several minutes. When it finishes, your iPhone will restart and show your restored data — photos, messages, app settings, and everything else that was in the backup.

Using iCloud backup instead of or alongside iTunes

iTunes backups require you to plug in your phone every time you want to back up. If you prefer automatic backup without cables, you can use iCloud instead. iCloud is Apple's cloud storage service, and it backs up your iPhone wirelessly whenever your phone is plugged in, connected to Wi-Fi, and locked.

To turn on iCloud backup, open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup, then turn it on. Your iPhone will start backing up automatically.

You can use both iTunes and iCloud at the same time. iTunes creates a backup file on your computer that you control, while iCloud creates a backup in Apple's servers that syncs automatically. Having both means you have a local copy and a cloud copy, which protects you if either one fails.

Troubleshooting common iTunes backup problems

iTunes does not recognize your iPhone: Disconnect the cable, wait ten seconds, and reconnect it. Try a different USB port on your computer. If you still see no iPhone, restart both your phone and your computer, then try again. Make sure you tapped Trust on your iPhone when first connecting.

The backup stops or shows an error: Check that you have enough free space on your computer's hard drive. A backup cannot complete if the drive is full. Also check that your USB cable is firmly connected and not damaged. Try restarting iTunes and your iPhone.

You forgot your backup encryption password: You cannot recover a forgotten encryption password. If you need to restore from that backup, you will have to create a new unencrypted backup instead. Going forward, write down or save your encryption password somewhere find.

The backup takes a very long time: Large backups can take 15 to 30 minutes or longer, especially on older computers or slow USB connections. This is normal. Do not unplug your phone while the backup is running.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my iPhone to iTunes on my phone itself?

No. iTunes is software that runs on a computer — Windows or Mac. You cannot use iTunes on your iPhone. If you want wireless backup without a computer, use iCloud backup instead, which you control from your iPhone's Settings app.

What happens to my old iTunes backup if I create a new one?

iTunes keeps both backups on your computer. Each backup is stored separately by date. You can restore from any of them. If you want to delete old backups to save space, you can do so through iTunes or Finder settings, but this is optional.

Can I back up my iPhone to iTunes on a different computer than the one I usually use?

Yes. Connect your iPhone to any computer with iTunes installed and create a backup. That backup will be stored on that computer. You can restore from it later on the same computer or transfer the backup file to another computer if needed.

Does iTunes backup include my photos and videos?

Yes, if they are stored in your iPhone's Photos app. Photos and videos taken with your iPhone camera are included in the backup. However, if you use iCloud Photos, your photos may already be synced to iCloud, and the iTunes backup will not duplicate them.

What is the difference between an encrypted and unencrypted iTunes backup?

An encrypted backup protects passwords, health data, and home automation settings with a password you choose. An unencrypted backup saves everything else — photos, messages, app data, settings — but not those sensitive items. Encrypted backups are more find but require you to remember the password to restore.