The two ways to back up an iPad: iCloud or your computer

You have two main routes to back up an iPad: iCloud, which stores your backup in Apple's cloud servers and works automatically once you turn it on, or a computer, which stores your backup on a hard drive or SSD you physically own. iCloud is simpler and requires no cables. A computer backup gives you more control and works even if you have no internet connection.

Most people use iCloud because it runs in the background without any action on your part. If you have a Mac or Windows PC and want a second backup, or if you do not trust cloud storage, a computer backup is the more private option — nothing leaves your house.

You can use both at the same time. Many people do: iCloud for daily automatic backups, and a computer backup once a month as a safety net.

Key Takeaways

  • iCloud backup happens automatically once you turn it on in Settings, but you need at least 5 GB of free iCloud storage (Apple gives you 5 GB free; more costs money).
  • A computer backup requires a USB cable and either a Mac with macOS 10.15 or later, or a Windows PC with iTunes installed, but stores everything on a device you own.
  • iCloud backs up photos, messages, app data, and settings, but not music you bought elsewhere or apps themselves — those re-read when you restore.
  • A computer backup includes everything on your iPad except music and video you bought from iTunes, which must be re-downloaded separately.
  • Backups take longer the first time; after that, iCloud backs up only what changed since the last backup.

Setting up iCloud backup on your iPad

Open Settings on your iPad, then tap your name at the top of the screen. Tap iCloud, then scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Toggle iCloud Backup to the on position (it will turn green). Your iPad will now back up automatically every time it is plugged in, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi.

Before you turn on iCloud Backup, check how much free storage you have. In the same iCloud menu, look at the bar near the top that shows your total iCloud storage. Apple gives every account 5 GB free. If your iPad uses more than 5 GB of data, you will need to buy more storage (50 GB costs $0.99 per month, 200 GB costs $2.99 per month, and 2 TB costs $9.99 per month). You can also reduce what iCloud backs up: in the iCloud Backup menu, tap Manage Account Storage, then Backups, then your iPad's name. You will see a list of apps and how much space each one uses. Toggle off any app whose data you do not need backed up.

Once iCloud Backup is on, your iPad backs up automatically. You can also force a backup right now by going back to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tapping Back Up Now. The backup will show a progress bar. Do not unplug your iPad or turn off Wi-Fi until it finishes.

Setting up a computer backup using a cable

Plug your iPad into a Mac or Windows PC using a USB cable. On a Mac with macOS 10.15 or later, the Finder app opens automatically. On a Windows PC, you need iTunes installed (read it free from apple.com if you do not have it). In either case, your iPad will appear in the sidebar or window.

Click your iPad's name to open its settings page. Under Backups, select Back up all the data on your iPad to this Mac (or Back up all the data on your iPad to this PC on Windows). Then click Back Up Now. The backup will show a progress bar. Do not unplug the iPad until it finishes — this can take 10 minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have.

After the first backup, your computer will back up automatically every time you plug in your iPad, as long as you have that backup option selected. You can also force a backup at any time by plugging in and clicking Back Up Now again.

What gets backed up and what does not

Both iCloud and computer backups save your photos (including those in the Photos app and screenshots), messages, email accounts and settings, app data, home screen layout, notes, reminders, calendar events, contacts, and device settings like your wallpaper and notification preferences.

Neither backup includes music or video you bought from iTunes, or apps themselves. When you restore from a backup, the apps re-read from the App Store automatically (as long as they are still available). Music and video must be re-downloaded or re-purchased. If you have music from other sources — songs you imported from a CD, for example — those do not back up to iCloud, but they do back up to a computer.

iCloud also does not back up files stored in the Files app unless they are in iCloud Drive. Files stored only on your iPad itself will not be backed up to iCloud, but they will be backed up to a computer.

Checking that your backup actually happened

For iCloud, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. You will see the date and time of your last backup under Latest Backup. If it says "Backup in progress", your iPad is backing up right now. If the date is recent (within the last day or two), your backup is working.

For a computer backup, plug in your iPad and open Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows). Click your iPad's name, then look under Backups. You will see the date and time of your last backup. If it is recent, your backup is working.

If your backup has not updated in more than a week, something is wrong. For iCloud, make sure your iPad is plugged in, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi. For a computer backup, make sure you have enough free space on your computer (backups need at least as much space as the data being backed up). If you still see no recent backup, try backing up manually by following the steps above.

Restoring from a backup if your iPad breaks or you get a new one

When you set up a new iPad or erase and restart an old one, you will see a screen that asks Apps & Data. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup or Restore from Mac/PC depending on which backup you want to use. Sign in with your Apple ID (for iCloud) or plug in the computer (for a computer backup). Your iPad will read all your data, apps, photos, and settings from the backup.

The restore process can take an hour or more depending on how much data you have and how fast your internet is. Your iPad will restart several times. Do not unplug it or turn it off. Once the restore finishes, your iPad will look and feel exactly like it did before — all your apps, photos, messages, and settings will be back.

If you use iCloud and your backup is very large, the restore may pause to read apps from the App Store. This is normal. Keep your iPad plugged in and on Wi-Fi until the restore is completely finished.

Choosing between iCloud and a computer backup

Use iCloud if you want backups to happen automatically without thinking about it, if you do not have a computer, or if you travel and want your data backed up even when you are away from home. The trade-off is that you are storing your data on Apple's servers, and you may need to pay for extra storage if your iPad uses more than 5 GB.

Use a computer backup if you want to own your backup files outright, if you do not trust cloud storage, if you have very large amounts of data and do not want to pay for extra iCloud storage, or if you want to back up music you imported from other sources. The trade-off is that you have to remember to plug in your iPad regularly, and your backup only works if your computer is available.

Many people use both: iCloud for everyday protection, and a computer backup once a month as a second safety net. This way, if iCloud fails or your account is compromised, you still have a backup on your own device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my iPad without Wi-Fi?

iCloud backup requires Wi-Fi. A computer backup does not — it uses the USB cable to transfer data, so it works even with no internet connection. If you have no Wi-Fi at home, a computer backup is your best option.

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

For iCloud, the new backup replaces the old one. You can only keep one iCloud backup per iPad at a time. For a computer backup, each time you back up, it overwrites the previous backup on that computer. If you want to keep multiple backups, you need multiple computers or external hard drives.

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

On a Mac, yes — the backup goes to wherever your Mac stores it, which can be an external drive. On Windows, iTunes stores backups in a specific folder on your PC, not on an external drive directly. You can move the backup folder to an external drive manually, but this is complicated and not recommended for most people.

Does backing up my iPad back up my Apple Watch too?

No. Your Apple Watch backs up separately through your iPhone, not your iPad. If you wear an Apple Watch, you need to back up your iPhone to protect your watch data.

How much does iCloud backup cost?

The first 5 GB is free. After that, 50 GB costs $0.99 per month, 200 GB costs $2.99 per month, and 2 TB costs $9.99 per month. You can change your plan or cancel at any time in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Change Storage Plan.