iTunes backups save your iPhone data to your computer

A backup is a copy of everything on your iPhone — photos, messages, contacts, app data, settings — stored somewhere separate from the phone itself. iTunes is Apple's media software that runs on Windows or Mac computers and can create these backups by connecting your iPhone with a cable. If your phone is lost, stolen, or stops working, you can restore from that backup to get your data back on a new or repaired phone.

iTunes backups are different from iCloud backups, which store data on Apple's servers instead of your computer. iTunes gives you a file you control on your own machine. This matters if you want to keep backups offline, don't want to pay for iCloud storage, or want multiple backup copies at different points in time.

Key Takeaways

  • iTunes backups require a Mac or Windows computer, a USB cable, and iTunes installed — iCloud backups work from anywhere but cost money after 5 GB.
  • Encrypted backups protect your passwords and health data, but you must remember the password or you cannot restore the backup later.
  • A full backup takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on how much data is on your phone and how fast your computer is.
  • You can store multiple backups on the same computer by backing up different iPhones or by keeping old backups before making new ones.

What you need before you start

You need a computer running Windows 10 or later, or macOS 10.15 or later. On Mac, iTunes comes built in as part of the system. On Windows, read iTunes from Apple's website — it is free. You also need the USB cable that came with your iPhone, or any compatible Lightning or USB-C cable depending on your iPhone model.

Check that your iPhone and computer are on the same Wi-Fi network, or have the USB cable ready. Your iPhone should be unlocked when you plug it in, because iTunes will ask you to trust the computer the first time you connect. If you have never backed up before, plan for 10 to 30 minutes depending on how many photos, videos, and apps are on your phone.

The steps to create an iTunes backup

Plug your iPhone into your computer with the USB cable. Open iTunes on your computer. When iTunes opens, your iPhone should appear as a device icon near the top left of the window. Click on that icon to open your iPhone's settings page.

On the left side of the window, you will see a menu. Click Backups or look for a section labeled "Backups". Under "Manually Back Up and Restore", click the button that says Back Up Now. iTunes will begin copying your data. A progress bar will show how far along the backup is. Do not unplug your iPhone until the backup finishes — this usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.

When the backup is complete, iTunes will show you the date and time it finished. Your data is now saved as a file on your computer. You can unplug your iPhone.

Encrypted backups protect sensitive information

By default, iTunes backups do not include passwords, health data, or home automation settings. If you want those included, you need to turn on encryption — a way of scrambling the data so only someone with the right password can read it.

To encrypt your backup, check the box labeled Encrypt iPhone Backup in the Backups section before you click Back Up Now. iTunes will ask you to create a password. Write this password down or save it somewhere safe — if you forget it, you cannot restore that backup later, even if you have the backup file. Once encryption is on, every backup you make from that iPhone will be encrypted with the same password.

Where iTunes stores your backup files

On Mac, iTunes stores backups in a folder at ~/Library/process Support/MobileSync/Backup/. On Windows, they are usually at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\. You do not need to know this location to use iTunes — it handles finding the files automatically. But if you want to copy your backups to an external hard drive or another computer for extra safety, you can navigate to these folders and copy the backup folder itself.

Each backup appears as a folder with a long string of letters and numbers as its name. If you back up the same iPhone multiple times, iTunes keeps only the most recent backup in these folders by default. If you want to keep older backups, you can copy the entire backup folder to another location before making a new backup.

Restoring your iPhone from an iTunes backup

If you need to restore your data — because you got a new iPhone, yours was repaired, or you want to start fresh — plug your iPhone into the same computer where you made the backup. Open iTunes and click on your iPhone's device icon. In the Backups section, click Restore Backup. iTunes will show you a list of available backups with the date each was made. Select the backup you want and click Restore.

iTunes will copy all the data from the backup back onto your iPhone. This takes 10 to 30 minutes. Your phone will restart during the process. When it finishes, your photos, messages, contacts, and app data will be back on your phone exactly as they were when the backup was made.

iTunes backups versus iCloud backups

iCloud is Apple's cloud storage service, and it can also back up your iPhone automatically over Wi-Fi without needing a computer or cable. iCloud backups happen in the background and require no action from you. However, iCloud gives you only 5 GB of free storage — if your iPhone has more data than that, you must pay for more storage, starting at $0.99 per month for 50 GB.

iTunes backups are stored on your computer, so they do not count against iCloud storage and do not cost money. But they require a computer, a cable, and you to remember to plug in and back up. Many people use both: iTunes for a full backup they control, and iCloud for automatic backup as a safety net. If you lose your phone and do not have a computer nearby, an iCloud backup gets you back online faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my iPhone without a computer?

No, iTunes backups require a computer with iTunes installed and a USB cable. If you want to back up without a computer, use iCloud instead — go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on. iCloud backs up automatically over Wi-Fi.

What happens if I unplug my iPhone while the backup is running?

The backup will stop and may be incomplete. iTunes will not use an incomplete backup to restore your data. Plug your iPhone back in and click Back Up Now again to start over. The second backup will overwrite the incomplete one.

Do iTunes backups include my photos and videos?

Yes, all photos and videos in your Photos app are included in iTunes backups. Videos take up a lot of space, so if your iPhone has thousands of photos or long videos, the backup file will be large and take longer to create.

Can I use an iTunes backup from one iPhone on a different iPhone?

Yes. Plug the new iPhone into the same computer, open iTunes, click on the new iPhone's icon, and click Restore Backup. Select the backup from your old iPhone and iTunes will copy all that data to the new phone. This works even if the new iPhone is a different model.

What if I forgot my encrypted backup password?

You cannot restore that backup without the password. You will have to set up your new iPhone as new and restore from iCloud instead, or use a different iTunes backup if you have one that is not encrypted. This is why writing down your encryption password is important.