The fastest way to back up your iPhone is through Settings on the phone itself
Open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud. Scroll down and tap iCloud Backup. Toggle the switch to turn it on (it will turn blue), then tap Back Up Now. Your phone will start uploading your data — photos, messages, app data, settings, and more — to Apple's servers. The backup runs in the background and can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour depending on how much data you have and your internet speed.
You need an Apple ID to use iCloud, and you need to be connected to Wi-Fi. A cellular connection will not work for this. If you do not have an Apple ID yet, you can create one during the iCloud setup process using an email address and a password.
iCloud gives you 5 gigabytes of free storage. If your phone has more data than that, you will need to buy more storage through iCloud+ (50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB per month) or delete some data before the backup completes. You can check how much storage you are using by going back to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and looking at the storage meter at the top.
Key Takeaways
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and toggle it on, then tap Back Up Now to start a manual backup.
- Your phone must be connected to Wi-Fi and plugged in or have enough battery to complete the backup without interruption.
- iCloud backs up photos, messages, app data, settings, and most other information on your phone, but not apps themselves or files stored in other cloud services.
- Free iCloud storage is 5 GB; if your phone has more data, you will need to purchase additional storage or delete files.
- Once iCloud Backup is turned on, your phone will automatically back up every day when it is plugged in, locked, and on Wi-Fi.
What gets backed up and what does not
iCloud backs up most of what is on your phone: your messages (SMS, iMessage, and MMS), photos and videos in the Photos app, contacts, calendars, reminders, notes, voice memos, health data, home automation settings, and the data inside your apps. It also saves your phone settings, wallpapers, and which apps you have installed.
What does not get backed up: the apps themselves (iCloud stores which apps you own, but you read them again when you restore), music and podcasts you bought from iTunes, files stored in Google Drive or Dropbox, and anything in third-party cloud services. Photos and videos in Google Photos or Amazon Photos are not backed up to iCloud either — they stay in those services.
Automatic backups happen every day without you doing anything
After you turn on iCloud Backup once, your phone will automatically back up every single day as long as three things are true: your phone is plugged in, your phone is locked, and your phone is connected to Wi-Fi. You do not have to do anything. This means if you charge your phone overnight on Wi-Fi, the backup happens while you sleep.
You can also start a manual backup anytime by going back to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Back Up Now. This is useful if you are about to travel, sell your phone, or make a big change to your data and want to make sure everything is saved first.
How to check if your backup is working
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. If the toggle is blue and turned on, backups are active. Below that, you will see the date and time of your last backup. If that date is recent (within the last day or two), your automatic backups are working.
If you see a message saying "Back Up Now" is grayed out or unavailable, your phone may not be connected to Wi-Fi, or you may not have enough iCloud storage left. Check your Wi-Fi connection first. If that is not the problem, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and look at the storage meter. If it says "Upgrade Storage" or shows a red bar, you have run out of space and need to buy more or delete files.
What to do if you run out of iCloud storage
If your backup stops because you are out of space, you have three options. The first is to buy more iCloud storage: go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, tap the storage meter, and choose a plan (50 GB for $0.99 per month, 200 GB for $2.99 per month, or 2 TB for $9.99 per month). The charge appears on your Apple ID billing method each month.
The second option is to delete old backups you no longer need. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups. You will see a list of all your backups (one per device). Tap an old backup from a phone you no longer use and tap Delete Backup. This frees up space when ready.
The third option is to delete files from your phone to make the backup smaller. Photos and videos take up the most space. You can delete old photos, clear out your Messages app (which stores every photo and video ever sent to you), or move photos to a computer or another cloud service like Google Photos. After you delete files, your next backup will be smaller and may fit in your free 5 GB.
How to restore from an iCloud backup if you get a new phone
When you set up a new iPhone, the setup screen will ask if you want to restore from an iCloud backup. Sign in with your Apple ID, choose which backup you want (usually the most recent one), and tap Restore. Your new phone will read all your data from iCloud — photos, messages, contacts, app data, and settings — and set itself up to match your old phone.
The restore process can take 30 minutes to several hours depending on how much data you have and your internet speed. Keep your phone plugged in and on Wi-Fi the entire time. Do not unplug it or turn it off until the process finishes, or you may lose data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I back up my iPhone without Wi-Fi?
No. iCloud backups require a Wi-Fi connection. You cannot use cellular data. If you do not have Wi-Fi at home, you can back up at a coffee shop, library, or anywhere else with free Wi-Fi, as long as your phone is plugged in or has enough battery to complete the backup.
Does iCloud backup include my text messages?
Yes. iCloud backs up all your SMS, iMessage, and MMS messages. When you restore to a new phone, all your message threads come back. However, very old messages may not restore if you have deleted them or if they fell off your phone due to storage limits.
What happens if I turn off iCloud Backup?
Your existing backup stays on iCloud's servers and is not deleted. However, new backups will not be created. If you turn it back on later, automatic backups resume. If you want to delete your backup permanently, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups, tap the backup, and tap Delete Backup.
Can I back up to iCloud and also to my computer?
Yes. You can use iCloud for automatic daily backups and also plug your phone into a Mac or Windows computer to create a separate backup in iTunes or Finder. Having two backups is safer — if one fails, you still have the other.
Does my backup include apps I downloaded?
iCloud saves which apps you own and your app data (settings, saved games, documents inside the app), but not the app files themselves. When you restore to a new phone, your apps read again automatically from the App Store. This means the restore takes longer but saves storage space on iCloud.