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How to Back Up an iPhone to a Computer (Finder/iTunes)

Follow these steps in order to back up your iPhone to a computer.

  1. Connect your iPhone to the computer with a cable

    Plug your iPhone into the computer using a USB or USB-C cable, and tap Trust on your iPhone when the "Trust This Computer?" prompt appears.

  2. On a Mac, back up with Finder

    On a Mac, select your connected iPhone in the Finder sidebar, then click Back Up Now under the General tab.

  3. On Windows, back up with Apple Devices or iTunes

    On a Windows PC, open the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store, or iTunes, select your iPhone, and click Back Up Now.

  4. Understand the encrypted backup option

    Checking Encrypt local backup also saves sensitive data like passwords and Wi-Fi credentials, but if you lose that password there is no way to restore the backup, so store it somewhere safe.

  5. Confirm the backup finished

    Once the backup is done, the app shows the date and time of the last backup, which you can check again anytime in its preferences.

  6. Restore from a backup when you need to

    After replacing or resetting a device, use the Restore Backup button on the same screen to pick a saved backup and bring your data back.

Why back up to a computer instead of the cloud

A computer backup is useful when your cloud storage is limited or you want a full backup you can keep without an internet connection. Connecting with a cable saves everything in one pass, with no extra cloud storage subscription required.

General information -- menu names can vary by version

Backup steps can vary slightly between software versions, so if a menu doesn't match exactly what's described here, check for the closest equivalent option in your current version of Finder, Apple Devices, or iTunes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to use my iPhone while it's backing up?

It's safest not to disconnect the cable until the backup finishes, and ideally you should leave the device alone until the process completes.

What happens if I forget my encrypted backup password?

If you lose the password for an encrypted backup, there is no way to restore that backup file, so it's worth saving the password in a password manager or another secure place.