How to Back Up an iPhone

Option 1: iCloud Backup

1. Open Settings and tap your name.
2. Open iCloud, then iCloud Backup.
3. Turn on Back Up This iPhone if appropriate.
4. Connect to power and a suitable network.
5. Tap Back Up Now for a manual backup and wait for completion.
6. Check the displayed date of the latest successful backup.

Option 2: a computer backup

Connect the iPhone to a Mac using Finder or to Windows using the Apple Devices app. Select the device and choose to back it up. Turn on Encrypt local backup if you need protected data categories such as saved passwords and Health data.

Protect the encryption password

An encrypted local backup depends on the password you set. Store that password securely outside the iPhone. Do not create an encrypted backup and then assume your Apple Account can recover a forgotten local-backup password.

Check related data separately

• iCloud Photos and other synchronised data;
• WhatsApp or app-specific backups;
• authenticator apps and backup codes;
• downloaded files stored outside normal app backup;
• eSIM and network account access.

Choose between iCloud, an encrypted computer backup or both

iCloud Backup is convenient, while an encrypted computer backup gives a local recovery route under your control. Neither replaces a separate check of synced photos, messages, authenticator access and app-specific data.

• Confirm the correct Apple Account, device name and latest successful backup time.
• Check whether iCloud storage is full and whether large apps are excluded.
• For a computer backup, decide whether encryption is required and preserve its password.
• Verify that important synced data can be opened from another trusted device or the relevant web service.

Create a fresh backup immediately before repair, reset or migration. Keep the old iPhone until the new device has completed calls, messages, data, banking and account-recovery checks.

Use a two-copy backup plan

Choose the primary backup route, then identify what would still be missing if the iPhone were lost today. iCloud Backup, synced iCloud data and an encrypted computer backup are related but not identical.

1. Check which photos, messages, files and app data are synchronised separately from the device backup.
2. Run the selected backup on power and a stable connection, then confirm its date and device name.
3. Keep Apple Account recovery, the trusted number and any 2FA backup method outside the iPhone.
4. For a computer backup, use encryption when health data, saved passwords and other protected categories must be retained; store the encryption password safely.
5. Open critical files from another device and confirm that app-specific exports or transfers are complete.

Before reset or trade-in, treat the backup as unverified until the important categories and recovery route have been checked. Do not erase the old iPhone merely because a progress screen reached 100%.