Apple Tips & Tricks

How to Backup your iPhone without iTunes | Guide to Create Manual and Automatic Backups

by Chelsea Bruhl on Sep 26, 2024

How to Backup your iPhone without iTunes

Apple iPhone customers adore their gadgets because they have instant access to apps, content, and more. Although sometimes they can feel agitated by an excess of apps and processes when it comes to simple activities like backup and restore document and photo storage or managing music purchases.

But are trivial tasks like backup always important?

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Well, everyone has issues with their digital gadgets, even iPhones. According to research conducted by Blancco Technology Group on iPhone problems, 25% of iPhones failed between January and March of 2016. However, the research conducted the following quarter discovered that between April and June of 2016, 58 percent of iPhones failed.

So when it comes to peace of mind, these figures don't appear to be trending in the right direction. That means if any of these errors result in data loss and you do not have a backup, you risk losing a lot more than your phone contact list.

How to Backup Your iPhone Data Without iTunes

How to Backup your iPhone without iTunes

For many years, the only way to backup your iPhone was to utilize iTunes. Since Apple Music, the program that succeeded iTunes was removed with macOS Catalina (10.15), you might assume that Apple Music is where you back up your iPhone. This seems reasonable, but it isn't correct. There are however 3 different ways to backup your iPhone data without iTunes.

Backup your iPhone data using iCloud

Apple has offered each Apple ID with a total of 5GB of free iCloud storage space, which is more than enough for a complete backup of the iPhone. For a price, users can purchase more storage space (50GB, 200GB, or 2TB).

The only prerequisite for an iCloud backup is a robust Wifi connection. The following data sets are included in the backup.

  • Videos and Photographs
  • Apps Data in iPhone Settings
  • Data from the Apple Watch
  • Messages on the Home Screen/Wallpaper (iMessages, SMS, MMS, and Ringtones)
  • All apps, books, music files, and movies downloaded from the App Store, iTunes, or the iBook store have a purchase history.

Backups can be done automatically or manually via iCloud, which can be done using the device's settings app. Any paid files, like apps, books, movies, or music, are not included in the iCloud backup. When the iPhone is restored from an iCloud backup, these files will be added to the download list automatically.

How to Backup your iPhone without iTunes

The process for backing up your data to iCloud is rather straightforward, the primary prerequisite being a steady WiFi network. You may back up your iPhone in two ways: manually or automatically by authorizing iCloud to create a backup every day.

The Manual Way

Connect the desired iPhone to a strong WiFi network first, as iCloud backup requires a constant connection.

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Go to Settings > General > iCloud if you're on iOS 10.2 or before.
  • Tap on your name (the owner's name) and then on iCloud in subsequent iOS versions.
  • Within the selected iCloud option, tap on iCloud Backup and turn it on.
  • To begin the backup process, select "Back Up Now."Keep the WiFi connected until the process is finished to avoid data loss in transit.

The Automatic way

Connect the device to a strong WiFi network to begin.

  • On the iPhone, open the Settings app.
  • If you're on iOS 10.2 or before, go to Settings > General > iCloud and select it.
  • For subsequent iOS versions, tap on your name (the owner's name) and then on iCloud.
  • Tap on iCloud Backup and switch it on inside the selected iCloud option.
  • Join a Wi-Fi network with your device.
  • Check to see if your device's screen is locked.

Buying more iCloud storage

Because the iCloud comes with a limited 5GB of storage and everything over that must be paid, Apple has some exciting plans for increasing your iCloud storage capacity. This may be done either on the iPhone or on a Mac.

Create a Backup Using your iPhone

  • Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage or iCloud Storage and select Manage Storage or iCloud Storage.
  • Change your storage plan or buy more storage.
  • Make a decision.
  • Follow the onscreen steps by tapping Buy.

Create a Backup Using your Mac

  • Select Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID from the drop-down menu. You don't need to click Apple ID if you're using macOS Mojave or earlier.
  • Go to iCloud and choose it.
  • In the lower-right corner, click Manage.
  • Choose a plan by clicking Change Storage Plan or Buy More Storage.
  • After that, click Next and type in your Apple ID password.

Backup your iPhone data using Finder

Previously, you had to sign in to iTunes and back up the iPhone before connecting it to the Mac. It's now even easier to create a backup from within the iPhone folder by just using the Finder menu.

How to Backup your iPhone without iTunes

This functionality is available to all Mac users running 10.15 Catalina or later, and it's a simple process once you know where to look. The actions to take are as follows:

  • To begin, use the lightning cable to connect the iPhone to the Mac.
  • To pick the iPhone that is linked, open Finder and select it from the left panel. If a pop-up appears on the screen asking if you can trust this device, select “Trust.”
  • Select “General” from the button bar on the right-hand side.
  • Select “Backup all of the data on this iPhone to this Mac” under Backups after examining the screen and available options under “General.”
  • To begin the backup process, click Backup Now.
  • You can also choose to encrypt your backup file. This is to safeguard personal information such as photographs, videos, and vital documents. Your health and activity information will be kept private. As a result, it is advised that you do so.
  • Simply select the Encrypt [device] backup option and enter a password. Simply select the option to back up now and wait for the procedure to complete.

Third-Party Software to Create an iPhone Backup

So you want to take the high road?You don't want to use Finder or iCloud to backup your iPhone? Alright, the third and final solution is that you can backup your data using third-party tools.

These tools have extra functionality that conventional backup choices lack, such as the ability to recover deleted files or access hidden folders. You don't need them; the Finder and iCloud backup are plenty (and already included with your Mac).

Our experts recommend using Finder or iCloud to backup your iPhone but if you still feel like using a third-party tool then you can check these out.

EaseUS MobiMover

You may back up iPhone data to your computer with EaseUS MobiMover, one of the most popular iPhone data managers. You can use it to do a variety of tasks, including:

  • Make a regular iTunes or iCloud backup of your iPhone.
  • Backup your iOS data to your PC, including photos, movies, contacts, and more.
  • You can restore the backup to your device at any time.

Aside from the data backup function, it also has a few of other features:

  • Files can be transferred between two iPhones or an iPhone and a computer.
  • Back up and move your WhatsApp messages to keep track of them.
  • Download any videos you desire from any website.

You may try out more features by downloading the software to your computer.

iSkysoft iTransfer

iTransfer is an all-in-one iPhone manager from iSkysoft that includes a backup and data management feature. It allows users to manage iPhone files such as music, videos, contacts, call logs, voice memos, and iMessages.The iTransfer tool has the following key features:

  • Intuitive UI for installing and uninstalling iPhone apps in bulk
  • Manage photographs, videos, call logs, and voice memos on your iPhone.
  • Data can be copied and transferred from one iOS device to another.

A unique feature of iTransfer is its ability to bypass iTunes' restrictions and allow users to sync music from their iTunes collection to their Android devices and vice versa.

Users may also drag and drop files from their iTunes library or PC to their iPhone, copy songs from their iPhone to iTunes with a single click, and backup music from their iPhone to their Mac or PC.

UltFone iOS Data Manager

UltFone iOS Data Manager is a tool that functions as a full utility kit for iOS users. It will make file management easier and allow you to perform a variety of tasks.

This application is the greatest iPhone backup software on the market because of its extensive capabilities. You may backup your iPhone data with just one click, and it's completely free.

Furthermore, because the software allows you to save chosen data, you will be able to choose the data you wish to keep up.Few of the Key features provided by UltFone:

  • Backup your iOS device's data without using iTunes.
  • Backup only certain types of data from your iPhone.
  • Keep a few copies of everything just in case.
  • Recover data from the backup.
  • It is possible to move files across devices without using iTunes or iCloud.
  • Files can be transferred between your computer and your iOS device.
  • File management system.

iPhone Backup Takeaway


If you follow the instructions, you can afford to lose your device and yet keep everything vital to you. Even if you misplace your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, your data will be safe with a multi-layered backup strategy.

The bottom line: using one of these three methods, you can safely back up your iPhone without having to use iTunes.

  • If you'd rather use iCloud to perform a wireless backup, be sure you have adequate iCloud storage to store all of your iPhone data and settings.
  • If you use Finder to back up your iPhone to your computer, you will be unable to see the contents of the backup and must restore your iPhone to do so.
  • If you use a third-party app like EaseUS MobiMover, be aware that when you restore the backup, it will delete your device data.

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