There are two routes, and ideally you use both. The iCloud backup (Solution 1) runs by itself every night and is what saves you if the phone is lost, but it depends on account space. The computer backup (Solution 2) is free, unlimited and faster to restore, but only happens when you remember to do it. One detail that catches many people: neither includes what is already synced with other services - and the iCloud backup does not hold your photos if iCloud Photos is on.
What causes this problem
- Moving to a new device and needing everything on the new iPhone.
- Sending the phone for repair, where the contents may be erased in the process.
- Updating iOS, where a failure partway through can require a restore.
- Loss, theft or physical damage - the only scenario where a cloud backup is irreplaceable.
- A factory reset to resolve a persistent software problem.
- iCloud space running out, which silently stops automatic backups.
- Check when the last backup ran: Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup. The date appears at the bottom of the screen.
- Look at free account space under Settings > your name > iCloud. Without space, the automatic backup simply does not run - and the iPhone says so quietly.
- For a computer backup, have the cable ready and free disk space matching the phone's contents.
- If the goal is switching iPhones, make a fresh backup on the day of the move, not last week's.
Solutions, in the order to try them
1iCloud backup - automatic and continuous
This is the backup that runs on its own and protects against losing the device, because the copy lives off it. It needs Wi-Fi, power and a locked screen, so it happens naturally overnight.
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Go to iCloud > iCloud Backup and turn it on.
- Tap Back Up Now to start the first one immediately.
- Keep the iPhone plugged in and on Wi-Fi until it finishes - the first backup can take hours.
- Afterwards, confirm that the last backup date is current.
2Computer backup - free and with no space limit
This is the route for anyone who does not want to pay for an iCloud plan, and it is also the faster one to restore from. The limitation is depending on you remembering to plug in.
- Connect the iPhone to the computer and open Finder (macOS) or the Apple Devices app / iTunes (Windows).
- Select the device and choose Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this computer.
- Tick Encrypt local backup and set a password - without it, passwords, Health data and Apple Pay are NOT included.
- Write that password down somewhere safe: without it, the encrypted backup is useless.
- Click Back Up Now and let it finish without unplugging the cable.
3Choose what goes into the iCloud backup
Not every app needs copying, and unticking the unnecessary ones is often the difference between fitting in the free 5 GB or not.
- Open Settings > your name > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Backups.
- Tap the device you use and look at the app list sorted by size.
- Turn off the ones that keep data in their own service's cloud - streaming, games with accounts, banking apps.
- Keep on Messages, WhatsApp and apps whose data exists only on the phone.
4Know what the backup does NOT include
This is the part that surprises people after a restore. The backup is not a copy of everything: what already comes from another service is not duplicated inside it.
- With iCloud Photos on, your photos are NOT inside the backup - they live in the iCloud photo library, which is separate and takes its own space.
- Purchased content (music, films, apps) is not copied: it is re-downloaded from the stores when you restore.
- Already-synced data such as Contacts, Calendar, Notes and Safari lives in iCloud sync, not in the backup.
- Passwords, Health and Apple Pay only make it into a computer backup if it is encrypted.
5Confirm the backup is actually happening
A silently stopped backup is the most common failure - and you only find out at the worst moment. It is worth checking periodically.
- Under Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, look at the date of the last successful backup.
- If that date is days or weeks behind, it is almost always account space.
- Check too that the iPhone has been charging and on Wi-Fi overnight - without that, the backup never triggers.
- On the computer, Finder and the Apple Devices app show the last backup date on the device screen.
6Restore the backup onto a new iPhone
A backup is only worth having if the restore works. The process happens during the new device's initial setup.
- Turn on the new iPhone and continue to the Apps and Data screen.
- Choose Restore from iCloud Backup or From Mac or PC, depending on the method you used.
- Sign in with the same Apple ID and pick the most recent backup by date.
- Keep the device on Wi-Fi and plugged in: apps and photos keep downloading for hours after the home screen appears.
Applies to
| System | Status |
|---|---|
| iOS 16 to 18 | Confirmed |
| iOS 15 and earlier | Confirmed |
| iPad and iPadOS | The process is identical, with the menus in the same places |
Menu names can change slightly between versions. If a step above does not match what you see on screen, the official support page from the manufacturer has the most current wording for your version.
Frequently asked questions
Last checked: Sep 3, 2026 · We review this guide whenever the manufacturer changes the process.