How to back up and restore your iPhone to iCloud and a computer using Finder or iTunes

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to back up and restore your iPhone to iCloud and a computer using Finder or iTunes. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Your iPhone contains valuable business and personal data. A full backup captures nearly everything on your device, making it easy to restore if you lose your phone, upgrade to a new model, or need to recover deleted information. This guide walks you through backing up to iCloud, backing up to a Mac or Windows computer using Finder or iTunes, and restoring from either backup type.

Back up your iPhone to iCloud

iCloud backups are stored securely in Apple’s cloud and can be restored wirelessly from anywhere with an internet connection. Your iPhone can also back up automatically each night when connected to power and Wi-Fi.

Enable automatic iCloud backups

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Tap iCloud.
4. Tap iCloud Backup.
5. Toggle Back Up This iPhone to the on position (green).
6. Tap Back Up Now to start an immediate backup.

Check your last iCloud backup

To confirm your backup completed successfully, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup. The date and time of your last successful backup appears under Last Successful Backup.

Back up your iPhone to a computer

Backing up to a computer gives you a local copy that does not rely on cloud storage. It is also the only way to create a full encrypted backup that includes saved passwords, health data, and Wi-Fi settings.

Back up using Finder (macOS Catalina or later)

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB or USB-C cable.
2. Open a new Finder window.
3. Select your iPhone in the Locations section of the sidebar.
4. If prompted, tap Trust This Computer on your iPhone and enter your passcode.
5. Click the General tab.
6. Under Backups, select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac.
7. Optional: Tick Encrypt local backup to include passwords and health data. You will be asked to create a backup password.
8. Click Back Up Now.

Back up using iTunes (Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier)

1. Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Open iTunes. If prompted, update to the latest version.
3. Click the iPhone icon near the top-left of the iTunes window.
4. If prompted, tap Trust This Computer on your iPhone and enter your passcode.
5. In the Summary panel, under Backups, select This Computer.
6. Optional: Tick Encrypt local backup to include passwords and health data. You will be asked to create a backup password.
7. Click Back Up Now.

Restore your iPhone from an iCloud backup

Restoring from iCloud is most common when setting up a new iPhone or after erasing your current device.

1. Turn on your iPhone. If it is a new device, follow the on-screen setup until you reach the Apps & Data screen.
2. If you are erasing an existing iPhone, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings, then follow the setup prompts.
3. On the Apps & Data screen, tap Restore from iCloud Backup.
4. Sign in with your Apple ID.
5. Select the backup you want to restore from. Check the date and size to pick the correct one.
6. Stay connected to Wi-Fi and plugged into power while the restore completes. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours depending on your backup size and internet speed.

Restore your iPhone from a computer backup

Restoring from a computer is useful when you have a local backup and want a faster restore, or when your iCloud backup is unavailable.

Restore using Finder (macOS Catalina or later)

1. Connect your iPhone to the Mac that contains your backup.
2. Open a new Finder window and select your iPhone in the Locations sidebar.
3. Click the General tab.
4. Click Restore Backup.
5. Select the backup you want to restore from the dropdown list.
6. If the backup is encrypted, enter your backup password.
7. Click Restore and wait for the process to finish. Your iPhone will restart automatically.

Restore using iTunes (Windows or macOS Mojave and earlier)

1. Connect your iPhone to the computer that contains your backup.
2. Open iTunes and click the iPhone icon.
3. In the Summary panel, click Restore Backup.
4. Select the backup you want to restore from the dropdown list.
5. If the backup is encrypted, enter your backup password.
6. Click Restore and wait for the process to finish. Your iPhone will restart automatically.

Troubleshooting common backup and restore issues

iCloud backup fails with “Not Enough Storage”

Your iCloud storage is full. Options include:

• Purchase additional iCloud storage from Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Change Storage Plan.
• Reduce backup size by turning off large apps under Manage Storage > Backups > This iPhone.
• Back up to a computer instead using the steps above.

Computer backup is greyed out or fails

• Make sure you are using an official Apple cable or a certified MFi cable.
• Update macOS or iTunes to the latest version.
• Restart both your iPhone and your computer.
• On Windows, check that the Apple Mobile Device Service is running. Open Services (services.msc) and ensure the service status is Running.

Restore is stuck or taking too long

• Keep your iPhone connected to power and Wi-Fi (for iCloud restores) or to the computer (for local restores).
• Do not disconnect the cable or turn off your iPhone during a restore.
• Large backups can take several hours. If the progress bar has not moved for more than two hours, restart your iPhone and try again.

Forgot your encrypted backup password

Apple cannot recover an encrypted backup password. If you have forgotten it, you will not be able to restore from that backup. You can still create a new backup without encryption, but it will not include saved passwords or health data. Consider using iCloud Backup instead, which stores this data securely in your Apple ID.

Still Having Issues?