Quick Answer: How to Back Up an iPhone to a Computer
Connect your iPhone to the computer with a cable, open the right app, select your iPhone, and click Back Up Now. On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, the app is Finder. On a Windows PC it is the Apple Devices app, or iTunes if your PC doesn’t have that app. Both are Apple’s own guidance.
What you need
- The cable that came with your iPhone, or a compatible USB or USB-C cable.
- Your iPhone passcode. You will tap Trust on the phone the first time.
- Enough free space on the computer for the backup. Apple’s page does not give a size, so check your iPhone’s used storage first.
- Optional: a password, if you want the backup encrypted.
Encrypt if you want Health data. Apple says Health and Activity data from your iPhone or Apple Watch is saved only if you encrypt the backup. Encrypted backups also keep your saved passwords and Wi-Fi settings, covered in the encryption section below.
| Your computer | App to use | Where to click |
|---|---|---|
| Mac, macOS Catalina 10.15 or later | Finder | iPhone in the sidebar, then Back Up Now |
| Windows PC | Apple Devices app (or iTunes if not available) | General tab (Apple Devices) or Summary tab (iTunes), then Back Up Now |
| Mac, macOS Mojave or earlier | iTunes | Connect the device and use the Back Up Now button |
Back Up Your iPhone to a Mac with Finder
These steps follow Apple’s guide for macOS Catalina 10.15 or later.
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a cable.
- If asked, click Allow so the accessory can connect.
- Open Finder.
- Select your iPhone in the Finder sidebar.
- If asked, trust the computer, then tap Trust on your iPhone and enter your passcode.
- To include Health and Activity data, choose the option to encrypt the local backup and create a password. Re-enter it and click Set Password.
- Click Back Up Now.
- Wait for it to finish. Finder then shows the date and time of your last backup.
Choose the right backup option. In the General tab, other guides show the choice “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac” (the alternative is iCloud). Pick the Mac option for a local copy.
Older Macs. On macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, open iTunes instead. Apple notes iTunes backs up automatically when you connect, and you can also back up by hand.
Do not unplug during the backup. Wait until Finder shows a new date and time before disconnecting.
Back Up Your iPhone to a Windows PC
Apple’s Windows guide uses the Apple Devices app, with iTunes as the fallback if your PC doesn’t have it. The Apple Devices app is available from the Microsoft Store, according to HP and Microsoft community guides.
- Open the Apple Devices app on your PC. If it isn’t available, open iTunes.
- Connect your iPhone to the PC with its cable. Apple’s Windows guide says a USB or USB-C cable or a Wi-Fi connection both work.
- If asked, enter your iPhone passcode and tap Trust on the phone.
- Select your iPhone in the app or in iTunes.
- Click General in Apple Devices, or Summary in iTunes.
- Optional: to save Health and Activity data, tick Encrypt local backup and create a password.
- To store the backup on the PC, choose “Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this computer” (the other option sends the most important data to iCloud).
- Click Back Up Now.
- When it finishes, the date and time of your last backup appear in the window.
Password warning. Apple says to write your encryption password down and keep it safe, because there is no way to recover your encrypted backups without it.
See the backup afterwards. In the Apple Devices app, select Manage Backups to see the backup file once it is complete, per Apple’s Windows guide.
Should You Encrypt the Backup?
Apple says your backup isn’t encrypted by default. Choosing Encrypt local backup locks and encodes the data, and it adds items that unencrypted backups leave out.
| Included only in an encrypted backup | Never included |
|---|---|
| Saved passwords | Face ID and Touch ID data |
| Wi-Fi settings | Device passcode data |
| Website history | |
| Health data | |
| Call history |
Why most people should turn it on. Without encryption, a restore to a new phone loses your Health data and saved passwords. An encrypted backup also protects your data if someone gets into your computer.
The trade-off is the password. Apple warns that you can’t recover your backup without it. If you forget it, you can’t use your previous encrypted backups. Apple’s fix is to reset the backup password in Finder or iTunes, which backs up your current data and sets a new password, or to use iCloud instead. Do not reuse a password you cannot store safely; a password manager works well.
Turn encryption off. Untick Encrypt local backup in Finder, the Apple Devices app or iTunes, then enter your password.
Check it worked. In Finder, look for a lock next to your device’s name. A lock means the backup is encrypted, and the date and time of the backup should appear too.
Where Your Backup Is Stored and How to Keep It Safe
Apple lists these default backup folders:
| Computer | Folder |
|---|---|
| Mac | ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ (in Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder and paste it) |
| Windows PC | %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup, or %AppData%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup if that folder doesn’t open |
On Windows, press the Windows key + R to open Run, then paste the path. Each backup is a folder with a long random name, so you cannot read your photos or messages from it directly.
Keep a copy elsewhere. A backup on one computer is lost if that computer fails. Copy it to an external drive, or keep iCloud backup on as well. Copying backup files by hand is not covered by Apple’s page, so check Apple’s guidance first. A safer way to keep an old backup is to archive it in Finder or the Apple Devices app through Manage Backups, so later backups don’t replace it.
Deleting is permanent. Apple says that after you delete a backup you can’t recover it.
Restoring. To restore, connect the iPhone and use the restore option in Finder, the Apple Devices app or iTunes, then choose the backup. Apple’s guidance for a new phone is to use the backup to transfer your information.
Local backup vs iCloud. A computer backup stores everything on your own drive, with no monthly fee. An iCloud backup is wireless and automatic, but iCloud gives only 5 GB free before you pay, according to a long-standing report. Many guides suggest using both.
Troubleshooting: iPhone Won’t Back Up
- The iPhone doesn’t show up. Unlock the phone, tap Trust and enter your passcode. Apple’s page links to separate help for a computer that doesn’t recognize the device.
- Update first. Apple’s platform guide says to make sure macOS is up to date if a backup to a Mac doesn’t complete. On Windows, update iTunes or the Apple Devices app.
- Try another cable or port. Apple tells you to use a supported Thunderbolt or USB cable. A charge-only or damaged cable is a common cause.
- Restart both devices and try again. This is general advice, not from Apple’s page.
- The backup stops partway. Check free space on the computer. Apple’s page doesn’t give a size, but a full drive is a typical cause.
- Forgot the backup password. You can’t open old encrypted backups. Reset the password in Finder or iTunes and make a new backup, as Apple describes.
- Can’t find the backup file. Use the folder paths in the storage section. On Windows, try both paths, because the app version changes the location.
- Backing up an iPad or other device? The steps are the same for iPad. Apple’s guide covers iPhone, iPad and iPod touch together.
FAQ
How do I back up my iPhone to a Windows PC? Open the Apple Devices app (or iTunes), connect the iPhone, tap Trust, select the phone, go to General or Summary and click Back Up Now.
How do I back up my iPhone to a Mac? Open Finder on macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, select your iPhone in the sidebar, trust the computer, and click Back Up Now.
Do I need iTunes on Windows? Not if your PC has the Apple Devices app. Apple says to use iTunes only if the app isn’t available.
Is a computer backup encrypted? Not by default. Tick Encrypt local backup to encrypt it, which also adds saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings and Health data.
What if I forget the backup password? You can’t use the old encrypted backups. Reset the password in Finder or iTunes to make a new backup.
Does it back up everything? No. Apple says Face ID and Touch ID data and device passcode data are never included. Other sources list Apple Pay settings and Mail data as excluded from local backups, so check Apple’s list before relying on it.
Can I back up without a cable? Apple’s Windows guide says you can connect over Wi-Fi once set up, but a cable is the simplest first step. iCloud backup is the wireless alternative.
How often should I back up? Before any iOS update, repair or phone upgrade, and regularly after that. Local backups don’t run unless you connect or set up Wi-Fi sync.
Sources
Note: I read Apple’s Mac, Windows, encrypted-backup and backup-location pages through fetched summaries. The Apple Devices app Windows guide and the Microsoft Store availability come from search excerpts and third-party pages. The “5 GB free iCloud” figure comes from an older blog post, so check Apple’s current iCloud plans. I did not run these steps myself.
- How to back up your iPhone or iPad with your Mac, Apple Support
- How to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with Windows, Apple Support
- About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, Apple Support
- Locate and manage backups of your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, Apple Support
- Back up and restore with your Windows device or iCloud, Apple Devices app guide
- Back up an unmanaged iPhone or iPad to a Mac, Apple Platform Support
- How to back up your iPhone to Windows without iTunes, HP Tech Takes
- How to back up an iPhone to your Mac or PC, SlashGear
- Encrypting iOS backups, Houston Chronicle tech blog
Checked 9 November 2026.
About the Author
Aman Ullah Hridoy
Founder & Content Creator
I’m Aman Ullah Hridoy, the founder of Technolozia. I write about technology, software, gadgets and practical how-to guides to help readers understand tech and make smarter digital choices.
