How to Backup Content on Your iPhone to iTunes

The content in your iPhone, iPad or iPod is valuable to you. Just imagine what will happen to you if your iOS device got stolen, severely damaged, lost or some software error happens. The best way to avoid the loss of irreplaceable data is to backup.

Updated Jan 22,2017 | by Shannon

The content in your iPhone, iPad or iPod is valuable to you. There can be data of different priority from expensive company data like documents, contacts and notes to priceless family moment like photos. Apps are not that important considering all of the above. Just imagine what will happen to you if your iOS device got stolen, severely damaged, lost or some software error happens. The best way to avoid the loss of irreplaceable data is to backup.

Apple offers different ways for you to back up your valuable information. The first method is to use the iCloud which is a wireless backup method you can use to secure all your needed data on a cloud server. The other way is to use iTunes. iTunes is Apple’s music playing program. But this program can do much more than play music. This can be used to manage the information on your mobile device. This is the method that you can use to backup your iPhone or iPad using iTunes.

First you have to do is update iTunes to the latest version. This is a good practice but there is no harm in not doing it. you can update iTunes using Help > Check for Updates on your iTunes program. After that there are two paths you can follow. You can back up the information with either connecting the device with a cable to your computer or use a wireless method.

When backing up using a wireless method you should first make sure iCloud is turned off. You can turn off iCloud by going to Settings> iCloud> Storage& Backup and toggle iCloud Backup off in your iPhone or iPad. Then all you have to do is go to Settings > General > iTunes Wi-Fi Sync and select your computer from the list of computers on your handheld device.

When using a cable to backup content from your iPhone to iTunes on your computer these are the steps that you have to follow. You should first connect your iPhone or iPad to the computer and open the iTunes program. You should turn off the iCloud for this method as explained above. In the iTunes program you should right click on your device which appears in left most pane under devices. This will open another window with different options. There will be an option to backup, which will back up all your file into your computer. The location on the computer will be default selected from the iTunes program. If you are using a Mac, the location will be ~/Library/ApplicationSupport/MobileSync.Backup.

To restore all your data that has been backed up onto your computer you can plug it in and you just have to select restore.

The things that are backed up when using iTunes are call history, calendar events, game center account, in-app purchases, notes, network settings, home screen arrangement and many more. Data that can not be backed up by iTunes includes movies, music, podcasts and apps.

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