It is important that you know your options for backing up your device. If you are running iOS5; iCloud and iTunes can back up your data on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The back up includes purchased music, TV shows, apps, and books, photos, videos, app data, messages, ringtones etc.
Back Up With iCloud
Apple gives you 5GB of free space to store your own data like photos, messages and ringtones. But you get unlimited free storage for purchased music, TV shows, apps, and books). To enable iCloud back up, simply tap Settings > iCloud > Backup & Storage.
After you turn on this setting, your iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch will back up daily, automatically as long as your device is on a Wi-Fi network, connected to a power source, and in the locked screen mode. You may also initiate back up manually by tapping Settings > iCloud > Storage & Backup and then tap Back Up Now.
If you need more iCloud storage, you can purchase additional iCloud storage. To learn more, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4874
Back Up Through iTunes
The other backup option you have is backing up with iTunes. iTunes can create a backup file on your computer, This option can be better for you if you want to back up without using a Wi-Fi connection. If your iCloud backup is turned off, Syncing with iTunes will create backups of your iOS device. You can also back up by right-clicking (Control-click) the iOS device in iTunes under Devices and select Back Up. Please note that iTunes will not back up automatically if you are using iCloud.
The iTunes back up files on your computer are located:
Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Windows Vista and Windows 7: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
How to delete a backup created by iTunes
You can delete your iTunes backup by opening iTunes Preferences ( Windows: Choose Edit > Preferences; Mac: Choose iTunes > Preferences), then click devices where you can locate the backup for the iOS device you want to delete and click Delete Backup.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
I am not able to backup my phone. When i connect my iphone 6+ to my macbook pro via a usb cable i get the message that says it needs to be updated and it is already at 11.4 version. Can you help? I have not backup my iphone and i need to as soon as possible. I do not want to update my iphone software version unless i backup my phone.
Please check your OS X version. Sometimes when the OS X version is old, we have seen users having this issue. Once the OS X and iTunes versions are updated, this message usually goes off.
I don’t have iTunes it disappeared a couple days ago do I need to download it again ? I don’t see iTunes on my settings. Now what? Why am I getting messages from apple support saying to return my iPhone? My old phone number was stole now there using my settings they ruined my iPad because it shares the iPhone. What can I do besides send it back ? I don’t want to wait another 6 weeks to use my iPad iPhone. Also on my laptop how do I go back and change my name on it?
Actually this is a hard reset. To force quit an app, double press/click the home button at the bottom, a bottom shelf of apps pops up. Press and hold on the app you want to force quit. All bottom shelf apps wiggle with a minus sign over them. Press the minus sign on the app that you want to force quit.
What works for me is opening iTunes, plugging in iPhone or iPad, letting it sync, then changing the backup option to This Computer, syncing again and finally reselecting iCloud for backup before unplugging. This is with Lion, iOS 5, iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Doing this is second nature to me now.
I am not able to backup my phone. When i connect my iphone 6+ to my macbook pro via a usb cable i get the message that says it needs to be updated and it is already at 11.4 version. Can you help? I have not backup my iphone and i need to as soon as possible. I do not want to update my iphone software version unless i backup my phone.
Please check your OS X version. Sometimes when the OS X version is old, we have seen users having this issue. Once the OS X and iTunes versions are updated, this message usually goes off.
I don’t have iTunes it disappeared a couple days ago do I need to download it again ? I don’t see iTunes on my settings. Now what? Why am I getting messages from apple support saying to return my iPhone? My old phone number was stole now there using my settings they ruined my iPad because it shares the iPhone. What can I do besides send it back ? I don’t want to wait another 6 weeks to use my iPad iPhone. Also on my laptop how do I go back and change my name on it?
Actually this is a hard reset. To force quit an app, double press/click the home button at the bottom, a bottom shelf of apps pops up. Press and hold on the app you want to force quit. All bottom shelf apps wiggle with a minus sign over them. Press the minus sign on the app that you want to force quit.
What works for me is opening iTunes, plugging in iPhone or iPad, letting it sync, then changing the backup option to This Computer, syncing again and finally reselecting iCloud for backup before unplugging. This is with Lion, iOS 5, iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Doing this is second nature to me now.