How to Back Up Your iPhone With iCloud Over LTE

Thanks to the implementation of iCloud, Apple makes it extremely easy for users to back up their various devices. When it comes to the Mac, the easiest way to back up your data and information is to use a feature known as Time Machine. However, iPhone and iPad users don’t have that luxury, as it can be quite a pain to try and back up your device to something other than iCloud.

Related Reading

• How to Restore Data Without Recovering an iPhone Backup
• iCloud: Fix “The Last Backup Could Not Be Completed”
• Fix: My iPad Is Stuck on the “Choose Backup” Screen
• How to Save Everything from iCloud to Mac
• How to Add Credit Cards to iCloud Keychain

When you complete an iCloud backup, this not only makes sure that your account settings are stored, but also thinks like App Data, applications you’ve installed, and more. It’s recommended that you back up your iPhone or iPad as frequently as possible, and you can even choose to do so when plugged in at night. However, iOS 15 introduced the ability to back up your iPhone or iPad using a cellular data connection, albeit, with a bit of a catch.

How to Back Up Your iPhone With iCloud Over LTE

If you are using an iPhone connected to an unregulated cellular data plan, then being able to back everything up regardless of whether you’re connected to Wi-Fi can really be a big help. As we stated previously, Apple introduced the ability to perform an iCloud backup on cellular data with iOS 15. This takes advantage of the 5G connectivity offered with newer iPhone models, which can be quite a bit faster than the old LTE or 4G networks.

Unfortunately, this left those using older iPhone models out of the fun, as you were still limited to performing iCloud backups when connected to Wi-Fi. It seems that Apple is loosening up a bit with iOS 16, as you can now back up your iPhone using your cellular network, even if you aren’t using 5G. Here’s how to do so:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Tap [Your Name] at the top of the page.
3. From list of options, select iCloud.
4. Under the Device Backups section, tap iCloud Backup.
5. Tap the toggle next to Back Up Over Cellular to the On position.

Below the toggle, Apple provides the following information:

“When not connected to Wi-Fi, use your cellular network to automatically back up to iCloud. This may cause you to exceed your cellular data plan.”

Of course, we don’t expect this to be something that all iPhone users enable, but having the option even if you don’t have a 5G-enabled iPhone is a nice touch. Now, you’ll be able to back up your iPhone regardless of whether you’re connected to Wi-Fi or are using a cellular data connection.

Andrew Myrick

Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.