How to back up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with Windows

If you back up your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you’ll have a copy of your information to use in case your device is ever replaced, lost or damaged.

  1. Open the Finder on your Mac, or open the Apple Devices app on your PC. If your PC doesn't have the Apple Devices app, or your Mac is using macOS Mojave or earlier, open iTunes instead.

  2. Connect your device to your PC using the cable that came with your device. Find cables for your device.

  3. If asked for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps. Get help if you’ve forgotten your passcode.

  4. Select your device in iTunes. Find out what to do if your device doesn’t appear on your computer.

    The iTunes menu bar with the device button magnified
  5. Click General in the Apple Devices app or Summary in iTunes.

  6. If you want to save Health and Activity data from your device or Apple Watch, you’ll need to encrypt your backup. Select the "Encrypt local backup" tickbox and create a memorable password. Write down your password and store it somewhere safe, because there's no way to recover your encrypted backups without this password.

  7. Click Back Up Now.

    An iTunes window displaying the Summary tab with the Back Up Now button selected

When the process has finished, you can see if the backup has completed successfully. You’ll see the date and time of your last backup.

When the process has ended, the date and time of your last backup will appear in the Finder window.

An iTunes window displaying the Summary tab with the date and time of the latest backup magnified under the Back Up Now button

Find out more

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