Surely everyone at least once in their life dealt with the loss of information. The reasons for data loss on a mobile phone can be many - loss, breakdown or theft of the device, careless work with files or hard reset. For such situations, Apple has provided a special protection mechanism - the creation of a backup archive for gadgets based on the iOS operating system.

With the help of the archive you can restore the data after resetting all settings

There are two main ways to make a backup copy of the iPhone - in iCloud or iTunes. They is a directory with files stored on the phone. Thanks to this archive, you can recover information from a memory card in case of a breakdown or loss of a smartphone. Files are placed in a more reliable place - in the cloud storage or on a computer, depending on the method of creating a reserve. Two different methods are not identical, since each has its own specifics.

Create a copy in iCloud

To place a backup archive in iCloud, you need to have your iPhone with you and connect to Wi-Fi. Follow the steps below:

• go to “Settings”, then “iCloud”;
• go to “Backup” (depending on the version of the operating system, this section may be called a little differently);
• activate backup if it is not included;
• select "Create a copy".

Done! The information is saved, and in the future you will be able to recover important files if they are lost. It is important not to disconnect from Wi-Fi, otherwise the data will not be able to boot to iCloud. To check the status of their creation, go to “Settings” - “iCloud” - “Storage”. When the data is safely saved, you will notice it in the list of backup copies with a note about the time of their creation and volume.

You can configure automatic backup. To do this, just do not turn off the "Backup" switch. Automatic daily creation of a backup data archive will occur if:

• iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network;
• iPhone is charging;
• iPhone screen locked;
• There is free space on the cloud.

Thus, in most cases, the reservation will occur at night when the gadget is connected to a power source and is not in use. The main advantages of using cloud backup are:

• free access to 5 GB of space on the cloud (this will be enough for 3–7 backups, and if you set up automatic backup, then each new archive will replace the old one);
• encryption of backup information (no one will have access to the data, except for you);
• the ability to create and restore backup information regardless of your location (in any place where there is Wi-Fi).

Create a copy in iTunes

If you are backing up iTunes, data will be created on the computer where the program is installed. To save an archive with backup files, follow these steps:

• open iTunes and connect the gadget to the computer;
• select “File”, then “Devices” - “Transfer purchases” and wait until the synchronization is complete (in Windows, hold down the key combination ctrl + B);

• Check “Encrypt backup” if you want to keep the settings of the Health and Activity applications;
• Click "Create a copy."

After the process is completed, you can view the created archives by selecting “Settings” - “Devices”. If your information is encrypted, be sure to remember the password or save it in a safe place - without it you will not be able to recover the information.

Benefits of backup in iTunes:

• more complete copy of files and settings than on iCloud;
• the ability to create an unlimited number of archives (depending on the amount of free space on the hard disk);
• ability to encrypt information (disabled by default);
• the ability to use redundancy on a Mac computer or Windows OS.

What files does a backup copy include?

All settings and data necessary to restore the iPhone to its original state are saved:

• images and videos;
• notes;
• Email account details
• phone book and call history;
• the calendar;
• Safari browser files
• SMS and MMS;
• Dictaphone;
• network settings;
• saved passwords;
• documents;
• wallpaper;
• Bluetooth devices.

To save space on the cloud, files previously uploaded to iCloud or other cloud services are not stored. The reserve does not create data on iTunes that already exists in the program’s directory, for example, music, photos and videos.

Alternative ways to backup information

There are other programs that perform the backup function of the iPhone. For example, iMazing is a program similar to iTunes, but without the ability to restore the device. It is able to backup and store information on a computer (by the way, iMazing backup data is compatible with iTunes). IMazing is more convenient because it saves one file, while iTunes creates many files at once encrypted using cryptography. In addition, the reservation in iMazing is very fast and takes no more than 1-2 minutes.

To create an archive in iMazing, follow these steps:

• connect iPhone to computer;
• open iMazing;
• allow the application to access files;
• select the device and click "Create a copy";
• select one of the two copy processes;
• Wait for the process to complete.

In order to make sure that the reserve has been safely saved, open iTunes - “Devices” and check the time of the creation of the last archive - it will replace the previous ones. You can enable automatic copying by ticking the item “Automatic creation of a copy when connecting a gadget” in iMazing.

What if the copy is not created?

This problem may occur when trying to save data to iCloud. There are several ways to solve this problem:

• removal of old reserves (use a computer if necessary);
• exit-login to your iCloud account;
• reconfigure the network on the iPhone;
• Connect to another Wi-Fi.

Conclusion

If you have valuable and valuable information on your phone, set up a backup, otherwise you risk losing the data stored on the gadget in case of its breakdown or loss. Set up automatic copying on the cloud, if you forget to regularly back up information manually, but remember - there is always a small chance that copying will happen with an error and you will not be able to recover the data, so it’s better to save two copies on both iTunes and iCloud, then you just do not lose the contents of the smartphone. This will help you even if you forget the password from your Apple ID and thus lose access to iCloud.