Steven Shmerler

Q: Which provides most complete backup? iCloud or to your computer thru iTunes?

I have heard an icloud ios device backup, backs up essential data on your ipad and iphone, but that a backup to your computer is more thorough and complete. can anyone corroberate which, if etther,t is best to insure complete backup of our data?

iPad Air, iOS 9.1

Posted on Dec 7, 2015 3:40 AM

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Q: Which provides most complete backup? iCloud or to your computer thru iTunes?

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  • by Michael Black,Solvedanswer

    Michael Black Michael Black Dec 7, 2015 3:53 AM in response to Steven Shmerler
    Level 7 (24,472 points)
    Dec 7, 2015 3:53 AM in response to Steven Shmerler

    If you use iTunes and perform an encrypted backup, it will backup app passwords, health app data and other sensitive personal data that is not part of either an iCloud nor an un-encrypted iTunes backup.

     

    About backups in iCloud and iTunes - Apple Support

     

    About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

     

    Personally, I use both iCloud backup and periodic encrypted iTunes backups.

  • by Steven Shmerler,

    Steven Shmerler Steven Shmerler Dec 7, 2015 4:40 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (93 points)
    Applications
    Dec 7, 2015 4:40 AM in response to Michael Black

    Very helpful info and great articles. thank you!

     

    do you know

     

    1. Do iCloud encrypted backups, backup the same data using as encrypted iTunes backup to your computer? The article isn't clear on this. It says what typically isn't BU'd for each method without encryption,  there's some assumption required to understand if you encrypt both methods, are they then the same data wise?

     

    2. Using iCloud BU:

    2a. how often do these BUs happen?

    2b. Since iCloud BUs are automated, are these preceded by an App Transfer, which is usually evoked manually before doing a BU.

     

    3. Since iCloud BUs happen in the presence of a WiFi signal, and happens automatically, we won't know if we're backing up when we leave

    a WiFi environment while BU is in progress. Do you know what happens to our BUs when interrupted in this way?

     

    4. Does a restore from an encrypted BU pose any challenges or issues not encountered from non encrypted BUs?

     

    And lastly, is there an Ultimate BacUp method? Where most if not all our data is backed up?

     

    THanks so much!

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Dec 7, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Steven Shmerler
    Level 7 (24,472 points)
    Dec 7, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Steven Shmerler

    While your iCloud backed up data is itself encrypted, it does not include some of the data included in an encrypted iTunes backup (i.e. One where you set a password), namely those things Indicated in that second link I posted before:

     

    The Encrypt Backup feature in iTunes locks and encodes your data. An encrypted iTunes backup includes certain information that other backups don't:

    • Your saved passwords
    • Wi-Fi settings
    • Website history
    • Health data

     

    The main thing with an encrypted iTunes backup is DO NOT FORGET the password you set or you will have to restore the device AS NEW to remove the requirement for that password in iTunes backups.  Put the password in your keychain or whatever password manager you use so you will not forget it.

     

    iCloud backups are set to occur once every 24hrs.  If you unplug the device and wake it up to use it in the middle of a backup, the process just stops without completion and wil try again the next time the device is plugged in, in range of wifi, and in sleep mode.

     

    Restoring from an iCloud backup, an iTunes backup or an encrypted iTunes backup works pretty much the same all the time, but you do need the password you setup to restore from an encrypted iTunes backup.

     

    In a sense, an encrypted iTunes backup is the ultimate iOS backup as it includes tha maximum possible data content from your device.