iCloud backup vs iTunes backup - in 2021

Question

Level 2

247 points

iCloud backup vs iTunes backup - in 2021

Back a few years ago, I was under the impression that doing an encrypted iTunes backup was like doing a mirror copy of the iPhone or iPad and was superior to iCloud backup. Used to be that call logs, wifi settings, health data and keychain passwords would backup and restore w/encrypted iTunes backup whereas with iCloud backups that wouldn’t happen. Has anything changed, or is it the same way?

Windows, 10

Posted on Jan 13, 2021 11:17 AM

Reply

Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

278,659 points

Jan 13, 2021 3:20 PM in response to leoperales

Here is what Apple has to say about the differences between the two backup methods: About backups for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support.

Specifically iCloud backups include nearly all data and settings stored on your device. iCloud backups don't include:

Data that's already stored in iCloud, such as Contacts, Calendars, Notes, iCloud Photos, iMessages, Voice Memos, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages, and Health data
Data stored in other cloud services, such as Gmail and Exchange mail
Apple Mail data
Apple Pay information and settings
Face ID or Touch ID settings
iCloud Music Library and App Store content (if it's still available in the iTunes, App or Apple Books store, you can tap to re-download your already purchased content).

I suspect a lot of this is also excluded from a local iTunes backup too, particularly the last one.

tt2

Reply

iCloud backup vs iTunes backup - in 2021

Similar questions