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Is it possible to back up my phone without WiFi?

My iPhone has taken a lot of abuse and can no longer connect to wifi networks. Is it possible for me to continue backing up to iCloud without wifi? Is there some other way to do it?

iPhone 8 Plus, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 12, 2021 8:42 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 13, 2021 6:00 AM

carobeans wrote:
Is it possible for me to continue backing up to iCloud without wifi? Is there some other way to do it?

You need Wi-Fi to backup to iCloud.


To make sure your Wi-Fi network works, see this Apple articles below:

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204051

 

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 13, 2021 6:00 AM in response to carobeans

carobeans wrote:
Is it possible for me to continue backing up to iCloud without wifi? Is there some other way to do it?

You need Wi-Fi to backup to iCloud.


To make sure your Wi-Fi network works, see this Apple articles below:

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won’t connect to a Wi-Fi network

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204051

 

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202068

Dec 21, 2021 7:04 AM in response to carobeans

Apple doesn’t seem to take this seriously. Maybe they get complaints from people who use up their data and call Support to figure out why. I’m sure Apple is aware that large segments of the population do not have ANY ability to subscribe to broadband internet. It’s not a matter of being able to afford broadband - no good options exist. You can get (expensive) satellite TV, which works like any TV service, but satellite internet is VERY expensive and is limited to a few GB per month. Unlimited cellular plans are the only option in such areas. So, you really depend on that device for connectivity, and want to back it up? Apple won’t let you use your available cellular connection. No, they will advise you to back up to your computer. That’s great, unless your computer is stolen. Or your house gets destroyed by a tornado. Surely a company as capable as Apple - one that’s been making record profits during the pandemic as more and more people need to rely on their phones and tablets to stay connected - can create a simple setting…one that asks you twice “are you sure you want to enable this? It will use cellular data” or maybe a prompt “You have requested an iCloud backup over cellular. This will require approximately 8 GB of cellular data, do you want to proceed?” But no. People have been asking this for YEARS. Users like us, without access to resources that most people take for granted, are not important enough for Apple to bother about.

Is it possible to back up my phone without WiFi?

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