Backup for phone

What does iCloud back up?

Use iCloud Backup so that you have a copy of the information on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Here’s what iCloud Backup includes

• App data
• Apple Watch backups1
• Device settings
• Home screen and app organization
• iMessage, text (SMS), and MMS messages2
• Photos and videos on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch2
• Purchase history from Apple services, like your music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books3
• Ringtones
• Visual Voicemail password (requires the SIM card that was in use during backup)

Your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch backups only include information and settings stored on your device. They do not include information already stored in iCloud such as Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Notes, Reminders, Voice Memos4, Messages in iCloud, iCloud Photos, and shared photos. Some information is not included in an iCloud backup but can be added to iCloud and shared across multiple devices like Mail, Health data, call history, and files you store in iCloud Drive.

1. If you use an Apple Watch with Family Setup, your Apple Watch isn't included in the backup of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

2. When you use Messages in iCloud or turn on iCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud. That means that they're not included in your iCloud Backup.

3. Your iCloud Backup includes information about the content you buy, but not the content itself. When you restore from an iCloud backup, your purchased content is automatically redownloaded from the iTunes Store, App Store, or Books Store. Some types of content aren’t downloaded automatically in all countries or regions. Previous purchases might be unavailable if they've been refunded or aren't available in the store. Find out what you can redownload and buy in your country or region.

4. If you use iOS 11 or earlier, Voice Memos are included in iCloud Backup.

How it works

iCloud Backup makes a copy of the information on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. When your device is backed up in iCloud, you can easily set up a new device or restore information on one you already have. To let iCloud automatically back up your device, here's what you need to do.

If you disable or stop using iCloud Backup, your last backup is stored for 180 days. 

How to use iCloud Backup

1. Make sure that iCloud Backup is turned on in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup. If you're using iOS 10.2 or earlier, go to Settings > iCloud > Backup.
2. Connect your device to a power source.
3. Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network.
4. Make sure that your device's screen is locked.
5. Check that you have enough available space in iCloud for the backup.

When you set up iCloud, you automatically get 5GB of storage. You can use that storage space for your iCloud backups, to keep your photos and videos stored in iCloud Photos, and your documents up to date in iCloud Drive. Depending on the size of your backup and amount of content you keep in iCloud, you might run out of free space. You can buy more iCloud storage or delete content.

Learn more

• Learn about iCloud security and privacy.
• Learn how to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch using iCloud or your computer.
• Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac.
• If your iCloud Backup couldn’t be completed or you can’t restore, get help.
• Learn how to manage your iCloud storage to make sure that you always have enough space for your iCloud Backup.

Source: What does iCloud back up? - Apple Support

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Backup methods for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support