HT204136: About backups for iOS devices

Learn about About backups for iOS devices
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Q: When backing up your iPhone to iTunes, is it to the website or to your computer?  If it is to your computer, what happens if your computer dies?

When backing up your iPhone to iTunes, is it to the website or to your computer?  If it is to your computer, what happens if your computer dies?

Posted on Mar 23, 2016 10:23 AM

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Q: When backing up your iPhone to iTunes, is it to the website or to your computer?  If it is to your computer, what happens if ... more

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  • by quickdraw08,

    quickdraw08 quickdraw08 Mar 24, 2016 1:17 PM in response to hmh6463
    Level 1 (28 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 24, 2016 1:17 PM in response to hmh6463

    It backs up to the computers hard drive.  If your hard drive dies, the backup dies with it.

  • by FoxFifth,Apple recommended

    FoxFifth FoxFifth Mar 24, 2016 1:38 PM in response to hmh6463
    Level 7 (25,631 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 24, 2016 1:38 PM in response to hmh6463

    A backup via iTunes is stored on your computer's hard drive. Personally I wouldn't worry too much about losing the backup if the computer dies as it is unlikely that both the computer and the iPhone would die at the same time. In spite of that it is a very good idea to have a backup of the computer -- so you could recover the iPhone backup but likely more importantly for all of the other things where the only copy may be on the computer.

     

    You can also turn on Settings > iCloud > Backup and have your iPhone automatically backup to iCloud while it is charging. See How to back up your devices using iCloud or iTunes - Apple Support