Do I need a laptop to back up my iPhone with iTunes?

Do I need a laptop or computer to back up my iPhone with iTunes?

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 10.3.3

Posted on Feb 5, 2018 1:24 AM

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Posted on Feb 5, 2018 11:14 AM

To actually answer your specific question, yes you need a computer in order to backup your phone with iTunes. Backing up with iCloud is a totally different scenario. I back up with both but do not totally trust iCloud.


The problem with only relying on iCloud is that if your phone craps the bed and needs to be restored, you can’t do that with iCloud. You can’t download a fresh copy of the iOS when you erase a device with iCloud. You must always have a WiFi connection in order to backup with iCloud, whereas you can backup, and restore with iTunes as long as you have an Ethernet connection to the internet. You don’t need WiFi.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 5, 2018 11:14 AM in response to Carina Rossi

To actually answer your specific question, yes you need a computer in order to backup your phone with iTunes. Backing up with iCloud is a totally different scenario. I back up with both but do not totally trust iCloud.


The problem with only relying on iCloud is that if your phone craps the bed and needs to be restored, you can’t do that with iCloud. You can’t download a fresh copy of the iOS when you erase a device with iCloud. You must always have a WiFi connection in order to backup with iCloud, whereas you can backup, and restore with iTunes as long as you have an Ethernet connection to the internet. You don’t need WiFi.

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Do I need a laptop to back up my iPhone with iTunes?

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