When there is no Wi-Fi network connection available, you can also back up your iPhone, either to cloud storage or a computer. Read this guide to check all possbile ways to back up an iPhone without Wi-Fi.
When is Wi-Fi required for an iPhone backup? If you are going to back up your iPhone to the cloud, be it iCloud or any other cloud-based storage, you will probably need Wi-Fi to help. However, even if you want to back up your iPhone to the cloud, Wi-Fi is not the only choice. If you don't mind exceeding your cellular data plan, you can also choose to back up your iPhone over cellular data. Moreover, backing up your iPhone to a PC or Mac doesn't need any Wi-Fi network connection.
If you want to back up your iPhone without Wi-Fi, read on to get the details and apply the most suitable way for you to make a backup of your iOS device.
There are four common ways to back up an iPhone without Wi-Fi. Depending on the computer you use, the best way for you varies.
On Windows and macOS Mojave and earlier, iTunes plays the role of backing up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. iTunes uses a USB cable to transfer your iPhone data and settings. Thus, Wi-Fi is unnecessary when you back up your iPhone to a PC or Mac using iTunes.
Prepare an official USB cable from Apple and an authorized computer. Afterward, follow the easy steps below to back up your iPhone without Wi-Fi.
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your PC or Mac.
Step 2. Unlock your iPhone, enter your lock screen passcode, and trust the computer.
Step 3. Launch iTunes and click the device icon.
Step 4. Go to "Summary" and click "Back Up Now" to start backing up your iPhone without Wi-Fi.
While on macOS Catalina and later, iTunes has been discontinued, and Finder is used to backing up your iOS or iPadOS device. Since it is a replacement for iTunes, the steps to back up your iPhone via Finder are quite similar to using iTunes.
In addition to making device backups, Finder also works to transfer files between your iPhone and Mac. Thus, if you need to transfer videos from Mac to your iPhone or add music from Mac to your iPod, Finder could also be a practical solution.
To back up your iPhone via Finder:
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac with a USB cable.
Step 2. Unlock your iPhone and follow the instructions to help the computer recognize your iOS device.
Step 3. Open "Finder" and click your iPhone under "Locations."
Step 4. Go to the "General" tab and check the option "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac."
Step 5. Click "Back Up Now" to start the backup process.
If you choose to encrypt your iPhone backup, make sure you won't forget the password, or you won't be able to use the backup anymore. (If you want to remove the iPhone backup password, let the iPhone unlocker - EaseUS MobiUnlock help.)
EaseUS MobiMover is an iPhone data transfer tool as well as an iPhone backup manager. Whether you want to back up specific items on your iPhone or the whole device, you can get it done with this tool.
Unlike the two ways above that store your iPhone backup in the default folder and disallow you to access the files in the backup, EaseUS MobiMover allows you to change the backup location freely and view the backups whenever you need to.
Moreover, since it is also an iPhone data transfer tool, you can also:
These features are helpful when you want to share photos, videos, music, ringtones, books, and more to or from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
To back up your iPhone without Wi-Fi:
Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer running Windows system with a USB cable > Select the "Backup Manager" from the left panel > Select "Backup" to proceed.
Step 2. Tick the box next to "Select All" to back up all files from iPhone to computer > Set the destination on computer > Click on "One-Click Backup" to start the backup process.
Step 3. MobiMover will start immediately to back up iPhone files to your computer without requiring iTunes. Wait patiently until it finishes.
As mentioned, iCloud doesn't necessarily use Wi-Fi to finish the device backup. If you have enough cellular data left or don't mind paying for the extra cellular data out of your plan, you can back up your iPhone with iCloud over cellular.
To use iCloud or other cloud-based services, ensure enough cloud storage to save your iPhone backup.
To back up your iPhone to iCloud without Wi-Fi:
Step 1. Go to the "Settings" app on your iPhone.
Step 2. Tap [your name] > "iCloud" > "iCloud Backup."
Step 3. Enable "iCloud Backup" and "Back Up Over Cellular." (This option is only available on models that support 5G.)
Step 4. Click "Back Up Now" to start backing up your iPhone without Wi-Fi.
Although you can back up your iPhone to the cloud without Wi-Fi, you are not recommended. Why? Your iPhone data and settings are generally over 100GB. That will take equal cellular data to finish the backup. And it means you will need to spend lots of money on it. Thus, it is not a cost-efficient way to back up your iOS device. It's better to make an iPhone backup with iTunes, Finder, or the third-party iPhone backup tool.
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