How to Backup iPhone Without iCloud - 4 PROVEN WAYS in 2025

Running out of iCloud storage? When your iPhone content exceeds 5GB, you need to buy extra storage to back up your iPhone with iCloud, or you will encounter the issue "This iPhone cannot be backed up because there is not enough iCloud storage available."

Can you back up your iPhone without iCloud​? If you want to back up iPhone to PC without iCloud, there are easier and more flexible options available. This guide shows you the top 4 ways — including one-click solutions like EaseUS MobiMover, official iTunes/Finder methods, and even separate backup for apps.

Method 1. How to Back Up iPhone to Computer with EaseUS MobiMover (Full Versions of Win/Mac)

If you're looking for the best way to back up your iPhone without using iCloud or iTunes, EaseUS MobiMover is a reliable solution. It allows you to back up your entire iPhone or selected data types — such as photos, videos, messages, contacts, WhatsApp, and more — to a Windows PC or Mac in just a few clicks.

Why Choose EaseUS MobiMover to back up iPhone without iCloud or iTunes?

• Free trial — up to 10 files per day for backup or transfer for free.
• No storage limits — Back up as much data as your computer can hold.
• Selective backup — Choose to back up only the data you need, such as photos and videos.
• Readable backups — View your backed-up files anytime without restoring your phone.
• One-click operation — Ideal for non-technical users.
• No wifi Required— Capable of backing up iPhone to computer without Wi-Fi

In addition to backing up iPhone to computer without iCloud, it also enables you to:

• Transfer files from PC to iPhone, iPad, or iPod
• Transfer data from one iPhone/iPad to another
• Backup and transfer WhatsApp message individually
• Manage iCloud storage space
• Bulk delete photos, messages or other content from iPhone with one click

Here's how to backup iPhone to computer without iCloud via MobiMover, follow the steps below:

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.

Method 2. How to Back Up iPhone Without iCloud via Finder (macOS Catalina and Later)

If you're using a Mac running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later, iTunes has been replaced by Finder for device management and backups. You can use Finder to create a full backup of your iPhone to your Mac — completely offline and without using iCloud.

Here's how:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable.

Step 2. Open Finder, and select your iPhone from the sidebar under "Locations."

Step 3. In the General tab, select "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac."

Step 4. (Optional) Check "Encrypt local backup" to include saved passwords and health data.

Step 5. Click "Back Up Now." Your iPhone will begin backing up to your Mac's internal storage. Once completed, you can find your backups in: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

📌 Note: While this method creates a complete device backup, you can’t view or extract individual files directly. You’ll need to restore the entire backup to access its contents.

Method 3. How to Back Up iPhone Without iCloud via iTunes (Win & macOS Mojave or Earlier)

If you are looking to back up an iPhone, iPad, or iPod without iCloud, the alternative choice for you is to back up iPhone to computer. And there is an official way to do it, which is to use iTunes. Similar to iCloud, iTunes could make a backup of almost all data and settings on your iOS device. But instead of cloud storage, iTunes stores your iPhone backup on computer. Thus, you don't need to worry about storage issues.

To back up iPhone to computer, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to your computer and wait for iTunes to launch automatically.

Step 2. Unlock your iPhone and trust the computer.

Step 3. In iTunes, click the "Device" tab, choose "Summary", and click "Back Up Now" to back up iPhone to PC without iCloud. (Check what to do if iPhone is not showing up on PC.)

Although you can access iPhone backup location on your PC, you can't view the details in the backup and should not edit or relocate the backup or the files may be corrupted.

If you are using a Mac running macOS Catalina and later, iTunes is no longer available and Finder does the device backups. Therefore, if you are going to back up iPhone to Mac, use Finder instead.

Method 4. How to Manually Backup iPhone Without iCloud (Messages/Contacts/Photos)

If you're not looking to back up your entire iPhone, but only specific types of data — like messages, contacts, photos, or WhatsApp messages — there are free and official ways to get the job done without iCloud. Here's how:

🌩️1. Backup Text Messages on iPhone Without iCloud

Apple doesn't offer an official way to backup messages on iPhone without iCloud (including SMS and iMessages) separately from the rest of your iPhone data. Messages are included in a full device backup when using iTunes or Finder, and you can only access them again by restoring the entire backup to an iPhone.

If you want to save a specific conversation outside of iCloud, you can manually export parts of a message thread:

• Open the Messages app on your iPhone.
• Tap and hold on a message > tap More.
• Select the messages you want to save.
• Tap the Share icon, then choose to send via Mail, Notes, or other supported apps.

This method works for saving text-only messages and can be time-consuming for longer conversations. If you want to save full message conversations, including attachments, in a readable format on your computer, a third-party tool like EaseUS MobiMover can help. It allows you to selectively back up and export text messages as HTML or CSV files — no iCloud or full restore required.

👥2. Backup Contacts on iPhone Without iCloud

You can export your iPhone contacts using the Contacts app on Mac (if synced via USB) or iCloud web (just once):

Option 1: Export via Contacts app (Mac)

• Connect iPhone > Open Contacts > Select all > File > Export > vCard.

Option 2: iCloud Web (one-time use, no full sync needed)

• Visit iCloud.com, log in > Contacts > Select all > Export vCard.

👉 For Windows users or selective export, MobiMover also allows free .vcf or CSV backup of contacts.

📸3. Backup iPhone Photos Without iCloud

Option 1: Use Photos App on Mac

• Connect iPhone > Open Photos > Import > Select or Import All.

Option 2: Windows File Explorer

• Connect iPhone > Trust device > Open “DCIM” folder > Manually copy to your PC.

These methods are 100% free and require no third-party tools.

👉 Need to organize photos by albums or transfer edited/live photos as-is? MobiMover offers extra flexibility and batch export options.

🗃️4. Backup WhatsApp Messages on iPhone Without iCloud

By default, WhatsApp on iPhone uses iCloud to back up your chats and media. You can check or manage this by going to: Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > Back Up Now / Auto Backup. However, if your iCloud storage is full, disabled, or you prefer not to use it, WhatsApp does not offer any official alternative for automatic full chat backup on iOS.

Apple also doesn't offer official non-iCloud backup for WhatsApp. However, you can use the following way to backup WhatsApp on iPhone without iCloud.

Manually export chats from WhatsApp:

• Open a chat > Tap name > Export Chat > Save via Mail or Files.

This method is chat-by-chat, and doesn't back up media in bulk. For full chat/media backup and restore without iCloud, consider MobiMover's WhatsApp Manager.

The Bottom Line

Backing up your iPhone without iCloud is entirely possible — whether you want to save everything on your device or just specific types of data like photos, messages, or contacts.

🔹If you prefer a complete and automated backup with flexibility to preview or export data, EaseUS MobiMover is your best bet.

🔹For a free, official full-device backup, Finder (on macOS Catalina and later) and iTunes (on Windows or older macOS versions) remain solid choices — though they lack selective restore or viewing options.

🔹And if you only need to save a few things manually, such as selected photos or conversations, Apple's built-in tools can help you export them without iCloud.

How to Backup iPhone Without iCloud FAQs

For more information on how to back up iPhone without iCloud:

1. Can I backup my iPhone to iCloud without WiFi?

No — Apple requires a Wi-Fi connection to perform iCloud backups. You cannot back up to iCloud using cellular data, even if you have an unlimited data plan. If you're in a situation without Wi-Fi, consider using one of the methods in this article to back up your iPhone to a computer instead, such as with Finder, iTunes, or EaseUS MobiMover.

2. How to backup iPhone without iCloud or computer?

If you don't want to use iCloud or a computer, your options are limited — but not nonexistent. You can use third-party iOS apps that allow local backups directly to external storage (like a USB drive) via a Lightning or USB-C adapter.

Some apps available on the App Store support exporting photos, contacts, or other files manually. However, these tools usually don’t offer full device backup and may not cover sensitive data like messages or app settings.

3. Why can't I back up my iPhone on iTunes?

If you use a Windows PC and iTunes won't respond or your backup never finishes, you might need to update, change, disable, or uninstall your security software. If you own more than one computer, try to make a backup on your other Mac or PC.

4. How long does it take to back up my iPhone?

The time it takes depends on the backup method, the amount of data on your iPhone, and your computer's performance.

• Finder/iTunes full backups usually take 10–30 minutes.
• Selective backup tools like MobiMover can be faster, especially if you only back up certain types of data.
• Manual export (e.g., saving individual photos or messages) is time-consuming and varies by case.

For quicker backups, it's recommended to use a wired connection and avoid background processes during the operation.