Although automatic backups exist, knowing how to manually backup iPhone will help ensure nothing gets lost should something unexpected happen. If you don't back up your iPhone, nothing will happen. But if your iPhone falls and breaks or gets damaged, you may lose all your valuable data.
Sometimes your iPhone might get stolen, or you may want to reset your device and clear storage on iPhone. Resetting wipes out all the data on your iPhone and takes it back to factory settings. That means without a backup, there will be massive data loss. Keep reading this guide and discover the best methods to manually back up iPhone before getting a new one.
How to Manually Backup iPhone with iTunes
When backing up your iPhone with iTunes, it's important to know what the backup includes. iTunes backs up your iPhone's local data, which includes photos, call logs, messages, local files, and the iPhone settings.
Although the backup includes almost all the data in your iPhone device, iTunes only backs up photos you directly capture on the iPhone camera. It does not back up images you download from other sources. Follow these steps to back up your iPhone manually with iTunes.
Step 1. On your PC, Download, install, and open iTunes' latest version.
Step 2. Using a USB cable, connect your iPhone to the PC.
Step 3. On the iTunes window, locate and click your iPhone's icon on the top left side of the screen.
Step 4. Next, go to "Backups" and select "This Computer."
Step 5. If you want to encrypt your backup data, tick the "Encrypt Local Backup" check box and enter your password.
Step 6. Click "Backup Now" and wait for iTunes to back up your data.
How to Manually Backup iPhone with iCloud
If your iPhone cannot connect to iTunes, you can back up your device using iCloud directly without connecting it to a computer. It's also important to note that iCloud gives you up to 5GB of free storage, where a copy of your iPhone's data stays.
If this storage is full, you can manage iCloud storage by either deleting previous data that you no longer need or buying up to 2 TB of storage space. Before starting the backup process, ensure you do the following.
- Connect your device to stable Wi-Fi.
- Update your iPhone with the latest iOS.
- Download and install iCloud.
After confirming you have all the above requirements and your iPhone has charged up to 60%, you can initiate the manual backup process as follows.
Step 1. On your iPhone, go to "Settings."
Step 2. Select the "Apple ID" logo.
Step 3. Next, select "iCloud" and then select "iCloud Backup."
Step 4. Select "Back Up Now," and your iPhone will immediately start the backup process.
In case you come across some glitches with iCloud, this guide can be helpful: iCloud backup not working.
How to Manually Backup iPhone with Google Drive
Another method of manually backing up your iPhone is via Google Drive. Google Drive gives you up to 15 GB of free storage space, but remember that you'll share the storage with other Google services. Gmail accounts and Google Photos also occupy this space.
If your iPhone's data can fit in the remaining storage, you can back up and share any files with team members. Here is how to back up your iPhone with Google Drive.
Step 1. Download, install, and open Google Drive on your iPhone.
Step 2. On the top left corner of your screen, tap the Google Drive icon to show the menu, then select the "Settings" option.
Step 3. Next, tap on the "Back Up" option.
Step 4. A list of items you want to back up will appear. You can change the settings of each item before the process starts. Once satisfied with all the settings and your preference, tap the Start Back Up button.
Step 5. If it's your first time backing up your iPhone with Google Drive, you'll need to allow access to your photos, contacts, and calendar.
Step 6. The backup process will start after you allow access. Wait until the process is complete. Exiting the application will stop the backup process, but you can resume later from where you left off.
Step 7. Your iPhone's data, including contacts, messages, photos, and calendars, will be stored in Google Drive. iPhone contacts and calendars will back up faster. Videos and photos can take up to several hours.
A Versatile iPhone Backup Tool: EaseUS MobiMover
EaseUS MobiMover Pro is the most recommended tool for manually backing up iPhones. If you are looking to transfer data from one iPhone to another or an iPad, PC, or Mac computer, EaseUS MobiMover is the most efficient. This data management software is simple, versatile, and convenient.
The software can transfer and store your valuable photos, chat history, favorite movies, and music. It provides a free video and audio downloader to download videos and audio from over 1000 sites. The iPhone transfer tool allows you to choose whether to back up all your iPhone content or perform a selective backup.
Once you've downloaded this tool, you can follow the steps below to use it:
Step 1. Connect your iPhone/iPad to your PC, unlock your device, and trust the computer. Then run EaseUS MobiMover and navigate to "Backup Manager" > "Back up".

Step 2. Check the categories you want to back up from your iPhone/iPad and then click the backup button to start backing up your device data.

Step 3. Wait for the backup process to complete. If you need to restore the backup to your iPhone/iPad in the furture, go to "Backup Manager" > "Restore" to get it done.

Conclusion
This article has shown you how to manually backup iPhone in four ways. Depending on your situation, you can choose the method that gives you the best results. Backing up your iPhone data will allow you to reset your iPhone or create space anytime without losing important information.
To transfer and manage your data better, we recommend EaseUS MobiMover. This third-party tool will not only help to back up your iPhone, but you'll also be able to manage your files, images, and videos. It's a simple and versatile file transfer and data management tool. To get started today, ensure you download and install EaseUS MobiMover.
FAQs on How to Manually Backup iPhone
Below are common questions about how to manually back up your iPhone.
1. Why Can't I Manually Back Up My iPhone?
There are various reasons why you might not be able to back up your iPhone. Check your internet connection. Make sure you have a stable internet connection. If you are using Wi-Fi, ensure it's working properly. When backing up with iTunes or iCloud, use the latest version to avoid bugs that may prevent backups.
2. How Do I Manually Back Up an iPhone to a Computer?
You can achieve that using a computer-based application like iTunes. You'll need to connect your iPhone to the computer via USB, then ensure you launch the latest version of iTunes. You can then click on your iPhone from the iTunes window, go to Backups and select This Computer. Next, you can select Backup Now to initiate the backup.
3. How to Manually Back Up iPhone Contacts?
You can manually back up your iPhone contacts using Google Drive:
- Open Google Drive on your iPhone.
- On the top left corner of your screen, tap the Google Drive icon to show the menu, then select the Settings option.
- Next, tap on the Back Up option.
- A list of items you want to back up will appear. Ensure you've checked the option for Contacts. Next, tap the Start Backup button to manually back up your iPhone contacts to Google Drive.
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Daisy is the Senior editor of the writing team for EaseUS. She has been working in EaseUS for over ten years, starting from a technical writer to a team leader of the content group. As a professional author for over 10 years, she writes a lot to help people overcome their tech troubles.

Written by Sofia Albert
Sofia has been involved with tech ever since she joined the EaseUS editor team in March 2011 and now she is a senior website editor. She is good at solving various iPhone and Android issues, such as iPhone or Android data transfer & recovery.
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