iCloud backups include nearly all data and settings stored on your device. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they have been refunded or are no longer available in the store.
iCloud backups DO include:
- Purchased music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books
- Photos and videos in your Camera Roll
- Device settings
- App data
- Home screen and app organization
- Messages - iMessage, SMS - Short Message Service and MMS - Multimedia Messaging Service
- Ringtones
- Visual Voicemail
iCloud backups DO NOT include:
- Data that's already stored in the cloud, like contacts, calendars, notes, My Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Library.
- Data stored in other cloud services, like Gmail and Exchange mail.
- Apple Pay information and settings.
- Touch ID settings.
- Content you didn't get directly from iTunes, App, or iBooks Stores, like imported MP3s, videos, or CDs iTunes in the Cloud and App Store content (If it's still available in the iTunes, App, or iBooks Store, you can tap to re-download your already purchased content).
Backup using iCloud or iTunes
iTunes backups
From your Mac or PC, you can make a backup of your device in iTunes. Syncing your device with your computer isn't the same as making a backup.
iTunes backup includes nearly all of your device's data and settings.
iTunes backup doesn't include:
- Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to iBooks (You can back up this content using Transfer Purchases in iTunes.)
- Content synced from iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
- Photos already stored in the cloud, like My Photo Stream, and iCloud Photo Library
- Touch ID settings
- Apple Pay information and settings
- Activity, Health, and Keychain data (To back up this content, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)
iTunes will back up the following information
- Contacts* and Contact Favorites (regularly sync contacts to a computer or cloud service such as iCloud to back them up).
- App Store Application data including in-app purchases (except the Application itself, its tmp and Caches folder).
- Application settings, preferences, and data, including documents.
- Autofill for webpages.
- CalDAV and subscribed calendar accounts.
- Calendar accounts.
- Calendar events.
- Call history.
- Camera Roll (Photos, screenshots, images saved, and videos taken. Videos greater than 2 GB are backed up with iOS 4.0 and later). Note: For devices without a camera, Camera Roll is called Saved Photos.
- Game Center account.
- Home screen arrangement.
- In-app purchases.
- Keychain (this includes email account passwords, Wi-Fi passwords, and passwords you enter into websites and some other applications. If you encrypt the backup with iOS 4 and later, you can transfer the keychain information to the new device. With an unencrypted backup, you can restore the keychain only to the same iOS device. If you are restoring to a new device with an unencrypted backup, you will need to enter these passwords again).
- List of External Sync Sources (MobileMe, Exchange ActiveSync).
- Location service preferences for apps and websites you have allowed to use your location.
- Mail accounts (mail messages are not backed up).
- Installed Profiles. When restoring a backup to a different device, installed configuration profiles are not restored (such as accounts, restrictions, or anything which can be specified through an installed profile.) Any accounts or settings that are not associated with an installed profile will still be restored.
- Map bookmarks, recent searches, and the current location displayed in Maps.
- Microsoft Exchange account configurations.
- Network settings (saved Wi-Fi hotspots, VPN settings, network preferences).
- Nike + iPod saved workouts and settings.
- Notes.
- Offline web application cache/database.
- Paired Bluetooth devices (which can only be used if restored to the same phone that did the backup).
- Safari bookmarks, cookies, history, offline data, and currently open pages.
- Saved suggestion corrections (these are saved automatically as you reject suggested corrections).
- Messages (iMessage and carrier SMS or MMS pictures and videos).
- Trusted hosts that have certificates that cannot be verified.
- Voice memos.
- Voicemail token. (This is not the voicemail password, but is used for validation when connecting. This is only restored to a phone with the same phone number on the SIM card).
- Wallpapers.
- Web clips.
- YouTube bookmarks and history.
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* Your contacts are part of the backup to preserve recent calls and favorites lists. Back up your contacts to a supported personal information manager (PIM), iCloud, or another cloud-based service to avoid any potential contact data loss.
Where iTunes backups are stored on your computer
The folder where your backup data are stored varies depending on the computer's operating system. Make sure the backup folder is included in your periodic data-backup routine.
iTunes places the backup files in the following places:
- Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
- Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\(username)\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Note: To quickly access the Application Data folder, click Start, and choose Run. Type %appdata% and click OK. - Windows Vista and Windows 7: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\
Note: To quickly access the AppData folder, click Start. In the search bar, type %appdata% and press the Return key.
Backup using iCloud or iTunes
Back Up Your Computer to External Hard Disk
On Windows
- Get a backup drive. This can be just about any USB external hard drive, and you can get them at most electronics stores. Try to get one that has twice as much space as your computer, so you have room for multiple backups and so you have room for all the data you might get in the future.
- When you first plug it in, Windows will actually ask you if you want to use it as a backup. Tell it that you do. If you don't get this prompt, you can just go to the Start Menu, type "backup" in the search box, and hit Backup and Restore.
- From there, click the "Set Up Backup" button. Pick the external drive you plugged in and hit Next. Windows' default settings are probably fine, so you can just hit Next and the next screen too.
- On the last screen, hit "Save Settings and Run Backup". Windows will make its first backup of your drive, during which you don't want to turn off your computer. After that, it'll make regular backups in the background as you work—you don't need to deal with it again.
On a Mac
- Get a backup drive. This can be just about any USB external hard drive, and you can get them at most electronics stores. Try to get one that has twice as much space as your computer, so you have room for multiple backups and so you have room for all the data you might get in the future.
- When you plug in your drive, your Mac will ask you if you want to use that drive as a backup disk. Hit "Use as Backup Disk". If you don't get this prompt, you can always go to System Preferences > Time Machine to set it as a backup disk, too.
- From Time Machine's preferences, hit "Select Backup Disk" and choose your external drive.
- That's it! OS X will perform its first backup (during which you'll want to keep your computer on), and from then on it'll back up in the background with no work required on your part.
If you ever need to restore a file, just click on the Time Machine icon in your menu bar and hit "Enter Time Machine". From there, you can search through your old backups for the files you lost and restore them to your hard drive.
There is, of course, one downside to this method. While it'll save you if you accidentally delete a file or have hard drive issues, it won't save you if, say, you have a fire. For truly bulletproof backup, you'll want to back up all your data online, so you can get it back wherever you are (and whatever happens to your hardware).
