{"id":79577,"date":"2022-01-07T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=79577"},"modified":"2022-01-12T15:11:16","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T21:11:16","slug":"12-days-of-backups-day-10-mobile-backups-to-your-mac-or-pc-using-itunes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/79577-12-days-of-backups-day-10-mobile-backups-to-your-mac-or-pc-using-itunes\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Days of Backups: Day 10 – Mobile Backups to Your Mac or PC Using iTunes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today in the 12 Days of Backups, we’ll show you how to back up an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad to a Mac or PC using iTunes<\/strong>. Yesterday’s post showed how to do a backup using macOS Finder for those who are running macOS Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey. For those running Mac OS X or macOS versions 10.14 Mojave or earlier, iTunes<\/strong> is your tool for backing up a mobile device. It’s also the way to back up an Apple mobile device to a PC running Windows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Why would I back up to my Mac or PC instead of iCloud?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not everybody wants to back up their iPhone or iPad to iCloud, which is why backing up to your Mac or PC can be a good idea. For example, let’s say that you don’t want to spend the money for iCloud storage, or you’re on a very slow Internet connection that makes it impossible to back up to the cloud. Saving device data to a computer regularly ensures continuity if your mobile device must be reset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To use iTunes<\/strong> to back up your iPhone or iPad, you must be running macOS 10.14 Mojave or earlier, or a Windows PC running iTunes. Older versions of macOS and Mac OS X use iTunes for a variety of purposes. The newer versions divided iTunes up into Music, Podcasts, and TV, while the mobile backup function moved to the macOS Finder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll also need a USB to Lightning (iPhone, iPod touch, iPad) or USB-C to USB-C (iPad Pro) cable to connect the device to your Mac or PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Connecting to the Mac or PC for an iTunes backup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now we have the computer running an older version of Mac OS X or macOS, or it’s running Windows. Here we go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/strong>. Launch iTunes.
2<\/strong>. Connect the iOS or iPadOS device to the computer using a Lightning or Dock Connector cable.
3<\/strong>. Any content purchased downloaded from the iTunes or App Store on the iOS device should be transferred to the Mac or PC. To begin transferring, select File > Devices > Transfer Purchases<\/strong> from the menu bar (see image below). On PCs, a File menu may not be visible, in which case holding down the Ctrl and B keys<\/strong> simultaneously should help. Allow the purchased content to finish transferring to the Mac or PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Transferring<\/a>
Selecting Back Up from the iTunes File menu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Backing up health and activity data with iTunes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, we’ll back up Health and Activity data from the iOS device or a connected Apple Watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. <\/strong>To begin, encrypt the data. Select This Computer<\/strong>, and then check the Encrypt Data<\/strong> box (see image below). If asked for a password, make it memorable. The backup will not be accessible without the password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Encrypt<\/a>
Encrypting an iTunes backup ensures confidentiality of health data.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Begin the iTunes backup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If no Health or Activity data needs to be backed up, ignore step 4. Now you’re ready to start backing up your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. <\/strong>Click Back Up Now<\/strong>, and the backup begins. Once again, if your running Windows and a File menu doesn\u2019t appear, holding down Ctrl-B<\/strong> should fix the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6.<\/strong> Once the device is done backing up, make sure the process was completed successfully. Open iTunes Preferences<\/strong> and click on the Devices<\/strong> button. You’ll see the name of the device along with the date and time of the backup. Encrypted backups show a lock icon to the right of the device name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Making
Confirm your backup’s success in iTunes’ Devices Preferences tab.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although these instructions show Mac screens, the Windows version of iTunes presents an almost identical user interface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To delete any previous device backup, select it with a click, then click Delete Backup<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n