Keeping a complete Backup of iPhone or iPad on Windows PC is a good safeguard against data loss. You will find below the steps to Backup iPhone to Windows computer using iTunes.
Backup iPhone to Mac and Windows Computer
While automated iCloud Backups are easy to setup on iPhone, they are not to be considered as a complete backup of your iPhone.
iCloud Backups, do not include iMessages, iCloud Photos, Notes, Calendars and other data which is available on iCloud.
Also, your iPhone won’t be able to backup its data to iCloud, if you run out of storage space in your free iCloud Account (5 GB).
In such a case you will have to either Free up iCloud Storage Space or buy additional iCloud storage space by signing up for Apple’s monthly iCloud storage plan.
In comparison, iTunes backups can be downloaded to the local storage on your Windows computer and they contain almost all the data as available on your iPhone.
1. Backup iPhone to Windows Computer Using iTunes
Download and Install the latest Version of iTunes on your Computer (if not already installed) and follow the steps below to Backup iPhone to computer using iTunes.
1. Open iTunes on your computer.
2. Connect iPhone to the USB port of computer using its supplied Lightning to USB cable.
3. Next, click on the Phone icon as it appears on the screen of your computer.
Related: What to do if iPhone is Not Showing Up in iTunes
4. On the next screen, click on Summary tab in the left pane. In the right pane, select This computer option and click on Back Up Now button.
You can check Encrypt iPhone Backup, in case you also want to backup Passwords, Health and Activity Data.
If you select Encrypted Backup, you will be prompted to setup a Password to access the Encrypted Backup.
Please make sure that you remember and write down this password in a secure place. You won’t be able to access the encrypted backup without entering this password.
5. Once you click on Back Up Now button, iTunes will start the process of making a complete backup of your iPhone and it will save the backup file on your computer
The time to complete the backup process will depend on the amount of data available on your iPhone. The progress of the backup process will be indicated by a progress bar and messages appearing in iTunes.
What is included in iTunes Backup?
An iTunes backup of iPhone includes almost all the data available on your device, including all Photos, Videos, Messages, Contacts, Calendar, Apps and Health Data.
Apps, Music, Movies, Podcasts, Ringtones and Books are not included in an iTunes Backup as they can be easily downloaded from the App Store.
However, you can easily transfer items purchased from iTunes and App Store to iPhone by following the steps below.
1. Open iTunes on your computer.
2. Connect your iPhone to the USB Port of Computer using its supplied Lighting to USB cable.
3. Once your iPhone appears in iTunes, click on File > Devices > Transfer Purchases from iPhone.
4. All the purchases will be transferred to your iPhone.
Hope, this has provided you with a good understanding of the two different methods available to backup your iPhone or iPad.