How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

When it comes to backing up an iPhone, iTunes and iCloud are the most commonly used methods. However, for some reasons, you may not like using iTunes or iCloud. So, you might be thinking, can I back up my iPhone without iTunes or iCloud? The answer is of course yes. Now, this article will show you how to do it.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Why iTunes/iCloud may not be a good iPhone backup method?

Both iTunes and iCloud are very useful tools provided by Apple, but their backup features have some shortcomings, so for some people, they may not be good choices for backing up iPhone.

iTunes is the most commonly used method to back up an iPhone to the computer, but sometimes it stops working without any reason, even if you reinstall it. Moreover, iTunes saves iPhone backups in the computer's operating system drive (C:) by default, and it doesn't allow you to choose or change the save location. This will occupy the valuable storage space of the C drive and even slow down the computer.

iCloud is the preferred way to back up iPhone without iTunes, but it requires Wi-Fi. You cannot back up to iCloud without Wi-Fi. In addition, iCloud provides only 5GB of free storage, which is inadequate for many users. So, you may have to pay an extra monthly fee for additional storage if you want to use iCloud for iPhone backups.

So, that's why some people want a way to back up their iPhone without iTunes or iCloud. Here are two effective methods.


  • Way 1: Using iSumsoft BackupTo
  • Way 2: Using Mac

Way 1: Backup iPhone without iTunes/iCloud using iSumsoft BackupTo

iSumsoft BackupTo is a wonderful iPhone backup software for PC, which makes it easier than ever to backup your iPhone, without requiring iTunes or iCloud. The software makes the iPhone backup process more simple and intuitive and allows you to:

Steps to back up iPhone to PC without iTunes or iCloud

Step 1: Download and install iSumsoft BackupTo on your PC. After installation, launch this software tool.

Download

Step 2: Connect your iPhone to your PC using a USB cable, and then tap Trust on the iPhone screen if prompted. The software will recognize your iPhone in a few seconds.

Step 3: Select the Back Up option on the left of the software interface. The software displays the basic information of your iPhone, including whether it already has a backup.

If it detects that your iPhone has an encrypted backup, you have to enter the correct password before proceeding. Otherwise, click directly on the Next button to continue.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 4: If you hope to back up your entire iPhone, select the "All Backups" tab on the top. If you want to back up only specific files, select the "Classified backup" tab and check the files you want to back up.

After selecting the files to back up, click the Choose button to choose where you want to save your backup, and then click Start to start backing up the iPhone.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 5: Wait for the backup to complete. This will take a few minutes, depending on the amount of data to back up. Don't disconnect the iPhone until the backup is complete.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 6: When the software interface shows "Backup Succeeded", you are finished. The iPhone backup is saved in the location you previously selected. You can go to this location to view the backup files if you want, and restore them to your iPhone when needed.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Tips: To restore the backup data to your iPhone, just select the Restore option on the software, and then follow the steps displayed on the screen.

Way 2: Back up iPhone without iTunes or iCloud using Mac

If you use a Mac computer, the Finder app built in macOS Catalina and above allows you to backup your iPhone without using iTunes or iCloud. Follow these steps.

Step 1: Plug your iPhone into your Mac computer. Unlock your iPhone and tap Trust if prompted.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 2: Open the Finder on your Mac, and then select your iPhone name under "Locations" in the Finder sidebar.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 3: Select General in the button bar to display the backup options. Select the "Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac" option, and then click Back Up Now. Finder will immediately start backing up your iPhone.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 4: Keep your iPhone connected and wait for the backup to complete. You can check the time next to "Last backup to this Mac" to determine whether the backup is complete.

Tips: You can click the Manage Backups button to see where the backups are saved. If you need to restore the backup to your iPhone, just click the Restore Backup button below the Back Up Now button.

Final Words

The above are two simple and effective methods to back up your iPhone to your computer without using iTunes or iCloud. No matter which method you use, once the backup is created, do not modify the backup file without authorization, otherwise the backup may be damaged. Also, do not move the backup from the current location to another location, otherwise the backup cannot be restored.

Related Articles

It is recommended to back up your iPhone data in advance to avoid unnecessary data loss. iTunes is a familiar tool for Apple users, so it is often chosen to backup iPhone or iPad.

You can let iTunes help you backup iPhone with one click. However, iTunes lacks quite a few essential features. For example, it will not allow you to backup selected data, it will overwrite iPhone during the restoration, etc.

Fortunately, iTunes is not the only choice for iPhone backup. You can choose to backup iPhone to computer with other third-party tools. Besides, you can let iCloud help you backup iPhone if you do not have a computer at hand.

Part 1. How to Backup iPhone to Computer without iTunes

The disadvantage of iCloud and iTunes is very obvious that you can only backup iPhone in their way. How can you backup iPhone to computer without iTunes your own way?

FoneTool is the best way to backup iPhone to computer without iTunes. It is a professional iPhone backup software developed by a team that is focused on data security for more than 10 years.

It offers two backup models - full backup & selective backup. Download the tool on PC and follow the steps below to backup your iPhone the way you want.

Fonetool Free Download

It supports all the iPhones (including iPhone 14/13/12/11/SE 2022) and iPad 8/Air 4, iPad Pro 2021, iPad mini 8.

How to Backup iPhone to Computer without iTunes - Selective Backup

You can preview and select the needed photos, videos, songs, contacts, and messages for backup. The backup files are readable and it will not erase any existing data on device during the restore.

Here is an example of how to backup iPhone on Windows 10 without iTunes.

Step 1. Select Phone Backup and go to Selective Backup.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 2. Click the icon to select the types of data you want. Preview and select the specific data and click OK.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 3. Specify the storage path and click Start Backup.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Tips: Your backups created by FoneTool can be easily viewed and managed. You can go to Backup History to check your backup tasks.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

How to Backup iPhone to Computer without iTunes - Full Backup

The Full Backup can help you backup photos, contacts, call history, text messages, memos, calendars, Safari (history, bookmarks), applications (data files, preference), system settings with one click. Just like iTunes backup.

Step 1. Click Phone Backup and go to Full Backup.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Step 2. Enable backup encryption > Choose the storage path > Click Start Backup.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Part 2. How to Backup iPhone without iTunes on Mac

iTunes is dead on the latest macOS. 3 independent applications, Podcast, Music, and TV, now take over most of iTunes’ jobs on macOS Catalina. The feature of backing up iPhone and iPad has been moved to Finder. The interface and steps to backup iPhone have not been changed so much.

How to Backup iPhone to Mac without iTunes

Step 1. Open Finder on Mac. Connect your iPhone to Mac with a USB cable.

Step 2. Select your iPhone in the left and select General in the window.

Step 3. Click Back Up Now to backup iPhone to Mac.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Your backup still cannot be viewed restoring iPhone with Finder will erase iPhone first. Nothing has been changed except for where to make the backup. If you have problems when backing up iPhone with Finder, this guide iPhone not backing up to iTunes is still helpful.

Part 3. How to Backup iPhone without iTunes but with iCloud

Actually, iCloud and iTunes saved nearly the same things. If you have enough iCloud storage, iCloud is a better choice than iTunes. You can know more about this from iCloud vis iTunes backup guide.

How to Backup iPhone to iCloud:

Step 1. Connect iPhone to Wi-Fi.

Step 2. Go to iPhone Settings > Tap [your name] > Select iCloud > Select Backup > turn on iCloud backup.

Step 3. If you wish to instantly create an iCloud backup, tap Back Up Now or iCloud will automatically backup iPhone data at night when the screen is locked.

How to backup iphone to computer without itunes or icloud

Sometimes you have too much data on iPhone, and iCloud sends an alert that there is not enough space in iCloud. You can just backup iPhone photos to iCloud or save fewer app data.

Go to iCloud > Select Manage Storage > Tap the name of your device. iCloud will estimate the size of your iPhone backup. There are the apps going to be saved to iCloud backup. You can switch off the button to stop saving some of them.

Conclusion

That's all about how to backup iPhone without iTunes on Windows 11/8/7/10 PC and Macbook. Which method do you prefer?

● iTunes has been removed from macOS Catalina. If you still appreciate the way it works, you can use Finder to do the same job. ● iCloud does the same job as iTunes, but you’d better prepare enough storage to save everything you want.

The best alternative for you to backup iPhone without iTunes or iCloud is FoneTool. It provides multiple backup methods to meet your different backup needs You can make an easy iPhone backup with it.