HOW TO EASILY BACK UP YOUR iPhone, iPad & iPod DEVICES
Digital lives now greatly depend on Mobile phones, yet these phones are vulnerable to loss, theft or damage.
A good number of iPhone users always think their phones are automatically backed up to iCloud. Unknowingly they only have a free 5GB storage space and after it’s exhausted, they will have to pay to ensure their files are backed up safely in the cloud.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the different options for backing up your iPhone.
What is iCloud? 
iCloud is a storage space provided by Apple mostly for iPhone users to store more of their files on the cloud. The information on those files stored on iCloud include:
Images or photos
Videos
Documents
And other related files.
How to Backup Your iPhone, iPad & iPod Devices
Generally, backing up your iPhone means you’ll have a copy of your information to use in case your iPhone is replaced, lost, or damaged. iCloud is provided by Apple Company.
iPhone backup can be done using two methods: (a) In the cloud via the iCloud (b) On your computer.
You need to fully understand what it really takes to use either or both of these methods.
Before you get started, learn the difference between iCloud backups and backups you make using your computer, then choose the method that’s better for you. You can as well make a backup on iCloud and alternatively on your computer.
Here’s Why You Should Choose ICloud Backup Method
1. iCloud stores backups in the cloud
2. iCloud offers up to 2TB of storage (your first 5GB are free)
3. iCloud always encrypts your backups
4. iCloud lets you create and use backups anywhere as long as a Wi-Fi network is available
5. iCloud backups include almost all data and settings stored on your device. iCloud backups don’t include the following:
· Data that’s already stored in iCloud, like Contacts, Calendars, Notes, iCloud Photos, iMessages, Voice Memos, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages, and Health data
· Data stored in other cloud services, like Gmail
· Apple Mail data
· Apple Pay information and settings
· Face ID or Touch ID settings
· iCloud Music Library and App Store content.
When you use Messages in iCloud, Health data on iOS 12 or later, or Voice Memos, it means your content is automatically stored in iCloud. Also, if you turn on iCloud Photos, your content is also automatically stored in iCloud.
How to Backup Iphone, IPad & IPod Devices on ICloud
a. Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network.
b. Go to Settings
c. On your Setting Menu, Click on your account (your name)
(Note: Before you go further you must have an active icloud account and you should be signed in before you can move to the next step.)
d. You’ll be shown a page that displays a list of what you can back-up to your iCloud on your iPhone.
e. Select items to back-up to your iCloud on your iPhone
f. Tap iCloud Backup.
g. Tap Back up Now and Stay connected to your Wi-Fi network until the process completes.
To check the progress and confirm the backup was completed.
Go to Settings — select your name — select iCloud — select iCloud Backup. Under Back up, you’ll see the date and time of your last backup.
…it’s recommended to set up routine automatic backups so you don’t have to worry about your most recent photos and videos.
To Manage Backups On iPhone, IPad & IPod Devices
If you’re using iOS 11 or later, go to Settings — select your name — select iCloud — select Manage Storage — click on Backup.
You can choose which information to back up, or delete the backup.
Automatically back up with iCloud Backup
For iCloud to automatically back up your device each day, follow these steps:
i. Make sure that iCloud Backup is turned on in Settings — select your name — select iCloud — select iCloud Backup.
ii. Connect your device to a power source.
iii. Connect your device to a Wi-Fi network.
iv. Make sure that your device’s screen is locked.
NOTE: Ensure you have enough available space in iCloud for the backup. When you sign in to iCloud, you get free 5GB of iCloud storage space. If you need more iCloud storage space, you can buy more from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac. Plans start at 50GB for $0.99 a month. For 200GB the cost is $2.99 per month. And for 1TB Apple charges $9.99 per month. Photos and videos alone are enough to fill up your free 5GB quickly.
Restore Your Device from an iCloud Backup
a. Turn on your device. You will see a Hello screen. You need to erase all content before you can use these steps to restore from your backup.
b. Follow the available steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen, then tap Restore from iCloud Backup
c. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
d. Choose a backup. Look at the date and size of each and pick the most relevant. After you choose the date, the transfer starts. If you get a message saying there’s a newer version of software, update the software.
e. Sign in with your Apple ID to restore your apps and purchases (If you’ve purchased iTunes or App Store content using multiple Apple IDs, you’ll be asked to sign in to each). If you can’t remember your password, you can tap Skip this Step and sign in later. But you won’t be able to use the apps until you sign in with your Apple ID.
f. Stay connected and wait for a progress bar to appear and complete. Depending on the size of the backup and the network speed, you might need a few minutes to an hour to complete the restore process.
Here’s why you Should Choose the iPhone Backup on Your Computer Method
ü Stores backups on your Mac or PC
ü Storage depends on your Mac or PC’s available space
ü Offers encrypted backups (off by default)
ü Lets you create and use backups from your Mac or PC.
How to back up your iPhone on your computer 
1) Connect your device to your computer. On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a Non-Mac PC, open iTunes.
2) If a message asks for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps.
3) Locate your device on your computer.
4) If you want to save Health and Activity data from your device or Apple Watch, you need to encrypt your backup: Select the box called Encrypt [device] backup and create a memorable password. If you don’t need to save your Health and Activity data, you can make a backup that isn’t encrypted. Just click Back Up Now.
Write down your password and store it somewhere safe, because there’s no way to recover your iTunes backups without this password.
To Manage Backups on Your Mac
a. Choose Apple menu
b. Go to System Preferences.
c. Click iCloud.
d. Click Manage.
e. Select Backups.
To find a specific backup on Mac
§ If the Mac is running on macOS Catalina 10.15 or later, open the Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a Non-Mac PC, open iTunes. Click your device.
§ In Finder, under the General tab, click Manage Backups to see a list of your backups. From here, you can right-click on the backup that you want, then choose Show in Finder, or you can select Delete or Archive. In iTunes, choose Preferences, then click Devices. From here, you can right-click on the backup that you want, then choose Show in Finder, or you can select Delete or Archive.
§ Click ok when you’re done.
Restore Your Device from a Backup on Your Computer
a. On a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, open Finder. On a Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or on a PC, open iTunes.
b. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable. If a message asks for your device passcode or to Trust This Computer, follow the onscreen steps.
c. Select your device.
d. Select Restore Backup.
e. Look at the date of each backup and choose the most relevant.
f. Click Restore and wait for the restore time to finish. Provide a password if asked for it.
g. Keep your device connected after it restarts and wait for it to sync with your computer. You can disconnect after the sync finishes.
Online storage services 
Online storage services are applications that run on your iPhone and backup or sync information from your iPhone into the “cloud”, i.e. the cloud storage for the application you are using.
Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive and Dropbox are some of the most used online storage services.
Online storage services are typically less expensive than purchasing storage with iCloud, and if you’re not sure you’ll stick with Apple forever, they give you the freedom to switch to Android and still have access to all your data via your phone. Online storage services are not comprehensive backup solutions though: they typically only backup photos, videos (sometimes) and contacts and don’t back up text messages, voicemail, settings, applications, application data, and other things you only use on your phone.
They can also serve as an alternative backup solution when your computer no longer has enough space for your iTunes backup. Another benefit of online storage services is if you have Internet access you will always be able to access your files, even if you’re not using your own devices.
Backup your iPhone Using iTunes
To backup using iTunes, you need to have a computer (PC or Mac) running iTunes. Then you need to allow your phone to communicate with your computer (Using Wi-Fi or a USB cord).
I. Open iTunes
II. Connect your iPhone to your computer
III. Click File
IV. Select Devices
V. Click Backup or Click “Backup Up Now”
On iTunes, you can backup everything from your iPhone (such as photos, videos, text messages, app data, etc.), from your iPhone to your computer as often as possible. Since iTunes is free, your backup is free.
This backup is initially set to be done manually, though you can set it to be done automatically.
With iTunes, everything on your iPhone can be backed up via iTunes and can be restored using iTunes. With iTunes your iPhone can also easily be backed up to your computer.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
To ensure the most complete backup of your iPhone, follow these steps:
1. Start with real-time backup:
Use the My Photo Stream and iCloud (Free) to keep your phone backed up as you use it.
2. Next is to back up your iPhone to your computer using either or both of the following methods:
a. Use iTunes on your computer and backup your iPhone on a regular basis, the minimum of once a month, but if you take a lot of photos, you should do it more often.
b. Use an online storage application on your iPhone to automatically sync/share/copy your photos and videos to your computer, though these applications will most likely not move your text messages, app data, etc. from your iPhone to your computer. Also, these applications are not free and can be complicated to set up, unlike iTunes that are automatic.
3. Finally, back up your computer to the cloud:
Having done the previous steps, your computer now contains your iPhone data along with all of your other digital files. The next step is to back up your computer to the cloud to protect all of your data.
If you get a new iPhone you can do a restore using iTunes in minutes. If you change to an Android device, your photos and videos can be easily retrieved from your computer. Even if you lose your iPhone and your computer, you still have everything automatically backed up online. With this backup approach, your iPhone will enjoy the highest level of protection.
