Top 2 Ways to Backup iPhone to External SSD on Windows 11/10

Why Do You Backup iPhone to External SSD?

Backing up your iPhone to an external SSD keeps your data safe, allows you to take your backup with you, facilitates easy access and recovery of files, and provides compatibility with multiple devices. You may need to backup iPhone to external SSD in such cases:

Avoid Your PC Filled: iPhone often contains a lot of data (such as photos, videos, files, apps, and more). If your PC doesn’t have enough storage for iPhone backup, you can backup iPhone to external HD/SSD to avoid your PC storage running out.
Free Up iPhone Storage: The iPhone has limited storage capacity, and you will often face storage limitations as you accumulate more data. By transferring your iPhone data to an external SSD, you can effectively free up space on your iPhone to continue taking photos, downloading apps, and storing files without worrying about running out of storage space.

Now you know why you need to back up your iPhone to SSD, so how to backup iPhone to external SSD/HD? There are 3 methods below, and you can choose one of them to make an iPhone backup. Scroll down for more details.

Method 1: Backup iPhone to External SSD via iTunes

iTunes is a widely used method when backing up your iPhone to an external SSD on your Windows 10/11. By performing the following steps, you can ensure that your iPhone data is safely stored on the external SSD for additional protection.

Step 1: Download the latest iTunes > Connect iPhone to your PC with a USB cable and plug external SSD into the computer.

Step 2: Change iTunes backup location to external SSD > Launch iTunes > Click the phone-shape icon in the upper left corner.

Step 3: Choose Summary in the left pane > Click the Back Up Now button to backup your iPhone to an external SSD.

Method 2: Easiest Way to Directly Backup iPhone to External SSD

When iTunes generates an iPhone backup, it saves a folder of over 7GB on the C drive. However, relying on this method alone to back up your iPhone over time is not ideal. To prevent your C drive from being taken up by these backups, the best way to back up your iPhone is to use FoneTool – a free and reliable backup and transfer tool.

With FoneTool, you can free up valuable space on your C drive and ensure that your backups are safely stored on an external storage device. More benefits of using FoneTool to directly backup iPhone to external SSD are listed below:

Direct Backup: FoneTool allows you to back up your iPhone data directly to an external SSD, eliminating the need for intermediate storage on your computer.
Selective Backup: With FoneTool, you are able to selectively backup your iPhone. This allows you to customize the backup process and save storage space on external SSDs.
Encryption and Security: You can protect your backups with a password to add an extra layer of security to your sensitive data by enabling the backup encryption option.
Restore and Transfer: FoneTool allows you to easily backup and restore your iPhone from external hard drive. Also, FoneTool helps you transfer data between iPhones or devices.

Now click the download button to get and install FoneTool on your PC and follow the steps below to backup iPhone to external hard drive Windows.

Step 1: Connect your iPhone and external SSD to your computer using USB cables > Run FoneTool > Choose Phone Backup from the main interface > Choose Selective Backup > Click Get Started.

Step 2: Click each icon to preview and select desired files on your iPhone > Click OK to confirm what you want to back up.

★Tip:

 Alternatively, you can choose the Full Backup option to make a full iPhone backup.

Step 3: Click Backup Storage Path to choose the external SSD as the destination for your iPhone backup > Click Start Backup to initiate the backup process.

FAQs on How to Backup iPhone to External SSD

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about how to backup iPhone to external SSD. Let’s have a look!

1. Which External Drive Should I Use (SSD vs HDD)?

When choosing between an SSD and HDD for your external drive, consider your priorities. SSDs offer faster speeds, enhanced durability, and portability, making them ideal for performance-conscious mobile users. HDDs provide larger storage capacities at a lower cost, making them suitable for budget-conscious individuals with significant storage needs.

2. How Much Storage Space Do I Need on the External SSD for iPhone Backup?

The required storage space on the external SSD depends on the total size of your iPhone data. To get an estimate, you can check the size of your current iPhone backup in iTunes or Finder and ensure that the external SSD has enough space to accommodate it.

3. Can I Access and Restore My iPhone Backup Directly from the External SSD?

Yes! You can find and restore your iPhone backup directly from the external SSD. Connect the SSD to your computer > Open iTunes or Finder > Choose the external SSD as the backup source for restoring your iPhone data.

The Bottom Line

That’s all about how to backup iPhone to external SSD on Windows 11/10. Using iTunes to back up your iPhone is indeed a good way, but you may easily encounter the “iTunes stuck on backup” issue due to a poor network connection. In addition, if you think it is difficult to change the iTunes backup location, you can use FoneTool to directly back up your iPhone to an external SSD. Try it out!