How to Backup iPhone to Win PC/Mac/iCloud without iTunes

iTunes is not the best convenient software on Windows and it is even dead on Mac. You would know how to backup iPhone without iTunes to save your important data in this guide.

Lena

By Lena / Updated on March 8, 2024

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How to backup iPhone without iTunes

My iPhone needed to be backed up, but I can't find iTunes on my Mac now, so how can I backup everything on my iPhone now?

- Question from iPhone user

Can You Backup iPhone to computer/iCloud without iTunes?

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 Windows PC without iTunes

The disadvantage of iCloud and iTunes is very obvious you can only backup iPhone in their way. How can you backup iPhone to Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 PC 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 15/14/13/12/11/SE 2022) and iPad 10/Air 4, iPad Pro 2022/2021, iPad mini 8.

Now you can download this software, we will guide you on how to fully and selectively backup iPhone with FoneTool

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7
Secure Download

Part 1. How to Backup iPhone without iTunes on PC - Selective Backup

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

Here is an example of how to backup iPhone on Windows 10, 11, 8, 7 without iTunes.

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

Custom Backup

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

Select iPhone Data

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

Start Backup iPhone

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

Backup Management

Part 2. 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.

Full Backup

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

Start Backup

Part 2. How to Backup iPhone to Mac without iTunes

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.

Steps 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.

Finder Backup iPhone On Mac OS Catalina

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.

Steps 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.

Turn on iCloud Backup

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.