How to Backup Phone to Computer on Win/Mac: 100% Useful

This guide will show you how to backup Android and iPhone to computer. You can easily finish the process whether you are using a Windows PC or a Mac.

By @Lena Last Updated October 22, 2024

How to make iPhone backup without iTunes.

I want to save my media files and contacts from my iPhone to computer, but iTunes does not support partial backup, so is there anyone could tell me how to backup iPhone to PC without iTunes? Can I backup my iPhone to my computer wirelessly?

- Question from an iPhone User

Mobile phone could carry a lot of important data from you. Losing some photos/videos or unexpectedly deleting contacts would surprise you. You should take precautions for that bad situation, especially when you are going to upgrade your AndoridOS/iOS system or jailbreak your phone. It's necessary to back up your device in case of data loss.

Can you easily & manually backup iPhone to computer? The answer is Yes! Keep reading to learn more, whether you're using an iPhone or Android.

1. How to backup iPhone to PC without iTunes - Safe & Fast

If you use iTunes, it would not tell you what would be saved to computer because you would just find a button “Back Up Now” in iTunes. You can only rely on some iPhone backup extractors to read details in the backup.

If you want to backup iPhone to computer without iTunes or iCloud, you could try the professional AOMEI FoneBackup.

AOMEI FoneBackup
Professional iPhone Backup Software
  • Developed by a team that has focused on data security for 15+ years.
  • Fully/selectively back up iPhone data as you like.
  • Easily back up GBs of iPhone data within minutes.
  • Safely restore iPhone from the backup without deleting files.
  • Supports all iPhone models from iPhone 4 to the latest iPhone 16.

Option 1. Fully backup iPhone to computer without iTunes free

AOMEI FoneBackup can help you make a full backup of your iPhone. It will back up all iPhone content and settings including photos, videos, contacts, call history, text messages, memos, calendars, etc. 

1. Launch AOMEI FoneBackup > Connect your iPhone to computer via a USB cable.

2. Click Phone Backup > Go to Full Backup and click Get Started.

3. Enable backup encryption to backup private data > Select a path to save the backup and click Start Backup

When you want to restore the backup, please go to My Backups > click the three-dots icon > click Restore to make it. The backup can be restored to any other device. 

Option 2. How to make selective iPhone backup without iTunes

AOMEI FoneBackup also supports selectively back up photos, videos, music, contacts, messages and WhatsApp. You can preview and choose the data you want to backup/restore instead of all of them. It will not erase any existing data during the restoration.

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1. Open AOMEI FoneBackup > Plug in your iPhone.

2. Click Phone Backup and go to Selective Backup

πŸ’‘ Tip: You can go to WhatsApp Manager to backup WhatsApp photos and videos on iPhone to PC.

3. Click the icon of Photos, Videos, Music, Contacts, or Messages to view and choose the data you want to backup. 

4. Click Start Backup and you would find everything you have selected would be backed up to computer in seconds.

Once the backup process is finished, you can go to My Backups to easily manage your backups.

🌟How to transfer files from iPhone to PC without iTunes and iCloud?

Aomei FoneBackup also offers a Phone Transfer feature to help you to transfer files from iPhone to PC and vice versa, including photos, videos, music, ringtones and contacts.

2. How to back up Android Phone to PC

The primary method for transferring files from an Android to a PC involves using a USB connection. The same cable used for charging can establish a link with the PC for initiating a backup. Follow these steps:

  1. Connect your phone to the PC using the USB cable.

  2. On your phone's notification panel, tap the "Charging This Device via USB" notification.

  3. Choose "Transfer Files" or "File Transfer" from the "Use USB To" pop-up message.

  4. Click the PC notification to receive a pop-up message.

  5. Select "Open Device To View Files" from the pop-up message.

  6. Browse your Android phone data and copy-paste the required files to PC storage.

3. How to backup iPhone to Mac without iTunes

iTunes is no longer available with macOS Catalina and Finder replaces it for device backups. If you use a Mac running macOS Catalina and wish to back up your iPhone to the computer, Finder is the solution to backup iPhone without iTunes.

Despite being able to view or access the backup contents, they are typically stored in an unreadable format. The only official method to extract files from the backup is by restoring an iPhone from it.

Now just follow the instructions below to learn how to back up iPhone to Mac without iTunes.

Step 1. Connect your iOS device to the computer and open Finder.

Step 2. Unlock your phone and trust the computer. If necessary, enter your iPhone password to proceed.

Step 3. Click [your iPhone's name] under Locations.

Step 4. Click Back Up Now to initiate the iPhone backup to the computer without iTunes.

If necessary, you can locate your iPhone backup by navigating to Finder > [your device] > General > Manage Backups. Subsequently, right-clicking on the backup allows you to choose Show in Finder.

It's important to note that any attempt to edit, relocate, rename, or extract content from the backup may result in file corruption.

4. How to backup Android phone to Mac

Follow the guidance below to backup your Android device:

Step 1. Install Android File Transfer on your Mac, launch it, and connect your phone via USB.

Step 2. On your Android, select "Transfer Files" from the USB options.

Step 3. The app will open on your Mac, allowing you to drag and drop files for backup.

Please note that contacts, text messages, and specific items are not included in this backup method.

Bonus: How to backup iPhone without a computer

For people who want to know: "Can I backup my iPhone to my computer wirelessly?" The answer is Yes! iCloud provides the option to back up your iPhone wirelessly without using a computer. An iCloud backup encompasses nearly all your device's data and settings, including Line chats or WhatsApp messages. However, accessing the iCloud backup requires restoring an iPhone, iPad, or iPod with it.

Before initiating the process, ensure you have sufficient iCloud storage for your iPhone data and connect to a stable network. Follow the steps below to back up your iPhone using iCloud.

To perform an iPhone backup without iTunes:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.

Step 2. Navigate to Settings > iCloud > Backup.

Step 3. Enable iCloud Backup.

Step 4. Ensure a Wi-Fi connection and choose Back Up Now.

Step 5. Confirm the backup by navigating to Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage.

Once the process is finished, you can restore iPhone from iCloud Backup.

Conclusion

If you want to back up your mobile phone to computer, this full guide will help you a lot. Then you can easily backup your iPhone or Android phone whether you are using a Windows PC or a Mac. If there isn't a computer at your hand, you can also use iCloud to back up your iPhone efficiently!

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