How to Backup iPhone to Computer Without iTunes: 3 Ways

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 September 11, 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 without iCloud?

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.

Method 1. Best free software to backup iPhone to computer without iTunes/iCloud

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? That's professional AOMEI FoneBackup!

🌟 Advantages:
· Flexible backup methods allow you to selectively or fully back up iPhone as you like.
· AOMEI FoneBackup supports all iPhone models, including iPhone 16.
·​​​​​​​ Fast backup speed will save a lot of your time.
·​​​​​​​ You can easily restore the backup to any iOS device even if they are using different Apple IDs.

Now you can download this software, we will guide you on how to use AOMEI FoneBackup to selectively backup iPhone in Part 1 and fully back up iPhone in Part 2.

Download Freeware Win 11/10/8.1/8/7
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Part 1. How to backup iPhone to Windows PC 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 they will not erase any existing data on device during the restore.

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

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

start to selectively back up

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

back up iPhone photos

Step 3. Specify the storage path from the Backup Storage Path option > Click Start Backup.

selective backup

enlightened Tip:
  • Your backups created by AOMEI FoneBackup can be easily viewed and managed. You can go to the My Backups page to check your backup tasks.

Part 2. Backup iPhone 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.

start to fully back up

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

fully back up iPhone

Method 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 back up 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.

back up iPhone with Finder

Your backup still cannot be viewed and restoring iPhone with Finder will erase iPhone first. Nothing has been changed except for where to make the backup. 

Method 3. How to backup iPhone without iTunes using 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 iCloud Backup and turn on it.

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.

back up iPhone to 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.

enlightened Tip:
  • You can also use AOMEI FoneBackup's iCloud manager feature to help you efficiently manage iCloud storage from PC (My iCloud > Manage iCloud).

manage iCloud

Conclusion

That's all about how to backup iPhone without iTunes on Windows 11/10/8/7 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 AOMEI FoneBackup. It provides multiple backup methods to meet your different backup needs You can make an easy iPhone backup with it.

Lena
Lena · Editor
Lena is an editor of Aomei, with years of experience in the field of mobile data backup and transfer, possessing rich expertise in solving iOS-related issues. She loves traveling, eating, reading and so on. She takes most of her time with her family when she is not working.