ThisCalculator

Everyday

Backup iPhone iTunes First Time: Full Guide

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

Backup iPhone iTunes First Time: Full Guide

To back up your iPhone with iTunes for the first time, connect the phone to your computer, open iTunes (or Finder on macOS Catalina and later), select your device, and click “Back Up Now.” This creates a full copy of your iPhone’s data on your computer, which you can use to restore the phone later. Below is everything you need to know about doing this correctly, avoiding common mistakes, and understanding what the backup actually contains.

What an iTunes Backup Includes

An iTunes (or Finder) backup stores almost everything on your iPhone, but not every single item. Knowing what is saved helps you decide if this method is right for you.

  • Included: Photos and videos, contacts, calendars, notes, text messages (iMessage and SMS), call history, app data, device settings, Home screen layout, ringtones, and Health data (if encrypted).
  • Not included: Content already synced from your computer (like music, movies, or books you imported via iTunes), Face ID/Touch ID settings, Apple Pay cards, and data stored in iCloud (like iCloud Photos or iCloud Drive).

If you want to back up your Health and Activity data, you must check the “Encrypt local backup” box and set a password. Without encryption, that sensitive health information is omitted.

Why Back Up to a Computer Instead of iCloud?

Many people wonder whether they should use iCloud or a computer. Both work, but they serve different purposes.

  • iCloud Backup: Automatic, wireless, and requires an iCloud account with enough storage (5 GB free, paid plans for more). It does not back up to a hard drive you control.
  • iTunes/Finder Backup: Manual or scheduled, stored on your computer’s hard drive. It is free (no iCloud storage needed), gives you a physical copy you can move or archive, and is often faster when restoring a large device.

Many people use both: iCloud for automatic daily backups, and a computer backup before major iOS updates or when they plan to sell or trade in their phone.

How to Back Up Your iPhone with iTunes (Step by Step)

Follow these steps on a Windows PC or Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier (which uses iTunes). For macOS Catalina and later, the steps are nearly identical but use Finder instead of iTunes.

  1. Update your software: Make sure your computer has the latest version of iTunes (or macOS) and that your iPhone is running a recent iOS version.
  2. Connect your iPhone: Use the USB cable that came with your phone (or a certified third-party cable) to connect it to your computer. If prompted on the phone, tap “Trust This Computer” and enter your passcode.
  3. Open iTunes or Finder: On Windows, open iTunes. On macOS Catalina or later, open Finder. If iTunes is already open, you may see a notification about a new device.
  4. Select your device: In iTunes, click the phone icon in the upper-left corner. In Finder, your iPhone appears under “Locations” in the sidebar.
  5. Choose backup options: Under “Backups,” you can select “This computer” and optionally check “Encrypt local backup” to protect your data with a password.
  6. Start the backup: Click “Back Up Now.” The progress bar appears at the top of the window. Do not disconnect the phone until the backup finishes.
  7. Verify success: After it completes, go to iTunes Preferences (or Finder settings) > Devices. You should see your device name with a date and time for the backup.

Encrypted vs. Unencrypted Backups

When you first back up, iTunes asks whether you want to encrypt the backup. This is an important decision.

Encrypted backup: Requires a password. It saves all the same data as an unencrypted backup, plus your saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, Health data, and website autofill information. If you forget the password, you cannot restore that backup, and there is no way to reset it.

Unencrypted backup: Faster and no password needed, but it omits sensitive data like Health records and saved passwords. It is fine for most photos, messages, and settings, but not for a full restore.

For a first-time backup, most people choose encrypted because it is the most complete. Just write down the password somewhere safe.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

First-time backups can hit snags. Here are the most frequent issues and their solutions.

  • iPhone not recognized: Try a different USB port, restart your computer and phone, or update your iTunes/drivers. On Windows, install the latest Apple Mobile Device USB driver.
  • Backup stuck or very slow: Close other programs that use the USB port, disable antivirus temporarily (if safe), or use a different cable. Backing up a large photo library can take a long time.
  • Not enough disk space: A backup can be 10–50 GB depending on your phone’s storage. Check your computer’s free space before starting. You can delete old backups or move them to an external drive.
  • “Trust This Computer” not appearing: Unplug the phone, restart it, and reconnect. Make sure the cable is not damaged.
  • iTunes asks to update iOS: You can update or skip, but it is often better to update before backing up to avoid compatibility issues.

If the backup fails repeatedly, try using a different computer or use iCloud as a temporary alternative.

How to Restore from an iTunes Backup

Knowing how to restore is just as important as backing up. If you ever need to restore your iPhone from your first backup, here is what to do.

  1. Connect your iPhone to the computer that has the backup.
  2. Open iTunes or Finder and select your device.
  3. Click “Restore Backup…” in the Summary tab.
  4. Choose the backup you want (it will show the date and time) and click “Restore.”
  5. If the backup is encrypted, enter the password when prompted.
  6. Keep the phone connected until it restarts and you see the lock screen.

Restoring overwrites all current data on the phone, so only do this if you are sure you want to go back to that backup’s state.

Managing Old Backups

Over time, you will accumulate multiple backups, and they take up space. You can delete old ones to free up disk space.

  • On macOS Catalina or later: Go to Finder > Preferences > General, and under “Device Backups” you can see all backups and delete them.
  • On Windows or older macOS: Go to iTunes > Preferences > Devices. Right-click on a backup to delete it.

Keep at least one recent backup, but you can safely remove backups that are months old if you no longer need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the first iTunes backup take? It depends on how much data you have. A phone with 64 GB of photos and videos can take 30 minutes to several hours over USB. Subsequent backups are faster because they only copy changes.

Can I use iTunes backup on a new iPhone? Yes. When setting up a new iPhone, choose “Restore from Mac or PC” and connect it to the computer with the backup. You can also use this method to transfer data to a replacement phone.

What if I forgot my encrypted backup password? There is no way to recover it. You will have to erase the phone and set it up as new, or use an older unencrypted backup if you have one. This is why it is critical to store the password in a secure place.

Does iTunes backup include my passwords? Only if you enable encryption. Unencrypted backups do not include saved passwords, Wi-Fi credentials, or Health data.

Can I back up wirelessly with iTunes? Yes, if you enable “Sync with this iPhone over Wi-Fi” in the device settings. After that, the phone can back up to the computer when both are on the same Wi-Fi network and the phone is charging.

Does an iTunes backup include my Apple Music or iCloud Photos? No. Music purchased from iTunes is not included unless you have downloaded it to the phone. iCloud Photos are stored in the cloud, not in the backup. You can re-download them after restoring.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.