Back up your (ios) devices
Because you can be sure a file is there when it’s also somewhere else
ONE OF ICLOUD’S best features is one of the simplest to use. On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open Settings, tap your name, tap iCloud and scroll down to iCloud Backup. Tap this, then turn on the switch. Bingo! Once a day, when your device is connected to Wi–Fi and not too busy, it’ll back itself up to iCloud. When you replace it (whether to upgrade or because it got lost or broken), opt to Restore from iCloud Backup and it all magically returns.
It’s even cleverer than that, because the backup only copies data that Apple doesn’t already have. Your apps and iTunes Store purchases are omitted, then re-downloaded from Apple’s services. Data that’s already synced to iCloud (see page 24) is omitted from backups, as are photos in iCloud Photos and music in iCloud Music Library. But they’re all seamlessly fetched from their various repositories when you restore. Essentials arrive first, so you can use your device while content materializes.
SAVE ME
Although backups are minimized, they can still mount up, especially if you have several devices on one Apple ID. At the top of the iCloud settings screen, you can see how much — tap Manage Storage, then Backups, to list backups and delete any you no longer need. On the iCloud Backup screen, you can see when this device was last backed up, or tap Back Up Now.
Alternatively, you can back up devices to your Mac via the iTunes app (or, starting with macOS 10.15 Catalina, in the Finder). The differences are explained at bit.ly/ mfbupios. But unless you’ve limited access to broadband, iCloud Backup is easier and more foolproof.