Setting up and restoring

Backing up is secure and pain-free, so there’s no excuse for lost data

Backing up your iOS device to iCloud not only keeps your data safe, but also lets you transfer it quickly and easily to a new device. iOS backs up your data whenever your device is plugged in, locked and connected to Wi-Fi, so you can literally set it up and forget about it until you need to restore your files.

Turn on iCloud Backup in Settings > iCloud > Backup. When your device is next connected to a power supply it will back up, but you can tap Back Up Now to force it to do so right away.

iCloud backs up your purchase history from all of Apple’s download stores (you can redownload the purchases on demand), device settings, app data, the layout of your Home screens, messages (iMessage, SMS and MMS), ringtones, health data, HomeKit configuration and, if your mobile network supports it, your Visual Voicemail.

Things like email, contacts and calendars, which are already stored online by iCloud features, are omitted. They are restored simply by turning on the relevant switches in Settings > iCloud. Data from third-party cloud services is also excluded. Your photos and videos are backed up only if you haven’t turned on iCloud Photo Library (see page 32); otherwise, they are treated like the other things just mentioned.

The things included in backups eat into your available storage. That’s just 5GB on iCloud’s free

iOS backs up your data whenever your device is plugged in, locked and connected to Wi-Fi

plan, so you may need to upgrade to a paid plan in Settings > iCloud > Storage, or exclude apps by tapping Manage Storage, the device you’re using, and turn off the switches for apps whose data you don’t want to back up from that device.