How to back up your iPhone 13

Backing up your iPhone data should be a top priority when you buy a new iPhone device and this is true for the iPhone 13 devices too. In this guide, you will learn how to back up your iPhone 13 using iCloud, the Finder app, or using iTunes on older Macs or windows.

Read also: How to screen record on iPhone 13

Back up iPhone 13 using iCloud

iCloud has been in Apple's devices for many generations now, allowing owners to save some of their most important files into their iCloud accounts so they don't lose those files if their devices are stolen or damaged.

When buying a new model, you can also transfer files between devices by using the Cloud. With iCloud, you can keep all your photos and files available on all your Apple devices, including your iPad and other Apple products.

1. Navigate to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
2. Then turn on iCloud Backup.
   When your iPhone is connected to power, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi, iCloud automatically backs up your phone every day.
3. Then turn on iCloud Backup. Tap Back Up Now to perform a manual backup.

Note: On 5G-enabled iPhones, your carrier may provide you with the option to use your cell network for backing up files. 

You can turn on or off Backup Over Cellular by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

You can view your iCloud backups by going to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Choose a backup from the list, then tap Delete Backup.

When you enable an iCloud feature (such as iCloud Photos or Contacts) in Settings > [your name] > iCloud, its information will be stored in iCloud. As this information is automatically updated across all your devices, it is not part of your iCloud backup. 

Here's what iCloud Backup includes

iCloud backups include the following iPhone data and settings information:

• Application data
• Backups for Apple Watch
• The settings of your device
• Organization of applications and the home screen
• iMessage, text (SMS), and MMS messages2
• Videos and photos on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch2
• History of purchases from Apple services, such as music, movies, TV shows, apps, and books
• Ringtones 
• Visual Voicemail password (requires the SIM card used during backup)

Back up iPhone 13 using your Mac computer

1. Connect your iPhone and computer with a cable.
2. Select your iPhone from the Finder sidebar on your Mac. MacOS 10.15 or later is required in order to use the Finder to back up iPhones. Earlier versions of macOS require iTunes to back up iPhones.
3. Click General at the top of the Finder window.
4. To back up all your iPhone data to this Mac, select “Back up all data.”
5. Select “Encrypt local backup” if you want your backup files to be protected.
6. Then click Back Up Now.

If Wi-Fi syncing is enabled on your iPhone, it can also be connected wirelessly to your computer.

Back up iPhone 13 using your Windows PC

1. Connect your iPhone 13 and computer with a cable.
2. On your PC, click the iPhone button near the top left of the iTunes window.
3. Click on the summary.
4. Click the Back Up Now button (below Backups).
5. You can encrypt your backups by selecting “Encrypt local backup,” entering a password, and clicking Set Password.

Choose Edit > Preferences, then click Devices to view the backups stored on your computer. Backups that are encrypted have a lock icon in the backup list.

It is also possible to sync an iPhone wirelessly with a computer if Wi-Fi sync is set up.

Backing Up to MacOS Mojave 10.14 or Earlier

iTunes is not yet dead. You can still use the service on older OS versions, so you can back up everything there. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Open iTunes and click the Device button at the top left of the iTunes window once your phone is plugged into your Mac.
2. Below your iPhone, click Summary.
3. Under Backups, click Back Up Now. This creates a backup of everything on your iPhone, including all your app data so you don't have to log in to all your accounts again. It also saves your home screen arrangement so that you don't have to drag icons around again.
4. You don't need to log into all of your accounts since the backup creates a copy of everything on your iPhone.Set Password when you want to encrypt your backups. Click on Encrypt iPhone backup and type a password, then click Set Password.

How to fix the “not enough iCloud storage” error when backing up your iPhone

If there is not enough iCloud storage available to complete your iPhone 13 backup, you have two options:

• Change what gets backed up to iCloud to reduce the backup size.
• Buy more iCloud storage.

Change what gets backed up to iCloud

Below Next Backup Size, you will find a list that allows you to select which data to back up. Below each app is the amount of data that they will need to be backed up. The data taken up by each app is in descending order.

You can uncheck larger data items from the list if you don't care whether they're backed up so that you end up with a smaller backup size.

Purchase more iCloud storage

You can increase your iCloud storage from 5GB to 50GB by paying Apple 99 cents a month. If you still need more storage, there are iCloud tiers that go as high as 2TB.

Many people don't like the idea of having to spend more money on Apple products, accessories, and AppleCare. 

However, you would still probably agree if someone offered you just $12 to download your lost phone's backup if you lost your iPhone, then got a new one as a replacement, and then restored backup data from your old phone. This is exactly the appeal of iCloud storage.