Not everyone who owns an iPhone or iPad has a Mac, which is why Apple made its mobile devices compatible with Windows PCs, too. Using USB, you can you can connect an ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to a Windows PC to set up the device, charge its battery, share its internet connection, transfer files, and sync content. This article shows you how to back up your iOS device on a Windows PC.

windows icloud hero pc iphone

Make Sure You Have the Correct USB Cable

As long as your PC has a USB port and is running Windows 7 or later, you can back up your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to it. However, you'll need to make sure that you have a USB cable that terminates in the correct way to fit your PC's USB port.

If your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ came with a Lightning to USB Cable and your computer has a USB-C port, you'll need to connect the USB end of the cable to a USB-C to USB Adapter (sold separately), or use a USB-C to Lightning Cable (sold separately).

Apple Prefer Lightning Over USB C Feature
If your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ came with a USB-C to Lightning Cable and your computer has a USB port, you'll need to use a Lightning to USB Cable (sold separately).

If your ‌iPad‌ came with a USB-C Charge Cable and your computer has a USB port, use a USB-C to USB Adapter and a USB-A cable.

How to Back Up iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC

  1. On your computer, go to the Microsoft Store to download and install the latest version of iTunes for Windows.
  2. Connect your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to your computer using a compatible USB charging cable (see above).
  3. Launch the iTunes app on your PC.
    itunes windows
  4. Click the iPhone button near the top-left of the iTunes window.
  5. Click Summary in the sidebar.
  6. Below "Backups," click Back Up Now.
  7. To encrypt your backup, select Encrypt local backup, type a password, then click Set Password.
    encryptedbackup

If you want to see the backups stored on your computer, choose Edit -> Preferences, then click Devices. Encrypted backups have a lock icon in the list of backups.

Related Stories

How to Factory Reset HomePod Mini

Thursday May 20, 2021 4:09 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

If you're having trouble with your HomePod mini, need to send it in for servicing, or want sell it or give it away, you'll want to return it to factory settings first. Keep reading to learn how. There are three simple ways to reset a HomePod mini. The first can be done via the Home app on iPhone or iPad, the second uses the physical controls on the speaker, and the third involves a computer. ...

How to Back Up Your iPhone Photos

Wednesday May 12, 2021 9:26 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Backing up the photos you take on your iPhone might not sound like a thrilling prospect, but it's far from a thankless task. On the contrary, it's a crucial step in ensuring that your most precious pictures are never lost. Plus, once you have a system for backing up your photos in place, you can get on with enjoying taking pictures with your smartphone in the confidence that they're safe. You...

How to Wirelessly Sync Your iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC

Thursday April 8, 2021 4:26 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

When you connect your iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC, you'll be able to sync to it albums, songs, playlists, movies, TV shows, podcasts, books, audiobooks, photos and videos, contacts and calendars. This article shows you how. You can sync your iPhone or iPad to a Windows PC by physically connecting them, but did you know that you can sync your Apple device by having them connected over same ...

How to Uninstall iPhone and iPad Apps on an M1 Mac

If you own a Mac powered by Apple silicon, you can download and install iOS and iPadOS apps from the Mac App Store in macOS Big Sur. But how do you uninstall them? Keep reading to learn how. Apple's M1 Macs, which are the first to be powered by an Apple-designed Arm-based chip, are able to run iOS and iPadOS apps because of the common architecture between the different operating systems....

How to Clear Cookies in Firefox on Mac and iOS

Monday April 19, 2021 11:24 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Whenever you browse the web in Firefox, the browser stores website data including cookies so that it doesn't have to do so again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. There are a couple of...

How to Erase an M1 Mac

Tuesday March 2, 2021 11:25 am PST by Tim Hardwick

This article explains how to erase (or format) the built-in startup disk of a Mac with Apple silicon. Note that erasing your Mac permanently deletes all files on it, so follow the backup advice carefully. If you plan to give away, sell, or trade in a Mac, erasing your Mac should be the final step. First, Back Up Your Data Before you do anything, you should back up the files on your Mac. You ...

iOS 14.5: How to Use AirPlay 2 With Apple Fitness+

Tuesday April 27, 2021 12:52 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the release of watchOS 7.4 and iOS 14.5, Apple has added AirPlay 2 support to the Apple Fitness+ app. That means Apple Fitness+ workouts can be streamed to ‌AirPlay‌ 2-compatible television sets from an iPhone or iPad, allowing workouts to be viewed on a larger screen without requiring an Apple TV. AirPlay 2-enabled TVs are available from a variety of brands, including Samsung,...

How to Check Your Mac's Warranty and AppleCare+ Status

In macOS Big Sur 11.3 and later, it's easy to find up-to-date information about your Mac's warranty or AppleCare plan. You can check whether your device is covered and see what kinds of repair and support are included with your cover. You can also find your agreement number, proof of purchase and expiry date. To get information on your Mac's warranty status and/or AppleCare+ plan, first...

Popular Stories

Apple Will Finally Kill the Notch With the iPhone 14 Pro

Apple will finally begin removing the notch from the iPhone starting in 2022 with the iPhone 14 Pro, according to recent reports. Last week, Korean website The Elec reported that the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature a hole-punch display design, much like those seen on some high-end Android devices, instead of the notch. The notch, which Apple calls...

iPhone 14 Pro Models Rumored to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera and 8GB of RAM

Monday December 13, 2021 6:28 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

As previously rumored, Apple is planning to release four iPhone 14 models in September 2022, including a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, according to analyst Jeff Pu. In a research note with Haitong International Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said the two Pro models will be equipped with a triple-lens rear camera...

Apple Releases macOS Monterey 12.1 With SharePlay

Monday December 13, 2021 10:10 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today released macOS Monterey 12.1, the first major update to the macOS Monterey update that initially launched in October. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The ‌‌macOS Monterey‌ update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences. Apple has also released a macOS Big Sur 11.6.2 update for those still...

Apple Releases tvOS 15.2 for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K

Monday December 13, 2021 9:45 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today released tvOS 15.2, the second major update to the tvOS operating system that first launched in September 2021. tvOS 15.2 comes more than a month after the launch of tvOS 15.1, an update that introduced SharePlay support. tvOS 15.2 can be downloaded over the air on the Apple TV through the Settings app by going to System > Software Update. ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ owners...

How the iPhone 14 Pro's Upgraded 48-Megapixel Camera is Expected to Work

Tuesday December 14, 2021 8:00 am PST by Joe Rossignol

It has once again been rumored that next year's iPhone 14 Pro models will feature an upgraded 48-megapixel primary camera (the "Wide" lens), compared to a 12-megapixel Wide lens on iPhone 13 Pro models, but it is not as simple as it might sound. In a research note earlier this year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPhone 14 Pro models may support both 48-megapixel and 12-megapixel output, which...

Apple Releases 'Tracker Detect' App to Prevent Android Users From Being Tracked by AirTags

Monday December 13, 2021 10:44 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today released a new "Tracker Detect" app on the Google Play Store, with the app designed to allow Android users to locate AirTags that might be nearby. According to the app's description, Tracker Detect looks for item trackers that are separated from their owner and that are compatible with the Find My Network, so it will locate AirTags and other Find My-enabled devices like the...

No Foldable iPhone Expected Until 2023 at the Earliest, But 2024 More Likely

Monday December 13, 2021 12:13 pm PST by Juli Clover

Apple is not expected to introduce a foldable iPhone until 2023 at the earliest, with 2024 being the more likely target date, according to display analyst Ross Young. Rumors about a foldable iPhone have died down in recent months, but there continues to be evidence that Apple is at least working on prototypes of foldable devices. In September 2020, it was suggested that Samsung had provided f...