Forum Discussion
The best way to backup iphone other than iCloud with a PC?
iPhone storage is almost full and I don't want to use iCloud. Can anyone suggest a reliable way to back up my iPhone without iCloud. I don't pay for additional iCloud storage, and the internet speed in my area is pretty slow, so cloud backups can take a very long time to complete.
My iPhone has a lot of photos, videos, messages, and app data that I don't want to lose. I have a Windows 10 PC with more than 1TB free space, so a local backup solution would probably work better for me.
What method do you recommend for backing up an iPhone without iCloud? Is iTunes still the best option, or are there other tools that make the process easier and allow selective backup and restore? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
12 Replies
- OtissieriIron Contributor
iTunes on Windows, a better than to backup iphone other than iCloud
- JosephEndIron Contributor
If you are on Windows 10 and only need to back up your photos, the iPhone Sync open-source tool is your best bet. It is obscure, free, and does exactly what you need.
I believe that for users who value privacy, using this as the backup method for iPhone (instead of using iCloud) is the most ideal choice. The reason is that it is open-source. Its code is completely transparent - anyone can view it to confirm that there is no hidden tracking, data collection, or unexpected behavior. This level of trust is something that proprietary paid tools cannot provide. Moreover, since it runs entirely through the command line, it is always free, with no restrictions or daily usage limits.
Step 1: Make sure Python is installed on your Windows computer.
Step 2: Open the Command Prompt or Terminal window on your computer.
Step 3: Enter the following command and press Enter: pip3 install iphone-sync. This will download and install the iPhone Sync software from the Python package repository.
Step 4: Connect your iPhone to your computer using a USB data cable. When prompted on your iPhone, click "Trust this computer" to allow access.
Step 5: Run the iPhone synchronization command to start backing up your photos. The tool will detect the iPhone you are connecting and transfer your photos to your computer.
- EverettiuCopper Contributor
This is the most straightforward free solution: it is only available on Windows 11. If you are running Windows 11, the Apple Devices app is Apple's official replacement for iTunes, and it works perfectly for creating complete local backups of your iPhone.
How to use it if you are finding a best way to backup iPhone other than iCloud:
1. Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows 11 PC and search for "Apple Devices"
2. Install the app
3. Connect your iPhone via USB cable and tap "Trust This Computer" on your iPhone
4. Open the Apple Devices app, select your iPhone from the sidebar
5. Under the Backups section, click "Back Up Now"
What it backs up: This is a best way to backup iPhone other than iCloud. Such as Photos, videos, app data, device settings, messages, call history, and more. If you check "Encrypt local backup," it will also save your Health data, Wi-Fi passwords, and saved passwords.
- XollomIron Contributor
Google Drive is a cloud storage service you can use to backup iphone without icloud on computer, as well as to upload and download photos and videos from your iPhone to your PC.
Instructions: Install the app on your phone, log in to your account, and then upload the photos and videos you want to back up.
On your computer, open the app via a browser or the desktop application, locate the uploaded files, and download them to your local storage. This is a practical way to backup iphone without icloud on computer.
Its advantages include 15GB of free shared storage for basic backups, the ability to access files from any internet-connected device, and automatic photo uploads from an iPhone, eliminating the need for manual synchronization.
Its disadvantages include limited free storage shared with Gmail, the need for a stable internet connection for uploads and downloads, and slow transfer speeds when syncing large numbers of high-resolution photos or videos.
ps
- Ensure a stable internet connection when uploading and downloading files
- Check your remaining storage space before batch uploading
- Organize your files into folders for easier management on your computer
- Messages, apps, and system data cannot be backed up
This allows you to quickly back up your iPhone media files to the cloud and download them to your computer. It’s ideal for both daily photo and video backups and for accessing files across different devices.
- EorkuIron Contributor
Copying messages via email is a simple and straightforward manual method for backup iphone without icloud on computer. It allows you to save specific important conversations to your pc, which is a convenient way to keep only the key chat logs
How to Back Up iPhone Without iCloud on Computer
- Open Messages on your iPhone
- Open the conversation you want to back up
- Press and hold a message, then tap More
- Select the specific messages you want to save
- Tap the Share icon, then select Mail
- Send the selected messages to your own email address
- Open the email on your computer and save the message content to your local hard drive
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for batch backing up messages
- Can only save text messages; cannot save media attachments
- Backing up large conversations takes a long time
- The format is plain text, making it difficult to restore to an iPhone
This method allows you to manually save important iPhone messages to your computer without using iCloud. While it isn’t suitable for a full message backup, it’s perfect for saving a small number of high-priority conversations.
Important Notes
- Export only the message content; do not include attachments such as photos or videos.
- Save the exported messages in a secure folder on your computer to prevent accidental loss.
- This is a one-way export; exported messages cannot be restored directly to your iPhone.
- For long conversations, we recommend exporting only the most important messages to save time.
- LyraBoCopper Contributor
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- YarisyoyoBronze Contributor
LocalSend is an open-source tool that lets you transfer photos, videos, and other files from your iPhone to a Windows computer via Wi-Fi, making it the best way to backup iphone other than icloud.
Usage Guide:
- Download and install the app on your computer and phone. Open the app on both devices and make sure they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Select the files you want to transfer on your phone, then send them to your computer.
Advantages:
- include fast local network transfer speeds without the need for mobile or broadband data, as well as the ability to transfer multiple files simultaneously.
Disadvantages:
- include the requirement that both devices be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, transfer speeds being limited by the router's performance, and occasional pairing issues between devices.
This allows you to transfer large numbers of photos and videos from your iPhone to your computer without using a cable or cloud service.
If you prefer local transfers, best way to backup iphone other than icloud. It’s ideal for transferring media files to free up storage space on your iPhone, as well as for creating local backups when you don’t want to use iCloud.
- JosewSilver Contributor
iTunes is an official tool released by Apple and is the best way to backup iphone other than icloud. It provides unlimited local backup storage for your iPhone. The software only supports full restores and does not support selective file recovery.
Step 1: Install the software on your Windows computer
Step 2: Connect your iPhone using a USB cable
Step 3: Unlock your iPhone and tap Trust This Computer
Step 4: Open the software and click the iPhone icon
Step 5: Go to the Backup section and select This Computer
Step 6: Check Encrypt local backup to save passwords and health data
Step 7: Click Back Up Now and wait 10–30 minutes, depending on the amount of data
Finally, to restore, simply click Restore Backup
I think this is probably the best way to backup iphone other than icloud; it’s a reliable offline solution that allows for complete local backups and restores.
Pros
- Unlimited local backup storage
- Official tool with high data security
- Supports encrypted backups to protect private data
Cons
- Supports only full restores; cannot selectively restore individual files
- Requires a USB connection
- The backup and restore process takes some time
- KylewsCopper Contributor
When people ask me for the best way to backup iPhone other than iCloud on a Windows PC, most assume they need complicated software or paid subscriptions. But the truth is, the most reliable method is already sitting right there on your computer: File Explorer.
Using File Explorer to back up your iPhone is straightforward. Here is exactly what you need to do:
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC using a USB cable that supports data transfer. A poor-quality charging cable will often fail here, so use the cable that came with your phone or a known reliable one.
Step 2: Unlock your iPhone. When the "Trust This Computer?" prompt appears on your phone screen, tap Trust or Allow. This is essential—without tapping Trust, your PC cannot see your iPhone's files. You may also need to enter your iPhone passcode to confirm.
Step 3: On your PC, open File Explorer. You can do this by pressing Windows key + E on your keyboard or by clicking the folder icon in your taskbar.
Step 4: In the left sidebar of File Explorer, locate and click on This PC. Under the "Devices and drives" section, you should see your iPhone listed with its name. Double-click it to open it.
Step 5: Double-click on Internal Storage, then double-click on the DCIM folder. DCIM stands for "Digital Camera Images," and this is where your iPhone stores every photo and video you have ever taken with the Camera app. Inside DCIM, you will see folders named things. Each folder contains a batch of your media files.
Step 6: Select the folders or individual files you want to back up. To select everything at once, press Ctrl + A on your keyboard. Then right-click and choose Copy, or simply press Ctrl + C.
Step 7: Navigate to the location on your PC where you want to store the backup. This could be your Desktop, your Documents folder, or an external hard drive. Right-click in an empty space inside that folder and select Paste, or press Ctrl + V. The files will begin copying over.
Step 8: As the best way to backup iPhone other than iCloud. Once the transfer is complete, open a few of the photos or videos on your PC to verify they copied correctly before disconnecting your iPhone. This verification step protects you from discovering later that a file was corrupted during transfer.
- LyraBoCopper Contributor
You can