Forum Discussion
How to backup iphone to mac without icloud preferably external hard drive?
To perform a complete and secure backup of your iPhone to your Mac, utilising Finder's native backup feature is the most stable, free, and risk-free official solution. Requiring no third-party software, it supports full data backups with encryption protection, making it an essential step before changing devices or upgrading your system.
How to back up your iPhone to your Mac
- Connect your iPhone to your Mac using an Apple original or MFi-certified cable.
When the Trust This Computer prompt appears on your iPhone, tap Trust and enter your password. Likewise, when a similar prompt appears on your Mac, click Trust.
Open Finder and select your iPhone under ‘Locations’ in the left pane.
Navigate to the ‘General’ page and tick the box for ‘Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac’.
Click Back Up Now to initiate the backup and await completion of the progress bar.
Upon completion, verify the ‘Latest Backup’ timestamp on the same page to confirm successful backup.
Backup files are stored by default on your Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/.
Important Notes:
Before backing up, please use an official data cable, keep your iPhone unlocked, set an easy to remember encryption password, and ensure your Mac has sufficient storage space.
Finder backup is the most reliable and comprehensive official method for backing up your iPhone to a Mac. It offers straightforward operation and high security, suitable for all users prior to system upgrades, device replacement, or resets. By following the steps to connect, trust, back up, and verify, you can fully preserve all iPhone data and prevent accidental loss. Mastering how to backup iPhone to Mac effectively safeguards against data loss and is an essential foundational skill for every iPhone user.