Yes, there are a few different ways to backup the music on your iPhone. Having a backup of your iPhone music library is important in case you ever lose or damage your device and need to restore your music collection.
Using iCloud
The easiest way to backup your iPhone music is to use iCloud. iCloud is Apple’s cloud storage service that comes integrated with every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Here’s how to use iCloud to backup your music:
- Make sure you’re signed in to the same iCloud account on your iPhone and any other Apple devices you use.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
- Under Apps Using iCloud, turn on the switch for Music.
This will automatically sync your iPhone music library with iCloud so it stays up to date across your devices. Any new music you add on your iPhone will also be copied to iCloud and to your other devices. Just make sure you have enough iCloud storage space to fit your entire music library.
Using iTunes
You can also backup your iPhone music using iTunes on your computer. Here’s how:
- Connect your iPhone to your computer using the included USB cable.
- Open iTunes on your computer. Your iPhone should appear in the top left under Devices.
- In iTunes, click on your iPhone, then go to the Music section in the sidebar.
- Make sure the Sync Music checkbox is checked. This will sync your entire music library between your computer and iPhone.
- Click Apply to start the sync. Any music on your iPhone will be copied to iTunes on your computer.
This process creates a backup of your music on your computer that you can restore from later. You’ll need to repeat the sync process occasionally to keep the backup up to date.
Using third-party apps
There are also third-party iOS apps you can use to backup your iPhone music library:
- iMazing: Provides advanced iPhone and iPad management features including full backups of your media.
- CopyTrans Manager: Specializes in media management including music and has robust backup tools.
- iExplorer: Offers computer access to files, media, and data on your iPhone with export tools.
These apps typically provide more control over backing up your music library than iCloud or iTunes. Many also let you export or save music files individually off your iPhone to your computer.
What gets backed up
When you backup your iPhone music using any of these methods, it includes:
- All songs purchased or downloaded on the iPhone
- Playlists created on the iPhone
- Album artwork synced to the device
- Music app settings and preferences
It does not typically include:
- Music only stored on an external SD card
- DRM-protected music files
- Music from streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify
So the backup includes your personal music library stored locally on the device, but not music from streaming subscriptions or external storage.
Where is the backup stored?
Where your iPhone music backup is saved depends on the method:
| Backup Method | Backup Location |
|---|---|
| iCloud | iCloud servers (remote storage) |
| iTunes | Your computer |
| Third-party apps | Your computer or cloud storage connected to the app |
So iCloud saves your backup remotely while iTunes and other apps store it locally on your computer or connected cloud services.
How to restore backed up music
If you get a new iPhone or need to restore your music for any reason, here’s how to get your music library back from a backup:
- iCloud – Turn on iCloud Music Library on your new device using the same Apple ID to download your music.
- iTunes – Connect your new iPhone to the computer and restore from the iTunes backup.
- Third-party apps – Reinstall the app on your new device and restore from your previous backup.
The process is quick and easy as long as you have the proper backup available. Be sure to backup regularly to always have a recent copy of your music library.
Troubleshooting tips
If you run into issues restoring your music from a backup, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Make sure your new device runs the latest iOS version – older backups may not be compatible with newer iOS releases.
- Double check that your backup completed successfully before restoring. Incomplete backups may be corrupted.
- For iTunes backups, try a different USB cable, port, or computer if the iPhone isn’t recognized.
- With iCloud, check that you have enough storage space for your music library.
- As a last resort, delete the backup and create a brand new one to resolve any issues.
Additional ways to backup iPhone music
In addition to the main methods above, here are a couple other ways you can backup music from your iPhone:
External storage
You can manually copy music files off your iPhone onto an external SD card, USB drive, or computer. This provides a separate physical backup you can store safely.
Online storage
Use a cloud storage service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to upload music files from your iPhone for remote backup. Helpful if you need lots of extra space.
Burn CDs
For local physical backups, you can burn audio CDs on your computer using music exported from your iPhone.
Turning off music backups
If you use an Apple Music subscription or prefer not to backup your music, you can disable music backups entirely:
- In iCloud – Turn off the Music switch under Apps Using iCloud.
- In iTunes – Uncheck Sync Music in the iPhone summary page.
- In third-party apps – Find the setting to disable music backups.
This will prevent backups of your music library going forward while keeping other app data protected.
Conclusion
Backing up your iPhone music ensures you always have a copy of your personal music library. The primary ways to backup your music are using integrated tools like iCloud or iTunes, or dedicated third-party apps. Store the backups remotely or locally based on your preference.
Restoring your music from a backup is simple when getting a new iPhone or moving to a new device. Just make sure to choose a backup method that works reliably for your needs. With your music safely backed up, you don’t have to worry about ever losing your music collection.
