What is an iCloud Backup?
iCloud Backup is an automatic backup service for iOS devices like iPhone and iPad. According to Apple support, “iCloud Backup helps keep your data safe by making a copy of the information on your iPhone and iPad that isn’t already synced to iCloud.” (Source)
Some of the key data that gets backed up includes photos, messages, settings, and app data. iCloud Backup is enabled by default, so iOS devices will automatically backup to iCloud periodically when plugged in, locked, and connected to WiFi. Users can check the status of iCloud backups in the Settings app on their iPhone or iPad.
Why View iCloud Backups?
There are a few key reasons why you may want to view your iCloud backups:
Confirm backups completed successfully – By viewing your backups, you can verify that your iPhone or iPad is successfully backing up to iCloud on a regular basis. This gives you peace of mind that your data is protected.
See what is being backed up – iCloud doesn’t automatically back up everything on your device. You can view your backups to see which apps, data, and settings are being stored in iCloud.
Troubleshoot backup issues – If you are having problems with iCloud backups, viewing your backups can help you identify and troubleshoot the issues. For example, if backups are failing or taking too long, you can check the backup contents and size to pinpoint the problem.
Overall, viewing your iCloud backups helps ensure they are working as intended so you can reliably restore data if needed. It’s an important part of managing and monitoring your iCloud storage and backups.
Check Backup Status on iPhone/iPad
You can easily check the status of your iCloud backups directly on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 or later by following these steps:
1. Open the Settings app and tap on your name at the top of the menu.
2. Scroll down and select iCloud.
3. Tap on Manage Storage.
4. Under Backups, you will see a list of devices along with the size of the latest backup and date it was completed. This allows you to quickly view information about your most recent iCloud backups for each device.
If you tap on a device name, you can view additional details like total backup size and a breakdown of storage by apps. This screen also allows you to disable iCloud backups if needed.
Checking backup status directly on your iPhone or iPad in the Settings app is the quickest way to see your latest iCloud backups. You can then ensure important data is being backed up properly before restoring or migrating to a new device.
View Backups on Mac
Mac users can easily view their iCloud backups by following these steps:
1. Open System Preferences and click on Apple ID.
2. Select iCloud in the sidebar.
3. In the Backups section, click Manage.
This will open a window showing all your iCloud backups for different devices. You can see when each backup was made and the size of the backup. https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/view-and-manage-backups-mm122d3ef202/icloud
From here you can also view the contents of a backup by clicking on Show Versions. You’ll be able to see which apps and data are included.
If you need to restore from a backup, you can click Restore next to the desired backup. Just remember this will erase the current contents and settings on your device.
View Backups on Windows PC
You can view your iCloud backups on a Windows PC by downloading the iCloud for Windows app and accessing the Backups folder:
First, download iCloud for Windows from Apple’s website and install it on your PC. Open the iCloud app and sign in with your Apple ID.
In iCloud Drive, navigate to the Backups folder. This will contain backups of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch that are stored in iCloud. You’ll see each device backup listed by name and date.
Click on a backup to see details like storage used and contents like photos, contacts, calendars, and more. You can view your iOS backups this way without needing your mobile device handy.
Note that you cannot modify or delete backups from within iCloud for Windows. You can only view backup information and restore backups to a device.
View Size of Backups
You can check how much iCloud storage your backups are using in Settings. This allows you to see how much space each backup is taking up and identify any old backups you may want to delete to free up iCloud storage.
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. This will show a list of your device backups and the storage size of each.
On a Mac, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage. Click on Manage under the Storage section. Then click on Backups to see a list of backups and sizes.
On Windows, open iCloud for Windows and click on Storage > Manage Storage. Click on Backups to see your list of backups and sizes.
You can delete old backups you no longer need by tapping on the backup and then Delete Backup. It’s a good idea to delete backups for old devices you no longer use to free up space.
For more details on reducing iCloud backup sizes, see this Apple Support article: Manage your iCloud storage.
View Contents of Backups
One limitation of viewing iCloud backups directly through Apple’s provided tools is that you can’t browse the actual contents of the backups. However, third party apps like iMazing give you the ability to see inside iCloud backups and view the photos, messages, app data, settings, and other files stored within them.
With iMazing installed on your Mac or Windows PC, you can connect your iPhone/iPad or access your iCloud account and then view the contents of any saved backups. This allows you to check that your important data has actually been backed up properly. You can also extract and recover specific files out of your backups if needed.
Having the ability to directly browse iCloud backup contents can provide peace of mind that your data is securely saved. It also gives you granular control to restore only certain app data or files if you don’t want to erase and restore your entire iPhone or iPad from a backup.
Restore From iCloud Backup
If your iPhone or iPad is lost, damaged, or experiencing software issues, restoring from an iCloud backup is a convenient option to restore your device’s data and settings.
To restore your iPhone or iPad from an iCloud backup, you need to erase your device first. Connect your device to power, turn it on, and tap through the Setup Assistant until you reach the Apps & Data screen. Here you’ll see the option to “Restore from iCloud Backup”. Tap this option and sign into iCloud using your Apple ID and password. You’ll then be presented with a list of available iCloud backups you can restore from. Select the desired backup and your device will download the backup and restore your settings and data.
The restore process will essentially wipe your device and return it to the state captured in the iCloud backup you chose. So if you restore from a backup taken yesterday, your device will look just as it did the day before after the restore. This makes iCloud restore excellent for recovering from major software issues or getting a replacement device set up just like your old one.
Just keep in mind that restoring from an iCloud backup will wipe your device first before restoring it. So be sure your device data is safely backed up before initiating an iCloud restore.
Manage or Disable Backups
You can adjust the frequency and storage optimization settings for your iCloud backups if needed. This allows you to manage how often backups occur and how much iCloud storage space they take up.
To adjust backup settings on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups. Here you can enable or disable iCloud backups for each device, as well as toggle Optimized iPhone/iPad Storage. This will save space on your device by storing full resolution photos/videos in iCloud only.
On Mac, open System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage. Click Manage next to Backups to adjust backup frequency and storage options.
On Windows, open iCloud settings > Manage Storage > Backups. Here you can toggle Optimized iPhone/iPad storage and delete old backups if needed.
You can also disable iCloud backups entirely if you don’t want to use them. Just toggle off iCloud Backup in Settings on iPhone/iPad or uncheck Back Up in iCloud settings on Mac/Windows. Keep in mind you’ll lose the ability to restore from iCloud if backups are disabled.
For more details, refer to Apple’s iCloud backup management guide.
Alternative Backup Options
While iCloud backup is convenient for iPhone and iPad users, there are other ways to back up your iOS devices if you need more storage or want alternative backup solutions.
iTunes Backups
You can back up an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to a Mac or PC using iTunes. Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, open iTunes, and select your device. Under Backups, choose “This Computer” and then select “Back Up Now” to create a backup. iTunes backups save to your computer rather than iCloud. See Apple’s support page for details.
Third Party Cloud Storage
Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Box offer free cloud storage that can supplement or replace iCloud backups. For example, you can use Google Photos to back up your camera roll. While convenient, be aware third party services won’t integrate as seamlessly with iOS as iCloud.