You can also manually initiate a backup to iCloud. Storage & Backup. Tap the iCloud Backup toggle to turn this feature on. If you want to back up your device right away, tap Back Up Now. An iCloud backup can take a while the first time, especially if your network bandwidth is slow.
But subsequent backups are quicker, because the device only copies files and settings that are new or that have been modified. By default, you have a free 5 GB iCloud account. You may wonder how you can backup, say, a 32 GB iPhone in such a limited amount of storage.
The device actually doesn't back up many files; it backs up photos and videos, and settings, but mostly it stores a record of the apps installed on your iOS device and any other purchased content. “Your iCloud backup includes information about the content you have purchased, but not the purchased content itself.
When you restore from an iCloud backup, your purchased content is automatically downloaded from the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBookstore based on iTunes in the Cloud availability by country. Nevertheless, you may need to trim your backup to store everything on iCloud (or buy additional storage). Manage Storage, then tap on the name of your device. On this screen, you can choose exactly what gets backed up to iCloud. In most cases, the biggest share of your backup will be photos and videos that you've shot; these are shown as Camera Roll.
Think about offloading some of these photos to your Mac from time to time to make backups smaller and faster. If you swipe up, then tap Show All Apps, you'll see all the apps that get backed up to iCloud. Tap any of the toggles next to the apps listed on this screen to turn off iCloud backup for their data. You can exclude lots of apps from your iCloud backup. This will not only save space, but it will make backups quicker.
However, think about not excluding apps where you have entered specific settings, such as a user name or other information: if so, you will have to re-enter the settings if you restore your device. Backing up an iOS device to iTunes is easy, and much quicker than backing up to iCloud, because the data just goes over the cable that connects your iOS device to your Mac. However, these backups only occur when you sync your device. Some people sync their iOS devices every day; other people never sync them.
If you're one who syncs regularly, then it's a good idea to back up your device to iTunes. When your iOS device is connected to your Mac, click on it, then click the Summary tab. If you have checked This Computer, iTunes will back up your device every time you sync it.
It's quick and easy, and since you have plenty of storage on your Mac, there are no options to exclude specific apps. So which is better: backing up to iCloud or to iTunes, Actually, it's best to use both. Having a local backup is much more efficient; if you have to restore your device, you'll save a lot of time restoring it in iTunes from your local backup.
You also have all of your content synced to the device when you restored - not only what has been backed up, but all of your music, podcasts and books that you didn't buy from Apple. If you've backed up to iCloud, you'll eventually have to sync your device anyway to restore that content. However, if you're on the road, far from your Mac, and you need to restore an iOS device, it's good to know that you have an iCloud backup. This lets you get your apps back quickly, so you can use your device.
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