What Is in an iPhone Backup? iCloud and Computer
An iPhone backup holds what is on the phone that does not already sync to iCloud: settings, Home Screen layout, app data and, in some cases, messages and photos. If iCloud Photos is on, your photos sync instead and are not in the backup.
Try Cryptile free: join the beta on TestFlight
What do I need to know?
- Photos are in a backup only if iCloud Photos is off. The same goes for Messages in iCloud.
- A computer backup can hold more. Encrypted, it also keeps saved passwords and Health data.
- Apple keeps the keys to iCloud Backup by default. Advanced Data Protection changes that.
What does iCloud Backup include?
Apple's page What does iCloud back up? lists:
- Device settings, Home Screen layout and app organisation
- Other on-device information, such as purchased ringtones and your Visual Voicemail password
- Apple Watch backups
- Photos, videos, messages and app data
The catch is in Apple's wording. "When you use iCloud Photos, your photos, videos, and face information automatically sync to iCloud so they aren't included in your daily backup." Messages work the same way when Messages in iCloud is on.
What does a backup to a Mac or PC include?
Apple's guide to backing up an iPhone to a Mac lists:
- The layout of the Home Screen
- App data, such as Safari bookmarks and Calendar events
- Device settings, including restrictions and certificates
- Certain account types and Contacts
- The Camera Roll
It does not include App Store content, media synced from a computer, or data already stored in iCloud. Face ID and Touch ID settings, Apple Pay information, Apple Mail data and offline maps are also left out.
What does an encrypted backup add?
Ticking Encrypt local backup in Finder or the Apple Devices app adds sensitive items. Apple's encrypted backups page names saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, Health data and call history.
Encrypted backups still leave out Face ID, Touch ID and your device passcode. If you forget the backup password, Apple says older encrypted backups cannot be used.
Are hidden photos in my backup?
They go wherever your other photos go. With iCloud Photos on, hidden photos sync to iCloud, still hidden. With it off, they are part of the backup like any other photo. Our page on hidden backups covers this in detail.
Who can read my iPhone backup?
It depends on where it is.
- iCloud Backup, standard protection: Apple keeps the keys, according to its data security overview.
- iCloud Backup with Advanced Data Protection: end-to-end encrypted. Apple says it then has no keys to help you recover it.
- Unencrypted computer backup: anyone who can open that computer's files.
- Encrypted computer backup: only someone with the backup password.
How do I keep a photo out of every backup?
Delete it from Photos, then from Recently Deleted. New backups will not include it.
Old backups are another matter. A computer backup made last year still holds what was on the phone then, until you delete that backup. See what happens to your photos when you restore from a backup.
What this doesn't protect against
Backup settings do not reach copies already made. Photos you sent, shared or uploaded elsewhere are outside any backup. A backup is only as private as the account or computer that holds it.
Do it with Cryptile
Cryptile keeps its own encrypted iCloud backup of your vault, under keys derived on your device from your pattern. The developer never holds keys. If you forget your pattern, the 9-word recovery phrase restores the vault. There is no reset.
Cryptile is free for up to 2 vaults, 100 photos and 10 videos, with encrypted iCloud backup included. Plus removes the limits for $19.99 a year (7-day free trial) or $39.99 once.