How to Backup iPhone Without iCloud: 4 Common Ways 2025

How to back up your iPhone data without iCloud, iTunes or computer? This guide gives you detailed instructions to finish the process. You can choose a handy tool to protect your iPhone data from loss.

Kathy by Kathy Updated February 9, 2025
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When you're looking to back up your iPhone data, iCloud might seem like a favorable option. It can automatically back up your iPhone data and facilitate easy synchronization of data across Apple devices logged into the same account, which is incredibly convenient for users with a small amount of data to back up.

However, when faced with the need to back up a large volume of data and your iCloud storage is insufficient, then you may want to ask: “How do I manually backup my iPhone without iCloud?” Here are 4 ways to help you make it via a USB cable or wirelessly.

1. How to backup iPhone without iCloud to PC [recommended]

To backup entire iPhone to computer, a professional iPhone data backup tool named FoneTool might be your best choice. With this easy-to-use helper, you can back up all or part of iPhone data with simple clicks.

FoneTool

Best & Free iPhone Backup Software for Windows

  • Fully or selectively back up iPhone data as you like.
  • Backup photos, videos, etc. without storage limitation.
  • 46 GB of data can be backed up within 39 mins (tested).
  • Total USB connections offer a safe and stable transfer process.
  • Directly change the storage location to save backups anywhere (PC/USB drive).

Now you can download FoneTool on your Windows PC and backup your phone when you don't have enough iCloud storage with this professional tool.

Step 1. Get iPhone backup iCloud alternative

Install and launch FoneTool on your PC > Connect your iPhone to the computer via a USB cable > If asked, tap Trust on your device to continue.

Step 2. Choose iPhone backup options other than iCloud

Go to Phone Backup > Choose Full Backup to back up all your iPhone data including all apps and settings > Click Get Started.

👉️ How to backup photos from iPhone without iCloud?
You can also choose Selective Backup to back up part of iPhone data like photos, videos, contacts, etc. or backup iPhone without photos.

fully back up iPhone

Step 3. How to backup iPhone without iTunes or iCloud

Confirm the on-screen guidance and enable the backup encryption option if you need > Choose the storage location by clicking the Backup Storage Path to save the backup > Click Start Backup to begin the task.

start back up iPhone

Wait for a while, the process will be finished. Next time if you need to restore the backup, go to My Backups and click the Restore dot to make it.

restore iPhone backup

2. How to backup iPhone to computer without iCloud - iTunes

If you prefer not to use a third-party tool, iTunes can be an alternative way to back up your iPhone to your PC. Here are steps about how to backup iPhone without iCloud storage using iTunes.

⚠️ Note: For Mac users, if there are macOS Mojave and earlier version running on your computer, you can also use this way to back up iPhone. If you are using the later version of macOS, choose Finder mentioned in Method 4 to make it.

Step 1. Download the latest iTunes on your computer and install it > Connect your device to the computer.

Step 2. Launch iTunes > Click the device button > Navigate to Summary under the Settings tab.

Step 3. Find the Backups section > Choose This computer > Click the Back Up Now button to start.

back up iPhone with iTunes

Tip:
To encrypt your iTunes backup, select the Encrypt local backup option to protect your privacy.

3. How to backup iPhone without iCloud or computer - Google Drive

If you still wish to back up your iPhone data to a cloud service, but prefer not to use iCloud or a computer, then Google Drive would be a commendable alternative. This way is also applied to transfer data from Android to iPhone after setup.

Step 1. Download Google Drive from the App Store. Sign in with your Google account > Launch the Google Drive on your iPhone.

Step 2. Tap on Menu from the upper left corner > Choose Settings > Click on the Backup option > Tap on the Start Backup button to begin.

back up iPhone with Google Drive

⚠️ Note: This way only allows you to back up photos, videos, contacts, and calendar events on iPhone.

4. How to backup iPhone without storage to Mac - Finder

The aforementioned three methods are primarily suitable for Windows users. For Mac users, Finder can be utilized to back up your iPhone to your computer.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to the Mac with a USB cable > In the Finder sidebar, choose your iPhone.

Step 2. Click General > Click Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac (If you need to encrypt your backup, select Encrypt local backup) > Click Back Up Now to start.

back up iPhone with Finder

Conclusion

This passage gives you 4 ways about how to backup iPhone without iCloud. You can create an iPhone backup with a USB cable or wirelessly. And FoneTool might be a nice choice for Windows users to back up all or part of your iPhone data.

For people who need to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud, FoneTool's powerful features can also help you a lot. Just go to Phone Transfer > Choose iPhone to iPhone and you can move all old iPhone data to new iPhone with one click. Why not download and try it now!

FoneTool - All-in-one iPhone Data Manager

Transfer, backup and manage data on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch in an easy way.

  • iOS 18 Compatible
  • iPhone 16 Supported

Free iPhone Manager - FoneTool

  • Full/Selective Backup iPhone
  • Transfer between iPhone and PC
  • 1-Click Transfer iPhone to iPhone
  • WhatsApp Backup & Transfer
  • Fully compatible with iOS 18
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