3 Ways to Backup iPhone or iPad before Upgrading to iOS 17/iPadOS 17

We all get excited whenever Apple releases a new iOS version mostly because the new update often comes with a lot of cool new features and functions. Can’t wait to updating to iOS 17 or iOS 17.4? One more steps here: back up your iPhone data safely to ensure no data loss.

Should I back Up iPhone Before Upgrading?

Usually, there is a risk of data loss when upgrading your iPhone or iPad’s system software. We always receive emails from our users complaining that the data gets lost after the upgrade process. You should know that a new update can also come with a lot of bugs that may cause issues with your iPhone.

Even more, Apple doesn’t allow to restore the backup file made on high iOS version to the device with low iOS version. If you have issues on iOS 17 and need to downgrade from iOS 17 to iOS 16, you cannot restore the backup you created on iOS 17.

So, it’s definitely necessary to have the iPhone data safely saved before the upgrade.

How to Backup iPhone Before Upgrade to iOS 17/iOS 17.4?

Read the iPhone backup methods below and choose the one that suits you best.

Backup iPhone to iTunes

If you have a large amount of data on your iPhone or iPad, iTunes (or Finder) is a great option to make a full backup. The process is very simple. Just follow the steps below:

• Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer via a USB cable and launch iTunes. If you use a Mac with macOS Catalina 10.15, open Finder.
• Select your device icon, and in the Summary or General tab, click on the "Back Up Now" button.
• If needed, you can check "Encrypt iPhone backup" and add a password to protect your backup.

To restore the iTunes backup, you need to connect the iPhone/iPad to computer and tap on 'Restore Backup' button on the Summary interface.

Pros:

• No limitation on the backup storage space.
• Supports to back up most data and settings on iPhone.

Cons:

• The process is quite lengthy and complicated especially for the beginner user.
• Backing up your device using iTunes can be slow; the process has been known to take the better part of the day especially if you have large files.
• Using iTunes to back up your iPhone is prone to different iTunes errors, some of which can be difficult to fix.
• The process is also restricted which means you may be unable to backup certain types of data like health data or activity data.
• You will also notice that you cannot choose the types of data to backup and restore with iTunes. This is because you will not be able to preview the backup files.

Backup iPhone with iCloud

Apple offers 5GB of free iCloud storage for every iPhone/iPad user. If you don’t have enough space in your iCloud account, you can free up or upgrade your iCloud storage. Here’s how to backup data to iCloud before upgrading to iOS 17:

• Make sure your iPhone or iPad is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
• Navigate to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and tap “Back Up Now”.
• Or your iOS device will be backed up automatically if it is connected to power, screen locked and on Wi-Fi.

To restore iPhone with the iCloud backup, you need to erase the iPhone data first to factory reset the device, it will then take you to the setup process. You can choose the option of 'Restore from iCloud Backup' to proceed.

Pros:

• Supports to back up most data and settings on iPhone.
• The backup can be done on iPhone/iPad.

Cons:

• You only get 5GB free storage which may not be sufficient to store the backup for the device. If you want additional storage, you will have to pay a monthly fee from $0.99 to $9.99 depending on the package you need.
• You may not be able to back up all data on the device in iCloud. You can only backup camera roll, documents, accounts and settings.
• The backup process will only work if you have adequate storage and a strong Wi-Fi connection.
• You will also not be able to restore the files selectively since you are unable to see the backup file.

Backup iPhone without iTunes or iCloud

If you would like a far more effective and easier way to back up all the data on your iPhone or iPad before an update, you can try a professional data backup tool - FoneGeek iOS Data Backup & Restore. This tool gives you total control over the backup process, allowing you to select the files you want to backup and even where you’d like to store the backup.

Key Features of FoneGeek iOS Data Backup & Restore: 

• You can back up your iPhone or iPad to computer in a single click for free.
• Supports to backup photos, videos, music, contacts, SMS messages, WhatsApp, Viber, LINE, Kik, notes, and more data.
• Allows you to preview the files in the backup and thereby selectively restore a backup to the device whenever you need.
• Allows you to restore data from your iTunes or iCloud backups selectively.
• Very easy to use, the whole backup process takes just a few minutes.
• Works well on all iOS devices and all iOS versions, including iOS 17/16 and iPhone 15/14/13/12/11.

Follow these simple steps to backup iPhone/iPad with iTunes or iCloud:

Step 1: Download and install the program on to your computer and then launch it. From the options in the main window, click on "Backup & Restore" to begin.

Step 2: In the next window, select the types of data you would like to backup and then click "Backup". Keep the device connected to the computer until the process is complete.

Step 3: The whole process takes just a few minutes. Once the backup is completed, you can click "View Backup Data" to view and check the contents in the backup file.

Pros:

• There is no backup limitation on storage.
• Supports backup and restore data selectively.
• The backup files can be accessed and viewed for free.
• No data will be deleted when restoring the backup.
• Easy to use.

Which Way to Back Up Your iPhone/iPad Before Upgrade?

Basically, there are 3 methods to do this: through iTunes, iCloud or third-party iOS data backup tool. Each method can meet your needs to backup all contents on your iPhone or iPad.

• If you don't trust the cloud service or you have limited iCloud storage space, you can try the old-fashioned way—iTunes to backup your iPhone/iPad to your computer.
• If you don’t want to connect your device to a computer and you have a stable Wi-Fi network, you can try another official way - iCloud to backup your iPhone or iPad wirelessly.
• If you are looking for a faster, easier and more reliable solution, we strongly recommend you try a professional third-party application - FoneGeek iOS Backup & Restore.

Conclusion

In this article we have shown you how to backup your iPhone or iPad before upgrading to iOS 17 using iTunes, iCloud and FoneGeek iOS Data Backup & Restore. Choose the one which best meets your own situation and then continue installing iOS 16 on your device. If somethings goes wrong, you’ll be able to restore your iPhone/iPad data from the backup.