For convenient backups, you can\u2019t beat the always available, device-independent cloud. And iPhones make backing up to iCloud as simple as can be. Just turn on the option and stand back; your phone will periodically copy everything stored on it to the cloud. The only problem most users will ever encounter is running out of iCloud space: You get just 5GB of storage free, and that\u2019s not very much in the grand scheme of things.<\/p>\n
The easiest solution, of course, is to buy more space when the 5 gigs run out. But iCloud storage is subscription-based, which means that you\u2019ll have to pay monthly (currently $0.99 for 50GB, $2.99 for 200GB, or $9.99 for 2TB). If you do not want running costs, you\u2019ll have to look elsewhere. Let\u2019s explore some alternatives.<\/p>\n
iCloud is by no means the only cloud storage out (or up) there. But most other providers offer a similar amount of free space, sometimes even less. For example, OneDrive gives users the same 5GB at no charge, after which you\u2019ll have to pay a subscription fee. DropBox\u2019s free storage is limited to 2GB, and Amazon Drive offers nothing at all unless you are signed up for Amazon Prime \u2014 and even then it\u2019s just the same 5GB.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, most providers charge roughly the same for extra space as iCloud does, so it makes little sense to pay for third-party cloud storage. That said, you can use a couple of cloud services free \u2014 under certain conditions.<\/p>\n
Unlike other cloud services, Google Drive provides 15GB of free storage space for data (of any kind). Even better, you can upload photos with a resolution of up to 16 megapixels (by comparison, iPhone\u00a011\u00a0Pro cameras have a resolution of 12\u00a0megapixels) and video in 1080p HD format (if you choose unlimited storage, your 4K videos will get compressed to 1080p) and these photos and videos don\u2019t count as part of the 15GB quota.<\/p>\n
You can make use of Google\u2019s unlimited photo storage in two ways:<\/p>\n
Yandex.Disk offers a little less than Google Drive in its free plan \u2014 10GB to be precise. However, it stores photos and videos uploaded from smartphones without restrictions, and at the original quality<\/a>. That said, when viewing media files online, it will show only compressed previews, although you can always download the original to any of your devices.<\/p>\n To make use of unlimited storage download Yandex.Disk app<\/a><\/strong> and set it up to auto uploading. As with Google Drive, you will have to fit all other files (except photos and videos) into the limited free storage. On the plus side, if you like to shoot high-resolution video, Yandex.Disk is a far more attractive option for backing up your iPhone than Google Drive.<\/p>\n Both Google and Yandex not only store your photos and videos on their servers, but also sort them and even create photo albums<\/a>. In doing so, they automatically analyze your pictures to determine the content \u2014 which can be very personal. In the Google Photos app, you can block the system from grouping photos by faces, but if you prefer Yandex and Google not to know what you were taking and where, it is better not to use their unlimited cloud storage.<\/p>\n If third-party clouds don\u2019t suit your purposes, where can you back up your iPhone? Two options remain: a computer or external media.<\/p>\n If you have a computer running Windows or macOS Mojave (or earlier), you can copy files there from your iPhone using iTunes<\/a>. The app lets you sync photos, videos, albums, playlists, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks, voice recordings, contacts, and calendars. To make a backup:<\/p>\n In macOS Catalina, iTunes responsibilities are divided: Apple Music handles music, Apple TV handles video, Apple Books \u2026 well, you get the picture. And copying files between the iPhone and the computer is now a task for Finder<\/a>. It syncs the same data set as iTunes, and works in much the same way. To make a backup using Finder:<\/p>\n After the app (iTunes or Finder) copies the files to its folder on your computer, you can transfer them to another place, such as an external drive. You can back up most of the data on your iPhone in this way. As for storing information such as Face ID, Touch ID, or Apple Pay, iCloud\u2019s free 5GB is definitely enough.<\/p>\nThird-party clouds: What\u2019s the deal with privacy?<\/h3>\n
Where to copy iPhone files: Another device<\/h2>\n
iPhone backup to a computer with Windows or\u00a0macOS (except Catalina)<\/h3>\n
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iPhone backup to a macOS Catalina computer<\/h3>\n
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iPhone backup to an external or flash drive<\/h3>\n