Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in iTunes on PC (2024)

iTunes 12.13 Windows

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iTunes User Guide

Welcome
How iTunes is changing
- How to add items
- - Subscribe to Apple Music
  - Stream recommended music and video
  - Add and download music
  - Play Apple Music radio
  - - Create an Apple Music profile
    - Share music with friends
    - See what friends are listening to
  - Customize Apple Music
- - Intro to the iTunes Store
  - Set up and view an account
  - - Buy or download items
    - Rent movies
    - Download podcasts
  - Purchase music and video as gifts
  - Use a gift card
  - Create a wish list
  - Pre-order items
  - Download previous purchases
  - Use Family Sharing
  - Restrict access to explicit content
  - Authorize a computer
  - Problems using the iTunes Store
- - Import songs from CDs
  - Choose import settings
  - If you don’t see song information
- - Intro to using iTunes with iCloud
  - Automatic downloads
  - iCloud Music Library
- - Import items already on your computer
  - Import from other computers using Home Sharing
- Transfer purchases from a mobile device
- Import songs from the internet
- Export music or video from other apps
- Play music, video, and more
- - Play songs
  - Play songs from iCloud
  - Listen to internet radio
  - Play CDs
  - Use iTunes MiniPlayer
  - Adjust the volume
  - Adjust the sound quality
  - Problems playing music or audio
- - See movies, TV shows, and other video
  - See visual effects
- - Intro to playlists
  - Create, edit, and delete standard playlists
  - Create, delete, and use Smart Playlists
  - Use iTunes Genius
  - See which playlists an item is in
  - Organize playlists in folders
  - Save a copy of your playlists
- - Intro to burning CDs and DVDs
  - Create your own CDs and DVDs
  - Problems burning a disc
- - From a shared library
  - From email and more
- Choose speakers
- - Stream content to Apple TV
  - Play movies on Apple TV
  - Get more help for Apple TV
- Use HomePod with iTunes
- Set up the iTunes Remote app
- Intro to syncing
- Sync iTunes content with your devices
- Wi-Fi syncing
- - Sync photos
  - Sync app info
  - Transfer files
  - Problems syncing a video
- - Manage iPod shuffle
  - Use iPod as an external hard disk
  - Update device software
  - Restore to factory settings
  - Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
  - Turn on your device’s accessibility features
- - Get more help for iPhone
  - Get more help for iPad
  - Get more help for iPod
- Customize the iTunes window
- - Change song and CD information
  - Add artwork
  - Enter and view lyrics
  - Rate songs and other items
- Find items and duplicates
- Find a song with the column browser
- Delete items
- - Change where files are stored
  - Use multiple iTunes libraries
  - Convert music file formats
  - Move your iTunes library to another computer
  - Install plug-ins
  - Update iTunes
  - Change the language
  - Bypass the Windows firewall
  - Connect to the internet
Keyboard shortcuts
Change iTunes preferences
- Symbols used in iTunes
- Accessibility solutions
- More information on the web
Copyright

Back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in iTunes on PC (1)

Backing up means copying certain files and settings from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your computer. Backing up is one of the best ways to make sure you don’t lose the information on your device if it’s damaged or misplaced. It’s also useful to have a backup if you get a new device and want to transfer your previous settings to it.

Back up your device

iTunes automatically backs up your device when you connect it to your computer. But you can also back up your device manually at any time. And if you have iOS 3.0 or later, iTunes can encrypt your backups to secure your data.

Connect your device to the computer you normally sync with.
You can connect your device using a USB or USB-C cable or a Wi-Fi connection. To turn on Wi-Fi syncing, see Sync iTunes content on PC with devices on Wi-Fi.
In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window.
Click Summary.
Click Back Up Now (below Backups).
To encrypt your backups, select “Encrypt [device] backup," type a password, then click Set Password.

To see the backups stored on your computer, choose Edit> Preferences, then click Devices. Encrypted backups have a lock icon in the list of backups.

Restore your device from a backup

If you ever need to restore backed-up information to your device, you can do so.

Connect your device to the computer you normally sync with.
You can connect your device using a USB or USB-C cable or a Wi-Fi connection. To turn on Wi-Fi syncing, see Sync iTunes content on PC with devices on Wi-Fi.
In the iTunes app on your PC, click the Device button near the top left of the iTunes window.
Click Summary.
Click Restore Backup.
If your backup is encrypted, iTunes asks you to enter the password before restoring your files and settings.

Automatically backed-up information includes text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, and more. In addition, photos in Camera Roll or Saved Photos are also backed up. Other media files (such as songs, videos, and some photos) aren’t backed up, but can be restored by syncing with iTunes.

See the user guide for your device or the Apple Support website.

Important: Before disconnecting your device from your computer, click the Eject button .

See alsoChange Devices preferences in iTunes on PCApple Support article: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes on your PCApple Support article: About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touchApple Support article: Use the Finder or iTunes to transfer data from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

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